Chapter 9: The Hidden Truth
967 Words
Ava barely slept.
Mrs. Blackwood's words echoed in her mind.
"Some doors in this family are better left unopened."
What had she meant?
Was it simply a warning...
Or a threat?
The more Ava thought about it, the more certain she became that the Blackwood family was hiding something far bigger than Ethan's broken engagement.
---
The next morning, sunlight poured through the tall bedroom windows.
A soft knock interrupted Ava's thoughts.
A maid entered carrying breakfast.
"Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood."
Ava forced a smile.
"Thank you."
The maid hesitated before speaking again.
"Mr. Blackwood left before sunrise."
Ava looked up.
"He didn't say goodbye?"
The maid shook her head.
"He instructed us to make sure you're comfortable."
Comfortable.
The word almost made Ava laugh.
She had everything money could buy...
Except answers.
---
Across the city...
Ethan sat inside the top-floor office of Blackwood Group.
Stacks of confidential files covered his desk.
His assistant, Mr. Carter, stood nearby.
"We've searched every financial record."
"No sign of who leaked the photographs."
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"What about Victoria?"
"She's been meeting someone regularly."
"Who?"
"We haven't identified him yet."
Mr. Carter placed another file on the desk.
"But we believe he's connected to your father's old business partners."
Ethan's expression darkened.
"So they've finally returned."
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Carter hesitated.
"Should we tell Mrs. Blackwood?"
"No."
"She deserves to know."
"I said no."
His voice became unusually sharp.
After a long silence, Ethan sighed.
"The less Ava knows..."
"...the safer she'll be."
---
Meanwhile...
Victoria sat inside an expensive café.
She stirred her coffee slowly.
Across from her sat the mysterious man from the warehouse.
"You've been watching Ethan."
Victoria smiled.
"He looks nervous."
"He should."
She leaned closer.
"I don't just want his company."
"I want everything."
"The mansion."
"The family."
"His reputation."
"And his wife?"
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"I'll deal with Ava myself."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Don't underestimate her."
Victoria laughed.
"She's just a poor girl pretending to belong among billionaires."
"She'll break."
"Eventually."
---
Back at Blackwood Mansion...
Ava decided she had waited long enough.
She returned to the library.
This time...
She carefully searched for the hidden switch.
Click.
The bookshelf slid aside once again.
She stepped inside.
Dust floated through the sunlight.
She opened another wooden box.
Inside were dozens of handwritten letters.
Every one of them was addressed to Ethan.
One envelope caught her attention.
It had never been opened.
Written across the front were the words:
"To my son... if you ever learn the truth."
Ava's hands trembled.
She shouldn't read it.
She knew that.
But curiosity won.
She slowly unfolded the letter.
---
Ethan,
If you're reading this, then I have failed to protect you.
There are people inside our own family who cannot be trusted.
Your father's death was never an accident.
Someone wanted control of Blackwood Group.
Don't believe everything your uncle says.
Trust your heart.
And if you ever find someone worth protecting... never let her go.
Love,
Mother.
---
Ava's breathing became uneven.
Uncle?
She had never heard Ethan mention an uncle.
Footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway.
She hurriedly folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope.
The hidden door closed just as someone entered.
It was Mr. Carter.
He looked surprised.
"Mrs. Blackwood."
"I didn't know you were here."
"I was looking for a book."
His eyes searched her face.
"You should return to your room."
"Why?"
"Mr. Blackwood gave strict instructions."
Ava frowned.
"Am I a prisoner?"
"Of course not."
"Then stop treating me like one."
Mr. Carter lowered his head respectfully.
"I only wish to keep you safe."
Safe.
Everyone kept saying that.
Yet no one explained why.
---
That afternoon...
A black SUV slowly entered the mansion gates.
Ava watched from the upstairs window.
Three expensive cars followed behind it.
Several bodyguards stepped out first.
Then...
An elderly man wearing a perfectly tailored black suit emerged.
Every servant immediately bowed.
Mrs. Blackwood hurried downstairs.
Even she seemed nervous.
Ava whispered,
"Who is he?"
One maid answered quietly,
"That's Mr. Richard Blackwood."
"Ethan's uncle."
Ava's heart skipped a beat.
The same uncle mentioned in Ethan's mother's letter.
Richard looked around the mansion with sharp grey eyes.
Nothing escaped his attention.
Then...
He looked directly at Ava's window.
Even from that distance...
She felt as though he could see straight through her.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
Not a warm smile.
A calculating one.
---
Minutes later...
A servant knocked on Ava's bedroom door.
"Mrs. Blackwood."
"Mr. Richard Blackwood requests your presence."
Ava swallowed nervously.
She followed the servant downstairs.
The grand living room was silent.
Richard sat comfortably in Ethan's favourite chair.
Mrs. Blackwood stood beside him.
Richard smiled.
"So..."
"You're the young woman my nephew married."
Ava nodded politely.
"It's nice to meet you."
He chuckled.
"I've heard many things about you."
"I hope they're good."
"Oh..."
"They're interesting."
His gaze lingered on her.
"You remind me of someone."
Ava forced a smile.
"Who?"
Richard's expression turned unreadable.
"A woman who died a very long time ago."
The room suddenly became quiet.
Before Ava could ask another question...
The front door opened.
Ethan walked in.
The moment he saw Richard...
His entire expression changed.
Cold.
Guarded.
Dangerously calm.
"Uncle."
Richard stood.
"Nephew."
Neither man smiled.
Neither offered a handshake.
The tension between them was so heavy that even the servants stepped back.
Richard looked between Ethan and Ava.
"What a lovely couple."
"I do hope..."
"...history doesn't repeat itself."
Ethan's eyes flashed with anger.
"What are you doing here?"
Richard smiled calmly.
"I've come to discuss family."
"And family secrets."
Ava looked from one man to the other.
She had the unmistakable feeling that the real battle for the Blackwood empire...
...was only beginning.
- Writer
