THE ACCIDENT
952 Words
The moment Amara stepped out of the airport, she knew something was wrong.
Her driver was waiting beside the black Mercedes, but instead of greeting her with his usual smile, he stood stiffly beside the car.
Amara slowed.
She was dressed for the business trip she had just completed. a tailored ivory pantsuit, pointed black heels and a structured designer handbag resting against her arm. Her dark hair was neatly pulled into a low bun, and small diamond earrings caught the afternoon light whenever she moved.
She had expected to feel tired.
Instead, she felt satisfied.
Her first overseas meeting had gone better than she expected. Richard had trusted her to handle part of the negotiations alone, and she had managed to secure several important concessions from the investors.
She had already begun planning what she would tell her father when she got home.
Then she saw the expression on her driver's face.
“Good afternoon, Mr. James.”
He bowed his head slightly.
“Good afternoon, Miss Vale.”
Amara stopped beside the car.
“You look worried.”
He hesitated.
“Your mother asked me to bring you home immediately.”
Amara's brows drew together.
“Why?”
He looked away.
“I think it's better if you speak to your parents.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Is something wrong with my father?”
“No, ma'am.”
“My mother?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
The driver remained silent.
Amara stared at him for a moment before opening the car door herself.
“Let's go.”
-
The drive home felt longer than usual.
Amara sat in the back seat, her phone in her hand.
She had several missed calls from Elena.
There were also messages from family members she rarely heard from.
None of them explained anything.
She called her mother again.
No answer.
She called her father.
His phone rang twice before going to voicemail.
Amara's concern deepened.
She looked out of the window.
The city passed by in a blur of buildings and traffic.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened.
When the car finally entered the gates of the Vale estate, she immediately noticed the number of cars parked outside.
Too many.
Relatives were gathered around the house.
A few family friends stood near the entrance.
The sight made her heart sink.
The driver opened her door.
Amara stepped out.
She didn't wait for anyone to greet her.
She walked straight inside.
“Mom?”
Her voice echoed through the foyer.
Elena appeared from the sitting room.
The moment Amara saw her mother's face, she knew.
Elena's eyes were swollen from crying.
Her normally immaculate appearance was gone. Her hair was loosely tied back, and she wore a simple cream blouse with dark trousers.
Amara stopped.
“What's happened?”
Elena's lips trembled.
“Amara…”
“What happened?”
Elena walked toward her.
Amara didn't move.
“Where's Dad?”
“He's inside.”
“Mom, tell me.”
Elena reached for her hands.
Amara's fingers were cold.
“It's Victoria.”
Amara's expression changed.
“What about her?”
Elena looked down.
“There was an accident.”
“What accident?”
“A plane crash.”
Amara stared at her mother.
For several seconds, she didn't understand.
Then her face went pale.
“No.”
Elena began to cry.
“Amara…”
“No.”
Amara pulled her hands away.
“No, what do you mean a plane crash?”
“The flight she was supposed to take…”
Elena struggled to continue.
“…crashed.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
“Authorities are still investigating.”
“Where is Victoria?”
Elena's silence answered before her words did.
“They haven't found her.”
Amara stared at her.
“What?”
“There was no body.”
Amara's breathing became shallow.
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Elena?”
Richard's voice came from behind them.
Amara turned.
Her father stood in the doorway.
He looked nothing like the confident businessman she had left three days earlier.
His suit was still perfectly tailored, but his tie was loose and his expression was exhausted.
Amara looked between her parents.
“Tell me this isn't true.”
Richard walked toward her.
“I wish I could.”
“There's no body.”
“No.”
“Then how do they know she's dead?”
“The passenger records.”
Amara shook her head.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“We've spoken with the authorities.”
“I don't care what the passenger records say.”
Her voice rose for the first time.
“I want to know where she is.”
Richard stepped closer.
“Amara.”
“She could have missed the flight.”
“She didn't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because the airline confirmed she boarded.”
Amara stared at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She called me.”
Richard said nothing.
“Before I left.”
Her voice broke.
“I was so Cold towards her before she left”
Elena covered her mouth.
Amara looked at her.
“I should have treated her better”
Nobody answered.
Amara slowly lowered herself onto the sofa.
She sat upright, her hands resting in her lap.
She looked completely lost.
Victoria couldn't be dead.
Not like this.
Not without a goodbye.
Flashbacks of Victoria's face before she left for the trip.
they want the both of them drifted more further apart from eachother.
A large lump got stuck in her throat, as she tried to swallow her tears .
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