Chapter 3: The Man Behind The Lie
I went home that night.
Not because Amelia told me to.
Because I needed answers.
My mansion sat on the edge of Cresthaven, surrounded by tall iron gates and cameras.
A place designed to make me feel safe.
But for the first time in years, it felt like a cage.
Daniel followed me inside.
“Ms. Vale, are you okay?””
I looked at him.
“No.””
That answer surprised him.
I had never admitted weakness to anyone.
Not even myself.
“Cancel tomorrow’s meetings.””
He frowned.
“Everything?””
“Everything.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Who was that woman?””
I looked at him carefully.
“Someone I thought I lost.””
He nodded slowly.
“I’ll handle the schedule.””
After he left, I walked into my father’s old study.
I hadn’t entered in years.
The room still smelled like leather and old wood.
His desk remained untouched.
Everyone said I should sell the house.
I never could.
Not because I loved the memories.
Because I was afraid of them.
I opened the drawers.
Nothing.
Old papers.
Business contracts.
Photographs.
Then I found a locked compartment.
My father had always kept secrets.
But I never knew how many.
Inside was a small black folder.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The first page had Amelia’s name.
My stomach dropped.
I turned the page.
A photograph fell out.
It showed Amelia.
Young.
Terrified.
Standing beside my father.
I whispered:
“No…”
A voice came from the doorway.
“You weren’t supposed to find that.””
I turned.
My stepbrother Adrian stood there.
The person I trusted most after my father died.
“What are you doing here?””
He looked at the folder.
Then sighed.
“Lucy…”
“Don’t call me that.””
His expression changed.
“You met her.””
I felt ice move through my veins.
“You knew?””
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“You knew Amelia was alive?””
Adrian stepped inside.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked older suddenly.
Tired.
Guilty.
“Your father made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
I held up the photograph.
“He erased a person.””
Adrian looked away.
“He thought he was protecting you.””
I laughed.
“Protecting me?””
The anger I had buried for twenty-five years finally surfaced.
“He destroyed my life.””
Adrian whispered:
“Because he believed Amelia would destroy yours.””
I stepped closer.
“Why?””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Because she knew what your father did.””
The room went silent.
“What did he do?””
Adrian looked at me.
And before he answered, every light in the house suddenly went out.
A crash came from downstairs.
Someone had entered.
Adrian grabbed my arm.
“Where is Amelia?””
I pulled away.
“Why?””
May you like
His face turned pale.
“Because if they found you, they found her too.””