Chapter 5 - The Father She Buried Was Still Alive
Amelia couldn't speak.
Her father had died eleven years ago.
She had watched the hospital monitor flatline.
She had attended the funeral.
She had held her mother's hand afterward.
Now a photograph said otherwise.
"My father is alive?"
Adrien nodded.
"We need to know why."
The next clue led them outside the city.
A small property had once belonged to Amelia's father.
Adrien's team searched it.
They found an underground room.
Inside were financial documents.
Photos.
Recordings.
And a letter.
Amelia opened it.
"My daughter,
If you're reading this, then I failed to keep you away from the Valentes.
I wanted you to believe I was dead.
It was the only way to keep you alive.
Your mother is not your enemy.
Neither is Adrien.
The enemy is the man everyone trusts."
Amelia looked at Adrien.
"Victor."
He nodded.
The letter continued.
"Victor did not build his empire alone. My work exposed him. When I tried to report him, he took Claire. I had to disappear to protect her."
Amelia's hands trembled.
"Where are they?"
A second document gave coordinates.
A remote estate in the mountains.
Adrien's team left immediately.
They arrived at dawn.
The estate appeared abandoned.
Inside, however, they found evidence someone had lived there recently.
A cup of tea.
A blanket.
Medicine.
Photographs.
Then they heard a voice.
"Amelia?"
She froze.
Her mother stepped from a hallway.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Thin.
But unmistakable.
"Mom."
Amelia ran to her.
Claire held her tightly.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Amelia cried.
"I thought you were dead."
"I'm sorry."
"You let me believe it."
"I had no choice."
Adrien stood in the doorway.
Claire looked at him.
"You are your father after all."
Adrien frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You've got the same eyes."
She sighed.
"But you're different."
"How?"
"You still believe people can be saved."
Adrien looked toward Amelia.
Claire noticed.
She smiled.
"You care about my daughter."
Adrien said nothing.
Amelia blushed.
"Mom."
Claire laughed softly.
"I've been waiting years to meet the man who would eventually make you stop pretending you don't have feelings."
Adrien almost smiled.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
Adrien pushed Amelia down.
His men returned fire.
The house erupted into chaos.
Victor had found them.
Claire shouted, "The tunnel!"
They escaped through an underground passage.
But before they reached the exit, someone grabbed Claire.
Amelia screamed.
Victor appeared at the far end.
"Enough."
Adrien stepped in front of Amelia.
Victor held Claire at gunpoint.
"Drop your weapon."
Adrien slowly lowered his gun.
Victor smiled.
"You always were predictable."
Then he turned to Amelia.
"Give me the ledger."
"I don't have it."
"You do."
"I don't."
Victor pointed at Claire.
"Then she dies."
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
Adrien whispered, "Don't."
Victor stared at him.
"You love her."
Adrien said nothing.
Victor smiled.
"That's your weakness."
Amelia looked at Adrien.
"Don't trade yourself for me."
He looked back.
"I wasn't planning to."
Then he moved.
A gunshot exploded.
Victor disappeared through the tunnel.
Claire fell.
Adrien caught her.
She was alive.
Barely.
On the floor lay the final page of the ledger.
And on it was a name.
May you like
Not Victor.
Someone much closer.
Related Stories
