Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 19: His past

Elaine was on her way to college when she noticed Alexander's car parked in front of the villa. She frowned, assuming he had business with her father. It was best to ignore him and keep her distance.

But just as she was about to walk past, Alexander stepped out, casually leaning against the car.

"I was waiting for you," he said.

Elaine halted, her expression unreadable. "You don't have to."

"I don't mind."

She hesitated. Getting in that car with him felt like a bad idea. It was easier to keep her walls up, to pretend none of this affected her.

"My car is waiting," she said stiffly. "And if my father finds out—"

"Your car's in for maintenance," Alexander interrupted. "Your father asked me to drop you off."

Elaine clenched her jaw. She hated feeling cornered like this, but there was no way out. With a sigh, she opened the back door and slid inside.

Alexander glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "Sit in the front."

"I'm fine here."

He didn't argue, just started driving. After a few moments of silence, he tried to break the tension. "Did you sleep well?"

"Fine," Elaine replied without looking at him.

"What about your classes?"

"Good."

He sighed but didn't give up. "I heard your basketball team won the last match."

"Yes."

Alexander tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, exhaling through his nose. She was shutting him out completely.

"You don't have to worry about the rumors at college," he said finally. "It's been handled."

Elaine gave a small nod but said nothing.

College came into view, and the moment the car slowed down, Elaine opened the door as if escaping from danger. Without sparing him a glance, she stepped out and walked briskly toward the entrance.

Alexander watched her go, a small smirk playing at his lips, amused by how desperately she wanted to avoid him. But at the same time, a deep sadness settled in his chest.

She used to share everything with him. Now, she barely acknowledged his presence.

Maybe it was for the best.

But if that was true... why did he hate it so much?

As Elaine walked toward her classroom, everything seemed normal—almost as if yesterday's incident had never happened. The whispers were gone, the judgmental stares absent. It wasn't because people had suddenly changed their opinions, but because the principal had issued a strict warning. Anyone caught badmouthing or spreading rumors about Elaine's background would be blacklisted.

No one wanted to risk their future over idle gossip.

Still, the thoughts lingered in their minds. She might be a mistress's daughter, but her father must care about her if he went to such lengths to protect her.

But they didn't know the truth.

They only saw what was on the surface—what was convenient to believe.

As Elaine sat in her seat, Mary wasted no time, throwing her arms around her in a tight hug.

"Elaine! How are you?" Mary asked, pulling back to inspect her face.

Elaine smiled softly. "Better than yesterday," she admitted.

Mary smirked. "So how was your date with Adrian Blackwood," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

Elaine rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a date. We were just hanging out as friends, nothing more."

Mary pouted dramatically. "Oh, come on. Just friends? You two looked awfully cozy together."

Elaine shook her head with a small laugh. "Adrian... he's not what people think. He may act cold and distant, but I think he's just guarding himself. Kind of like me. I talk a lot, I smile, but that doesn't mean I don't carry burdens. He just does it differently—keeping everyone at arm's length so no one can hurt him."

Mary's teasing expression softened. "Sounds like you understand him pretty well."

Elaine shrugged. "Maybe because I see a little of myself in him."

Mary leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Elaine, I know a little bit about Adrian's past... just bits and pieces."

Elaine's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mary sighed, glancing around before continuing. "His father... he wasn't a good man. He abused Adrian's mother—so much that it took a toll on her. Adrian had to take care of both her and his little sister because his father was always drunk. And whenever Adrian tried to protect his mother, his father would beat him nearly to death."

Elaine felt a chill run through her. She had always sensed a quiet pain in Adrian, but she never imagined it ran this deep.

"Then one day, his father changed," Mary continued. "Or at least, that's what Adrian thought. He started drinking less, and for a brief moment, Adrian hoped things were getting better. But it turned into a nightmare. His father... he got into drugs. And when things got bad, he—" Mary swallowed hard. "He tried to sell Adrian's mother to pay off his debts."

Elaine gasped, horror flashing across her face.

"Adrian was still in school when he found out. He rushed home, he found his father...dead and it said there was man who might kill him, they both might be fighting someone must have called the police. They took his father and the men he was dealing with. But the damage was already done. His mother's nerves were shot from all the abuse—she can't even walk properly anymore. And now, all the responsibility is on Adrian's shoulders."

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Elaine sat there in stunned silence, the weight of Mary's words settling in her chest. She had always known Adrian was carrying something heavy, but this... this was beyond anything she had imagined.

Elaine stared at Mary, her mind racing with everything she had just heard. After a moment, she finally found her voice.

"How do you know all of this, Mary?" she asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and suspicion. "This isn't just bits and pieces—this is his whole life story."

Mary hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "I... I didn't mean to make it sound like gossip, Elaine," she said carefully. "It was just—when we were in high school, there were rumors about Adrian's family. People talked, but no one really knew the truth. Later, I pieced things together from what I overheard and... from someone who knew him well."

Elaine narrowed her eyes. "Who?"

Mary sighed. "A friend of his from middle school. He told me some of it, and the rest... I just noticed. The way he avoids talking about his family, how he always works part-time jobs, the way he looks at his sister—like she's the only thing keeping him going."

Elaine's chest tightened. She had always felt there was something Adrian wasn't saying, something he kept buried deep. Now, hearing it laid out like this, she understood why.

"I never told you because I wasn't sure if you wanted to know," Mary admitted. "But after yesterday... I thought maybe you should."

Elaine remained quiet, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk. She wasn't sure what she was feeling—sadness, anger, or something deeper. All she knew was that Adrian Blackwood had endured more pain than he ever let on.