The Girl They Don't know

Chapter Eight

Face to Face

Lila felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. Across the park stood Victoria Hart, the woman she had spent years avoiding. Time seemed to stop. Ethan looked between them, confused by the fear written across Lila's face. Victoria removed her sunglasses and offered a calm smile, but Lila knew better than anyone that her aunt's smiles were dangerous. "Hello, Lila," Victoria said. "It's been a long time." Lila's heart pounded. "What are you doing here?" Victoria slowly approached. "I've been looking for you." "You found me. Now leave." Victoria laughed softly. "Still stubborn." Ethan stepped closer to Lila. "Who is she?" Neither woman answered immediately. Victoria's gaze shifted toward Ethan. "And who might this be?" "That's none of your business," Lila snapped. Victoria's smile widened. "Protective. Interesting." Lila clenched her fists. She hated the way Victoria always acted as though she controlled every situation. "What do you want?" she demanded. Victoria sighed dramatically. "To bring you home." "I don't have a home." For a brief second, Victoria's expression hardened. "You are the sole heir of Hart Corporation. Whether you like it or not, you belong there." Ethan stared at Lila in disbelief. Sole heir? Hart Corporation? The pieces were finally beginning to fit together. Lila closed her eyes. The secret she had hidden for years was now standing in the open. "I left that life behind." "You don't get to leave a billion-dollar empire behind," Victoria replied coldly. "Especially not when people are willing to kill for it." The words sent a chill through the air. Ethan immediately noticed the fear in Lila's eyes. "What does that mean?" he asked. Victoria glanced at him. "It means your friend is in much more danger than she realizes." Before anyone could respond, a loud crash echoed from nearby. Everyone turned. A black motorcycle sped down the road toward the park entrance. The rider wore a helmet, making it impossible to see his face. Victoria's bodyguards instantly moved forward. The motorcycle slowed only for a moment before something was thrown from the rider's hand. A small package landed on the grass near Lila. Then the motorcycle sped away. One of Victoria's guards rushed forward and picked up the package. "Don't touch it!" Lila shouted, but it was too late. The guard opened it. Inside was a single photograph. The man's face immediately turned pale. Victoria grabbed it from him. For the first time since arriving, she looked genuinely shaken. Lila stepped closer. "What is it?" Victoria hesitated before handing over the photograph. Lila's breath caught in her throat. It was a recent picture of her entering the café three days earlier. On the back, written in red ink, were four chilling words. She's ours, not yours. Ethan felt a knot form in his stomach. Someone had been watching Lila long before Victoria arrived. Someone who wasn't connected to the Hart family. Victoria slowly folded the photograph. "This is worse than I thought." "Who sent it?" Lila asked. Victoria looked away. "I don't know." Lila immediately knew she was lying. "Tell me the truth." Victoria remained silent. "Tell me!" Lila shouted. People nearby had begun staring, but she didn't care. Years of fear and frustration finally exploded. "You find me after all this time and suddenly people are sending threats? What aren't you telling me?" Victoria's expression darkened. "There are things about your parents' deaths you never knew." Lila froze. Ethan did too. "What things?" Lila whispered. Victoria looked toward the road as though checking who might be listening. When she spoke again, her voice was low. "Your parents weren't the intended targets." The world seemed to stop. Lila stared at her aunt, unable to breathe. "What?" Victoria swallowed. "The attack was meant for you." Silence fell between them. Ethan felt his chest tighten as he watched the color drain from Lila's face. "That's impossible," she whispered. "You were supposed to be in that car." Victoria's eyes softened for the first time. "Someone wanted the Hart heir dead." Lila's knees nearly gave out. Ethan quickly caught her before she fell. Her entire life had been built on the belief that her parents died in a tragic accident. Now she was learning something far worse. Someone had tried to murder her. Someone had failed. And after all these years, they were still searching. As tears filled her eyes, another realization hit her. If the attackers knew she was alive, then Riverside was no longer safe. Neither was Ethan. In the distance, hidden inside another parked vehicle, a man lowered a camera after taking several photographs. He sent them to an unknown number along with a short message. Target has reunited with Victoria Hart. Proceeding to Phase Two. Seconds later, a reply arrived. Eliminate anyone protecting her. The man smiled and started the engine.