THE SECRET SHE WITNESSED

CHAPTER FOUR

THE WOMAN IN THE REFLECTION

Amelia stared at the photograph.

Her hands were trembling.

The woman standing behind Daniel in the reflection was unmistakable.

Amelia knew her.

She had seen her on the night she witnessed the murder.

But that couldn't be possible.

The woman had been standing across the street when everything happened. Amelia had only seen her for a few seconds before fear forced her to run.

Why was she standing beside Daniel in a photograph taken six days before his death?

Amelia placed the photograph on the table.

Nadia was still asleep.

She walked to the window and looked outside.

The street was quiet.

No black car.

No strange figure.

Nothing.

Yet Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching.

She returned to the table and picked up the photograph again.

There was one thing she had to know.

Who was the woman?

---

The following morning, Amelia arrived at Vale Arts Group before nine.

She had barely slept.

The receptionist looked surprised to see her.

"Good morning."

"Good morning. I need to see Mr. Vale."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"I'm afraid he's very busy."

Amelia placed the photograph on the desk.

"I need to speak with him about this."

The receptionist glanced at it.

Her expression immediately changed.

"Please wait."

Amelia watched her disappear through a hallway.

A few minutes later, Adrian appeared.

His expression was calm.

But his eyes immediately went to the photograph in Amelia's hand.

"Come with me."

He led her into his office.

The door closed.

Amelia placed the photograph on his desk.

"Who is she?"

Adrian stared at it.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he looked at Amelia.

"Where did you get this?"

"Someone left it at my door."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Adrian picked up the photograph.

His jaw tightened.

"Where did you get the other photograph?"

"What other photograph?"

"The one showing Daniel outside this building."

Amelia froze.

"You know about it."

Adrian looked away.

"Daniel came here before he died."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

Adrian looked at her.

"You shouldn't come here asking questions like this."

"Why?"

"Because you don't understand what you're dealing with."

Amelia stepped closer.

"My husband died two years ago."

"I know."

"I have spent two years believing his death was an accident."

Adrian remained silent.

"Now someone tells me it wasn't."

He looked at her.

"And you believe them?"

"I don't know what to believe."

Adrian sighed.

"That's exactly why you should leave this alone."

Amelia shook her head.

"No."

His eyes narrowed.

"My daughter deserves the truth about her father."

Something changed in Adrian's expression.

"Your daughter?"

"Nadia."

"I know."

Amelia's heart skipped.

"You know my daughter?"

Adrian immediately corrected himself.

"I know she exists."

"How?"

"Your application included your family information."

Amelia didn't believe him.

Before she could question him, Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

His expression changed.

"What?"

He stood.

"Where?"

He listened for a moment.

Then ended the call.

Amelia watched him carefully.

"What happened?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Someone broke into the company's private archives."

"When?"

"Last night."

Amelia's stomach tightened.

"What were they looking for?"

Adrian's eyes remained on hers.

"Daniel Carter's file."

Silence.

Amelia felt cold.

Someone wasn't just following her.

Someone was searching for the same truth she was.

---

At school, Nadia sat beside Maggie during lunch.

Maggie was showing her a drawing.

"I think the eyes should be bigger."

Nadia laughed.

"Then the face will look strange."

"Art doesn't have to look normal."

Nadia smiled.

"That's true."

Maggie leaned closer.

"Are you okay?"

"Why?"

"You've been quiet."

Nadia hesitated.

"My mum is worried."

"About what?"

"I don't know."

Maggie looked toward the school gate.

"There was a man outside this morning."

Nadia turned.

"What man?"

"He was sitting in a car."

Nadia's smile disappeared.

"Was it black?"

Maggie nodded.

Nadia's stomach tightened.

"The same car."

"What same car?"

"The one near our house."

Maggie lowered her voice.

"Do you think he's following you?"

Nadia shook her head.

"I don't know."

Maggie reached for her hand.

"Don't worry. I'll stay with you."

Nadia smiled.

"You're my best friend."

"And you're stuck with me."

They laughed.

Neither girl noticed the woman standing across the street.

Watching them.

---

That afternoon, Amelia returned home early.

Nadia was drawing at the table.

"Mummy!"

Amelia smiled.

"How was school?"

"Good."

Nadia showed her a picture.

Amelia stopped.

It was a beautiful drawing of two girls standing beneath a large tree.

"You made this?"

"Yes."

"It's beautiful."

"Maggie helped me choose the background."

Amelia smiled.

"You two really love art."

Nadia nodded.

"One day we're going to work for Vale Arts Group."

Amelia froze.

"Why?"

"Because it's the biggest art company in the city."

Amelia forced a smile.

"Maybe."

Nadia noticed her expression.

"Mummy?"

"I'm fine."

She wasn't.

Not anymore.

---

That evening, Adrian stood alone in the archive room.

The broken lock had been replaced.

He looked at the empty shelf.

Daniel's file was missing.

His assistant approached.

"We checked the cameras."

"And?"

"The person covered their face."

"Male or female?"

"We can't tell."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

The assistant handed him a small object.

A silver bracelet.

Adrian stared at it.

He knew that bracelet.

It belonged to the woman in the photograph.

"Where did you find this?"

"Inside the archive."

Adrian's expression changed.

"She's back."

His assistant looked confused.

"Who?"

Adrian didn't answer.

He walked to the window.

For years, he had tried to bury the past.

Now it had returned.

And Amelia Carter was standing directly in the middle of it.

---

That night, Amelia received another message.

You asked who the woman is.

She stared at the screen.

A second message appeared.

Her name is Clara Morgan.

Amelia's breath caught.

Clara.

The name sounded familiar.

Then another message appeared.

She was with Daniel the night he died.

Amelia typed quickly.

What was her relationship with my husband?

The reply came.

Ask Adrian.

Amelia stared at the message.

She typed:

Why should I trust you?

This time, there was a longer pause.

Then:

You shouldn't.

Amelia frowned.

Another message appeared.

But you should be more afraid of the person you already trust.

She read it twice.

Then the phone rang.

Unknown number.

Amelia answered.

"Hello?"

No response.

"Who is this?"

A man's breathing could be heard faintly.

Then:

"Don't go to Vale Arts Group tomorrow."

Amelia's heart raced.

"Why?"

"Because they're waiting for you."

"Who?"

The line went dead.

Amelia slowly lowered the phone.

Then she heard something outside.

A car door closed.

She walked toward the window.

The black car was parked across the street.

Its headlights were off.

Amelia stepped away.

She locked the window.

Then she checked Nadia's room.

Her daughter was asleep.

Amelia sat beside her.

A few minutes later, she heard a soft sound at the front door.

Something had been pushed underneath it.

She waited before approaching.

Then she picked it up.

An envelope.

Inside was a single piece of paper.

CLARA MORGAN DIDN'T KILL HIM.

Amelia's heart raced.

Underneath that sentence was another:

BUT SHE KNOWS WHO DID.

Then came the final line.

And tomorrow, she is going to tell you.

Amelia stared at the words.

For the first time since leaving her old home, she realized something terrifying.

The person following her wasn't trying to scare her away.

They were leading her somewhere.

And tomorrow, she would finally meet the woman who knew the truth about her husband's death.