Chapter 4: The Photograph
785 Words
Amara stared at the faded photograph in disbelief.
Her fingers trembled as she turned it over once more.
“Ask Victor what really happened.”
Those five words echoed in her mind.
She looked at the smiling young man in the picture—her father. Standing beside him was a much younger Victor Kane, both wearing suits with the Kane Group logo embroidered on their jackets.
Her father had never spoken about working for Kane Group.
In fact, her mother had always avoided every question about him.
Why?
The hospital room suddenly felt smaller.
“Miss Collins?”
The nurse’s voice startled her.
“Your mother is awake.”
Amara quickly slipped the photograph into her handbag before forcing a smile.
Her mother looked weak but managed one.
“You’ve been crying.”
“I’m fine, Mom.”
“You’ve never been good at lying.”
Amara held her mother’s hand.
“I promise your surgery is going to happen.”
Clara smiled.
“You’ve sacrificed enough for me already.”
If only she knew the price.
A fake marriage.
A life she never wanted.
And now
Secrets.
After leaving the hospital, Amara drove straight to the Kane mansion.
She needed answers.
Victor Kane was sitting alone in the library, reading financial reports.
He barely looked up when Amara entered.
“What is it?”
Without speaking, Amara placed the old photograph on the desk.
Victor froze.
Only for a second.
But she noticed.
“Where did you get this?”
His voice had become dangerously quiet.
“You knew my father.”
Victor slowly removed his glasses.
“I haven’t seen this picture in over twenty years.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“There is no truth.”
“There is always a truth.”
Victor stood.
“Forget that photograph.”
“My father worked for you.”
“He worked for Kane Group.”
“What happened to him?”
Victor walked toward the window.
“He made choices.”
“What choices?”
“I said…”
His voice hardened.
“Forget about it.”
Amara refused to move.
“My father died believing someone betrayed him.”
Victor turned.
“And sometimes dead men should be left in peace.”
The words chilled her.
Before she could ask another question, Victor left the room.
Only one thought remained.
He was hiding something.
Unknown to Amara…
Someone had been listening outside the door.
Adrian.
He had heard everything.
And for the first time…
He wondered whether his father had lied to him too.
The following morning, Adrian waited for Amara in the dining room.
Normally, they barely exchanged more than a few words.
Today felt different.
“You questioned my father.”
Amara looked surprised.
“You heard?”
“I wasn’t spying.”
She sighed.
“I deserve answers.”
Adrian poured himself coffee.
“My father doesn’t answer questions.”
“You noticed that too?”
He almost smiled.
“Since childhood.”
Silence settled between them.
For years Adrian had believed Victor Kane was an honest businessman.
Now
Doubt had appeared.
“If your father knew mine…”
Adrian interrupted.
“I’ll investigate.”
She looked at him.
“You’d help me?”
“I’m helping myself.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“If he’s hiding something…”
“I want to know too.”
For the first time…
They were no longer opponents.
They had become allies.
Across town…
Vanessa Morgan watched them through photographs delivered by a private investigator.
She crushed the pictures in her hand.
“They’re getting closer.”
Her assistant nodded.
“What do you want me to do?”
Vanessa smiled.
“Destroy her reputation.”
Monday morning.
The entire Kane Group headquarters buzzed with gossip.
Anonymous posts appeared online.
“The CEO’s wife slept her way to the top.”
“She planned the contract marriage.”
“She trapped Adrian Kane.”
Employees whispered whenever Amara walked by.
Some laughed.
Others avoided eye contact.
She kept walking.
Head high.
But every word hurt.
Inside Adrian’s office…
He stared at the online articles.
His face darkened.
“Find whoever published these.”
His assistant hesitated.
“There are hundreds of fake accounts.”
“I don’t care.”
His voice turned cold.
“Erase every single one.”
Within hours…
The articles disappeared.
But the damage remained.
When Amara arrived home that evening…
She found Adrian waiting.
“I handled it.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
He looked away.
“Because no one insults my wife.”
The words lingered between them.
Neither realized how much they meant.
- Writer
