THE EXILED WARLORD

Chapter Two: “Prove It”

“You’d give up everything for my daughter?”

“Yes. Even my freedom,” Adrian replied, his voice steady.

Senator Marcus stared at him for a long moment. Then he smiled but it wasn’t warm.

“Good,” he said. “Because I’m going to ask you to prove it.”

The next morning, Adrian returned to the mansion. The senator had left instructions.

Evelyn wasn’t there. That felt strange.

One of the guards met him at the gate. “He’s waiting in the back room.”

Adrian followed. The guard didn’t speak. The silence felt heavy.

Inside the room, Marcus sat with two other men. One had sharp eyes. The other looked like he’d broken bones for fun.

“Sit down” Marcus said.

Adrian didn’t sit. “Where’s Evelyn?”

“She’s safe,” Marcus replied. “This isn’t about her. Not right now.”

Adrian crossed his arms. “Then what is this about?”

Marcus leaned forward. “You say you love her. You say you’d give up your freedom.”

“I would.”

“Then I have a job for you.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of job?”

The man with sharp eyes handed him a brown file. “We have a leak. Someone’s been feeding our enemies information. 

If this gets out, Evelyn’s name will be ruined. Our whole legacy will fall”

Adrian opened the file. Names, pictures, locations.

“This looks like military work,” he said. “Dangerous work.”

Marcus smiled again. “That’s why I called you.”

“You want me to find this person?”

“Find him. Stop him. Silence him if you must.”

Adrian looked up. “You want me to kill him?”

“Would you rather see Evelyn dragged through the mud?” Marcus asked coldly. “You said you’d protect her. This is how.”

Adrian stared at the file. Then he nodded once. “I’ll do it.”

Marcus stood up. “Good. Your first trip is tomorrow. Pack light. Don’t ask questions. Do the job and return clean.”

The door opened behind Adrian. Two guards stepped in.

“They’ll show you your room,” Marcus said. “We’ll take care of your ID, flight, and cover story.”

Adrian didn’t move. “Tell Evelyn I said goodbye.”

Marcus paused. “She knows.”

That night, Adrian lay on the guest bed, staring at the ceiling.

He remembered Evelyn’s voice.

“You won’t regret it.”

 But something inside him felt... off.

He pulled out his phone and texted her.

 ADRIAN: Are you okay? This feels weird. Call me.

No reply.

He tried calling. No answer.

His chest tightened. He sat up and grabbed his bag. He wasn’t going to leave without seeing her.

He walked down the hallway, quiet. Guards stood near her door. He stopped a few feet away.

“I need to see Evelyn,” he said.

The guard shook his head. “She’s resting. Senator’s orders.”

Adrian frowned. “She’s not allowed to talk to me now?”

“Sorry. Go back to your room.”

Adrian stared at the door for a long moment.

Something was wrong. He could feel it.

The next morning, they flew him out to a remote town near the border.

There, he met a contact who gave him a truck, a radio, and more instructions.

The mission was real.

He found the leak. The man had been paid by a rival senator to feed information.

Adrian didn’t kill him but he made sure the man would never speak again. 

He took pictures, destroyed the files and sent everything back.

It felt dirty. But he did it. For Evelyn.

Weeks passed. New missions came.

One after the other. Tougher. Riskier.

He was no longer just protecting a family. He was doing their dirty work.

Each time he returned, they gave him more praise. But he never saw Evelyn. Not even once.

He asked for her.

“She’s traveling.”

“She’s sick.”

“She’s resting.”

Too many excuses.

One night, he cornered one of the house staff.

“Where is Evelyn? Tell me the truth.”

The maid looked scared. “She’s here, sir. But… she’s not allowed to see anyone.”

“Why not?” Adrian’s voice was sharp.

“I don’t know. The senator doesn’t want her distracted.”

Adrian stepped back. His heart beat faster.

Distracted? From what?

He needed answers.

The next day, he stormed into Marcus’s study.

“I want to see her. Now.”

Marcus looked up calmly. “You were gone for a month. What’s the rush?”

Adrian clenched his fists. “Don’t play games with me. You’ve kept me away from her.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair. “You said you’d give up your freedom. You didn’t ask for love in return.”

Adrian stepped forward. “You used me.”

“You let yourself be used,” Marcus said coldly. “You were so desperate to be accepted. You forgot to ask why we wanted you.”

Adrian’s chest tightened. “So where is she? What did you do?”

“She’s fine. But she’s not yours.”

Adrian froze.

“What?”

“You heard me,” Marcus said. “She made her choice.”

Adrian’s voice dropped. “That’s not true.”

“Oh, but it is,” Marcus said. “She’s marrying the ambassador’s son next week. Someone worthy.”

Adrian took a step back like he’d been slapped. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Marcus stood up, slow and calm.

“You did well, soldier. But your time here is over.”

Adrian walked out of the mansion in silence. The sky was gray. His hands trembled.

He tried calling Evelyn one last time.

Still no answer.

He sat on the stone steps and looked at the house he’d once thought he belonged to.

He had given them everything.

His skill. His time. His heart.

And in return... they gave him lies.

He was about to get up when someone walked toward him from the side gate.

It was Evelyn.

She looked thinner. Her eyes tired. But she was still her.

“Adrian,” she whispered.

He stood up fast. “You’re here.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, eyes filling with tears.

“You didn’t choose me?” he asked, voice cracking.

“I didn’t have a choice,” she replied. “They locked me in. Took my phone. Threatened me.”

Adrian stepped closer. “Tell me you didn’t mean it. Tell me what we had was real.”

She held his hands tightly.

“It was real,” she whispered. “But it’s too late now. They’re watching. You have to leave. Please.”

“I’m not leaving without you.”

Evelyn shook her head quickly. “Adrian no, they’ll kill you.”

He held her face. “Then come with me. Right now.”

She looked back at the house, then back at him.

“But where would we go?” she asked.

Adrian’s jaw tightened. His voice was low.

“Anywhere they can’t find us.”