THE CEO'S SECRET PROMISE

THE FAMILY DINNER

Chapter Seven

Amelia couldn't stop staring at the photograph.

She sat in Adrian's office, the image displayed on his phone between them.

A younger version of herself.

Emily beside her.

And her father standing behind them.

Six years ago.

A time Amelia barely remembered.

"I don't remember this," she whispered.

Adrian watched her carefully.

"That's what worries me."

She looked at him.

"Why would I have been with Emily?"

"I don't know."

"You keep saying that."

"Because I don't have the answer."

Amelia took a slow breath.

"Then I'm going home."

"Why?"

"To ask my father."

Adrian nodded.

"I'll take you."

"No."

"Amelia—"

"I need to talk to my father alone."

He studied her for a moment.

"Fine. But call me if anything happens."

She nodded.

---

When Amelia arrived home, her father was already preparing dinner.

He looked up and smiled.

"You're home."

"We need to talk."

The smile disappeared.

"About what?"

She placed the photograph on the table.

Her father's face went completely still.

"Where did you get this?"

"Adrian."

He picked up the photograph.

His hands were trembling slightly.

"Amelia, you shouldn't have this."

"Why?"

He put it down.

"Because I was trying to protect you."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

Her voice rose.

"But nobody tells me what they're protecting me from."

Her father sighed.

"Sit down."

Amelia sat.

He remained standing.

"Six years ago, there was a business agreement between me and Adrian's father."

"I know."

"It involved several companies."

"And Emily?"

He looked away.

"Emily was involved because she knew about the agreement."

"What did she know?"

"Something she shouldn't have."

Amelia frowned.

"What?"

Her father walked to the window.

"She discovered that someone had been moving money between the companies."

"The twelve million?"

He nodded.

"Emily found the records."

"Then what happened?"

"She told me she was going to expose whoever was responsible."

Amelia's heart tightened.

"Did she?"

"We never got the chance."

"What do you mean?"

Her father turned around.

"The night Emily disappeared, she came to see me."

Amelia stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I did."

"Then why does Adrian think you know what happened?"

"Because I was the last person who saw her."

Silence filled the room.

Amelia's voice became quiet.

"What happened after she left?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then why did you hide this from me?"

"Because someone threatened our family."

Amelia froze.

"Who?"

"I never saw their face."

"What did they say?"

Her father looked at her.

"They told me that if I spoke about that night, you would be next."

Amelia's breath caught.

"Me?"

He nodded.

"That's why I kept quiet."

She stood.

"Why didn't you tell me when I became an adult?"

"I wanted you to have a normal life."

"You didn't give me a normal life. You gave me a life built on lies."

Her father looked hurt.

"I did what I thought would keep you safe."

Amelia picked up the photograph.

"Was Emily my friend?"

He hesitated.

"Yes."

"How well did I know her?"

"Very well."

Amelia stared at him.

"Then why don't I remember her?"

Her father looked down.

"Because after that night, you were never the same."

A cold feeling passed through Amelia.

"What happened to me?"

He didn't answer.

"Dad."

"I can't."

"Please."

He closed his eyes.

"You were found unconscious the next morning."

Amelia froze.

"What?"

"You were missing for almost twelve hours."

Her hand tightened around the photograph.

"Where was I?"

"We found you near an old warehouse."

"With Emily?"

"No."

"Then where was she?"

Her father shook his head.

"We never found her."

Amelia felt tears gather in her eyes.

She suddenly remembered something.

A dark hallway.

A silver necklace.

Someone calling her name.

Then nothing.

She touched her forehead.

"I remember..."

Her father immediately stepped toward her.

"What?"

"A voice."

"What voice?"

She looked at him.

"It said, 'Don't tell anyone.'"

Her father's face went pale.

"Amelia..."

Before he could say anything, her phone rang.

Adrian.

She answered.

"Hello?"

His voice was tense.

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Are you alone?"

"My father is here."

There was a brief silence.

"Listen carefully. Security found another message."

"What does it say?"

Adrian hesitated.

Then he said,

"It says the person who took Emily is still alive."

Amelia's heart stopped.

"How do they know?"

"We don't know."

She looked at her father.

He had heard Adrian through the phone.

His expression told her something was wrong.

"Adrian," Amelia said slowly, "my father told me something."

"What?"

"I was found near an old warehouse six years ago."

Adrian went silent.

"Which warehouse?"

Her father suddenly shook his head.

Amelia looked at him.

He mouthed one word.

Don't.

But it was too late.

Adrian was waiting for her answer.

"The old Carter warehouse," Amelia whispered.

Adrian's voice became urgent.

"Amelia, stay inside."

"Why?"

"Because that's where Emily was last seen."

The call ended.

Amelia slowly lowered her phone.

She looked at her father.

For the first time, she realized that the past wasn't simply coming back.

It had never really left.

And somewhere out there, the person responsible for Emily's disappearance might still be watching them.