THE SECRET
1020 Words
VERONICA’S POV
The footsteps got closer.
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe.
Adrian pushed me into a small room behind his office.
“Stay here.”
“What?”
He stepped back.
“Don't make a sound.”
“You can't just…” He shut the door before I could finish my sentence.
I stood there in complete darkness.
I could hear voices outside.
“What happened?”
“Someone accessed the security system.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Then silence.
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
I didn't know who I was more afraid of, the people outside or Adrian.
A few seconds later, the door opened, Adrian stepped inside.
“Come on.”
I followed him back into his office.
The man from earlier was standing beside the desk.
“Sir, we've checked the cameras.”
“And?”
He hesitated.
“There was someone outside your office.”
“Who?”
“We couldn't get a clear image.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Show me.”
The man handed him a tablet.
Adrian stared at the screen. Then his expression changed.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“What's wrong?”
He turned the tablet toward me.
A blurry image appeared.
A man standing in the hallway.
Dressed completely in black.
My stomach dropped.
It was him, the man from my father's house.
“He followed me.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Yes.”
“How do you know him?”
“I don't.”
“Don't lie to me.”
Adrian's expression remained cold.
“You came here for answers.”
“Yes.”
“Then listen.”
He placed the tablet down.
“The man you're looking for isn't the only person involved.”
My stomach twisted.
“What does that mean?”
“Your father was investigating something.”
“What?”
Adrian hesitated, then said,
“Money.”
I frowned.
“Money?”
“Millions of dollars were moved through accounts connected to your father's company.”
“My father would never steal money.”
“I didn't say he did.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“Someone used his company.”
I stared at him.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“That's why you're in danger.”
I looked away.
“I don't understand.”
“Your father knew too much.”
I swallowed.
“And now he’s dead, who killed him?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
His eyes hardened.
“If I knew who killed your father, they'd already be dead.”
I stared at him.
There was something about the way he said it. Not anger, not fear, something else.
I pulled the photograph from my pocket, Adrian's eyes immediately went to it.
“You said you were there when my mother disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
He looked away.
“Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“You're not ready.”
I laughed bitterly.
“My father is dead, someone broke into my house, a stranger knows my name, my mother might be alive and you're telling me I'm not ready?”
Adrian said nothing.
I stepped closer.
“What did my mother do?”
His face changed.
“You really don't know?”
“No!”
He stared at me.
Then quietly said,
“She betrayed your father.”
My heart sank.
“What?”
“She betrayed him.”
“How?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Tell me!”
Before he could respond, his phone rang.
He answered.
“Lordwood.”
His expression changed almost immediately.
“What?”
He listened, then looked at me.
“Are you sure?”
Another pause.
“Don't touch anything. I'm coming.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
He looked at me.
“They found something in your father's house.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Your father's missing phone.”
I froze.
“But the police searched the house.”
“They missed it.”
“Where was it?”
Adrian stared at me.
“In your father's office.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It gets worse.”
He stepped closer.
“There was a message on it.”
My heart pounded.
“What message?”
Adrian looked directly into my eyes.
“It was sent to you.”
I couldn't speak.
“What did it say?”
He hesitated, then handed me his phone.
A picture of the message was displayed on the screen.
My blood ran cold as I read it.
VERONICA, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, ADRIAN LORDWOOD IS LYING TO YOU.
I looked up at Adrian.
He didn't look surprised.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted to see if you'd believe it.”
I stared at him.
“And?”
He stepped closer.
“I still don't know.”
My hands trembled.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One new message.
I opened it.
DON'T TRUST ADRIAN.
A second message appeared.
HE KNOWS WHERE YOUR MOTHER IS.
I looked at Adrian.
He was already staring at me.
“How did they get my number?”
He didn't answer.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, there was a photograph attached.
I opened it, and my entire body went cold.
It was a photograph of Adrian standing beside, my mother.
My fingers went numb.
“When was this taken?”
Adrian's face went completely still.
“I don't know.”
I stared at the photograph.
“She's alive.”
Adrian didn't deny it.
I looked at him.
“You knew.”
He remained silent.
“You knew my mother was alive.”
“Veronica”
“You knew!”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
He looked at me.
“From her.”
My heart stopped.
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