Chapter 4: The Woman Who Never Left

We found Amelia hiding in the old guest house behind my property.

I still didn’t understand how she got there.

I didn’t understand how anyone knew.

But I knew one thing.

Someone was hunting her.

And after twenty-five years of silence, I refused to lose her again.

When I opened the door, she looked at me like she expected anger.

Instead, she saw fear.

“Lucy.””

“Tell me everything.””

She closed her eyes.

“I wanted to.””

“Then why didn’t you?””

“Because your father threatened my family.””

I froze.

“My family?””

“My younger brother.””

She swallowed.

“He told me if I contacted you, my brother would disappear.””

I stared at her.

“He had that kind of power?””

Amelia nodded.

“Your father wasn’t just a businessman.””

The rain hit the windows.

The room felt like the past had finally caught up with us.

“What did he do?””

Amelia looked at me.

“He built his empire by stealing from people who couldn’t fight back.””

I shook my head.

“No.””

“Lucy—”

“No. My father was strict. He wasn’t…”

I couldn’t finish.

Because deep down, I knew.

There had always been things I ignored.

Rumors.

Lawsuits.

People who hated him.

I just never wanted to see.

Amelia reached into her bag.

She pulled out a small envelope.

“I kept this for twenty-five years.””

Inside was a photograph.

My father.

A younger Adrian.

And another man.

A man I recognized.

My current business partner.

Victor Hale.

I stared.

“Victor?””

Amelia nodded.

“He was there that night.””

“What night?””

“The night I disappeared.””

My hands tightened around the photo.

“What happened?””

Amelia looked toward the window.

“Your father wanted me gone.””

“Why?””

“Because I found documents.””

“What documents?””

She looked at me.

“Documents proving he planned to take control of your inheritance before you turned eighteen.””

I felt sick.

“He couldn’t.””

“He could.””

She lowered her voice.

“And he almost did.””

My phone buzzed.

A message.

Unknown number.

I opened it.

A picture.

My mansion.

Taken from outside.

Then another picture.

Amelia and me inside the guest house.

My blood froze.

The message contained only five words.

*YOU SHOULD HAVE LET HER DIE.*

Amelia saw my face.

“They found us.””

A shadow moved outside.

We both turned.

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