CHAPTER TEN
1256 Words
THE TRUTH SHE COULDN'T IGNORE
Amelia couldn't get the message out of her mind.
HE WAS ORDERED TO WATCH YOU.
She had spent the entire night questioning everything Adrian had said.
His kindness.
His concern for Nadia.
The way he had encouraged her to return to art.
Had it all been an act?
She didn't know.
But she knew one thing.
She needed answers.
The following morning, Amelia left Nadia with Maggie's mother before going to Vale Arts Group.
She didn't tell Nadia why.
Some questions were too dangerous for a twelve-year-old to carry.
When Amelia arrived, Adrian was already waiting in his office.
He stood when she entered.
"Good morning."
She didn't answer.
Adrian immediately noticed the change in her expression.
"What happened?"
"You tell me."
His face tightened.
"About what?"
"About why you were ordered to watch me."
Silence.
Amelia placed her phone on his desk.
The message was visible.
Adrian looked at it.
His expression changed.
"Who sent this?"
"That's not my question."
He took a breath.
"Amelia..."
"Was it true?"
He didn't answer.
Her heart sank.
"So it was."
Adrian looked away.
"I was instructed to keep an eye on you."
"By whom?"
"I can't tell you yet."
"Yet?"
He looked at her.
"Because I don't know who I can trust."
Amelia laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to trust you after admitting that you were secretly watching me?"
"No."
"Good."
She turned toward the door.
"Wait."
She stopped.
Adrian's voice softened.
"I didn't expect to care about you."
Amelia slowly turned.
"What?"
He seemed almost surprised by his own words.
"When you first came here, you were a problem I needed to understand."
"And now?"
"Now you're not a problem."
He stepped closer.
"You're someone I don't want to see hurt."
Amelia's heart skipped.
She quickly looked away.
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't."
"Then let me."
The words hung between them.
For a moment, Amelia forgot why she had come.
Then she remembered Nadia.
She remembered Daniel.
She remembered the messages.
"I can't."
Adrian nodded.
"I understand."
---
Meanwhile, Nadia and Maggie sat together in the school art room.
Their teacher placed two envelopes on the table.
"You've both been invited to the Vale Arts Foundation's young artists' workshop."
Nadia opened hers.
Her eyes widened.
"We're going to Vale Arts Group?"
"Yes."
Maggie smiled.
"This is incredible."
Nadia immediately thought of her mother.
She couldn't wait to tell her.
---
That afternoon, Amelia returned home.
Nadia ran toward her.
"Mummy!"
Amelia smiled.
"What happened?"
"We got invited to the workshop!"
Amelia's expression changed.
"At Vale Arts Group?"
Nadia nodded excitedly.
"Maggie too."
Amelia sat down.
She knew Adrian was behind the program.
Part of her wanted to refuse.
But she couldn't deny Nadia this opportunity.
Nadia had inherited the artistic dream Amelia had once abandoned.
She deserved a chance.
"When is it?"
"Saturday."
Amelia smiled.
"Then we'll go."
Nadia hugged her.
"You're the best!"
Amelia held her tightly.
She hoped she had made the right decision.
---
Across the city, Adrian reviewed the list of young artists attending the workshop.
He stopped when he saw Nadia's name.
He knew exactly who she was.
Amelia's daughter.
For a moment, he considered removing her from the program.
Then he remembered Nadia's drawing.
Her talent was genuine.
And he knew Amelia would never forgive him if he used her daughter for anything else.
He picked up his phone.
"Cancel the special instructions concerning Nadia."
His assistant looked surprised.
"Sir?"
"She is a child. Her participation is strictly about art."
"But—"
"No."
Adrian's voice was firm.
"Nobody uses that girl to get to her mother."
His assistant nodded.
"Understood."
After the call ended, Adrian leaned back.
He had crossed a line.
He was no longer following orders.
He was protecting Amelia and her daughter.
And he knew whoever had given him those orders would eventually discover it.
---
Later that evening, Amelia opened an old box belonging to Daniel.
She searched through his papers.
There were receipts.
Letters.
Old photographs.
Then she found something she had never seen before.
A business card.
Marcus Hale
Executive Director
Vale Arts Group
Amelia stared at the name.
Marcus.
The same man Adrian's assistant had mentioned.
The same man who had warned Adrian about becoming too close to her.
She turned the card over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Ask Marcus what happened to the missing file.
Amelia's heart raced.
She immediately searched for the number.
Then she stopped.
She couldn't call him.
Not yet.
Instead, she photographed the card.
---
That night, Adrian stood on the balcony of his apartment.
He thought about Amelia.
He knew his feelings were becoming dangerous.
He had started noticing little things.
The way she smiled when Nadia spoke about art.
The way she became serious whenever her daughter was involved.
The way she refused to surrender despite everything life had taken from her.
He admired her.
More than that.
He was falling in love with her.
But love wasn't enough.
Not yet.
He had to make things right.
His phone rang.
Marcus.
Adrian answered.
"What do you want?"
Marcus sounded calm.
"You've changed."
Adrian said nothing.
"You were supposed to watch Amelia."
"I am."
"That's not what I mean."
Adrian's voice hardened.
"Then say what you mean."
"You care about her."
Adrian looked out at the city.
"That's none of your business."
"It becomes my business when she becomes a threat."
"She's not a threat."
Marcus laughed softly.
"You sound convinced."
Adrian ended the call.
Seconds later, another message arrived.
YOU CAN'T PROTECT HER FOREVER.
Adrian deleted it.
Then he made a decision.
He would uncover the truth himself.
---
Saturday arrived.
Nadia and Maggie stood outside Vale Arts Group wearing their school uniforms and carrying their sketchbooks.
Amelia stood beside them.
She looked up at the enormous building.
For a moment, she remembered the young woman she had once been.
A girl who dreamed of becoming an artist.
A girl who believed she would one day walk through those doors.
Now she was standing there with her daughter.
Life had brought her back to the same place.
Only this time, there were secrets waiting behind the doors.
Adrian approached.
"Nadia."
She smiled.
"Mr. Vale!"
Maggie waved.
"Hello."
Adrian smiled at both girls.
"Ready?"
"Yes!"
Amelia watched them.
Adrian looked at her.
"You can trust the instructors."
"Can I trust you?"
He smiled sadly.
"I'm trying to become someone you can."
Her heart softened despite herself.
Before she could answer, a woman approached Adrian.
"Sir, there's an urgent matter."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"The old archive room was opened."
His expression changed.
"By whom?"
"We don't know."
Adrian looked toward Amelia.
"Stay with the girls."
"Why?"
"Please."
He walked away.
Amelia watched him disappear down the corridor.
Then she noticed something.
A man standing near the archive entrance.
Marcus Hale.
Their eyes met.
He immediately turned away.
Amelia's heart began racing.
She remembered Daniel's card.
Ask Marcus what happened to the missing file.
She looked at Nadia and Maggie.
They were laughing with the other young artists.
Amelia made a decision.
She followed Marcus.
But before she reached the corridor, her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
YOU FOUND MARCUS. GOOD.
Another message followed.
NOW ASK HIM WHY DANIEL TRUSTED HIM.
Amelia stopped.
Her eyes widened.
Because suddenly she understood.
Marcus wasn't just connected to Daniel's death.
He had been part of Daniel's life long before Adrian ever knew Amelia existed.
And somewhere ahead, Marcus was waiting.
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