Chapter 13: The Message in the Flames
1037 Words
The deafening explosion shook the mansion from its foundations.
The peaceful night vanished in an instant.
Glass shattered across the marble floors as servants screamed and ran in every direction.
The smell of smoke quickly filled the air.
Ethan instinctively pulled Ava behind him.
"Stay back."
Flames erupted from the east wing where several luxury cars were parked.
Black smoke curled into the night sky.
The mansion's emergency alarms began to ring.
Security guards rushed toward the fire with extinguishers while others searched the grounds.
Mr. Carter grabbed his radio.
"Seal every gate!"
"No one enters or leaves without my approval."
"Search the entire property!"
The guards immediately spread out.
---
Ethan unfolded the black card again.
The Ace of Spades.
Beneath the chilling message was another line written in smaller letters.
"You protected her once. You won't protect her forever."
His jaw tightened.
Whoever was behind this attack knew exactly how to get under his skin.
Ava stepped closer.
"What does it mean?"
Ethan quietly folded the card.
"It means they're getting bolder."
"You know who they are, don't you?"
He looked into her eyes.
"I know who benefits if Blackwood Group falls."
"But I still don't know who's giving the orders."
---
Several fire engines arrived within minutes.
The flames were eventually brought under control.
Fortunately, the explosion had happened in the detached garage rather than the main house.
Most of the luxury cars had been destroyed.
No one had been killed.
But one security guard had suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
Mrs. Blackwood sat silently in the living room, holding a cup of tea with trembling hands.
"I haven't seen violence like this since..."
She stopped herself.
"Since when?" Ava asked gently.
Mrs. Blackwood forced a smile.
"It doesn't matter."
But Ava noticed the fear in her eyes.
Whatever had happened years ago was returning.
---
The next morning...
News of the attack dominated every television station.
BLACKWOOD MANSION TARGETED IN MIDNIGHT EXPLOSION
WHO IS ATTACKING THE BILLIONAIRE FAMILY?
Reporters crowded outside the estate gates.
Helicopters circled overhead.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was tense.
Breakfast was unusually quiet.
Ethan hadn't touched his food.
Instead, he studied security reports.
Ava finally broke the silence.
"When will this end?"
Ethan looked up.
"When the person responsible is caught."
"And if they aren't?"
"They will be."
His confidence was reassuring, but Ava could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
He hadn't slept.
Neither had she.
---
Later that morning...
Mr. Carter entered the study carrying a laptop.
"Sir."
"We've recovered CCTV footage from the garage."
Ethan stood immediately.
"Show me."
The video began playing.
At first, everything looked normal.
Then...
A hooded figure climbed over the outer wall.
The person moved confidently through the shadows.
They placed a small package beneath one of the vehicles.
Exactly three minutes later...
The explosion occurred.
Mr. Carter paused the footage.
"We enhanced one frame."
He zoomed in.
The hood slipped back for less than a second.
Ava gasped.
"I know her..."
Ethan turned sharply.
"You've seen her?"
Ava nodded slowly.
"She was at the charity gala."
"The woman standing beside Victoria."
Mr. Carter's expression darkened.
"So Victoria wasn't acting alone."
Ethan's eyes became cold.
"I knew it."
---
Across the city...
Victoria stood inside her penthouse apartment, staring at the skyline.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
The mysterious woman entered.
"I'm sorry."
"I failed."
Victoria remained calm.
"I expected Ethan to protect her."
"So what's our next move?"
Victoria smiled.
"The explosion wasn't meant to kill anyone."
"It was meant to send a message."
The woman frowned.
"And now?"
Victoria walked toward the window.
"Now we separate them."
"As long as Ava stays beside Ethan..."
"...she'll always be protected."
The woman nodded.
"I understand."
Victoria smiled coldly.
"People in love make mistakes."
"We'll wait for theirs."
---
That afternoon...
Ava decided she could no longer sit inside the mansion worrying.
She found Ethan in the library.
He stood by the window, staring into the gardens.
"You've been avoiding me."
"I've been working."
"You've also been worrying."
He didn't deny it.
Ava walked closer.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"I've been carrying it alone for years."
"Then maybe it's time you stopped."
Those simple words caught him off guard.
No one had ever spoken to him like that.
He gave a faint smile.
"You really are different."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I think it is."
For the first time in days, the tension between them eased.
---
That evening...
The mansion chef insisted they have dinner on the terrace since the weather had cleared.
Soft lights hung from the trees.
A cool breeze drifted through the gardens.
For a while, it almost felt normal.
They laughed over Ava's failed attempt to pronounce the names of several expensive dishes.
Even Ethan laughed.
Mrs. Blackwood watched from inside the house and smiled.
"It's been a long time since I heard him laugh."
Mr. Carter nodded.
"She brings out a different side of him."
---
As dinner ended, Ethan stood.
"I have something to show you."
He led Ava toward the rose garden.
In the centre stood an old oak tree.
Beneath it was a wooden swing.
Ava looked surprised.
"A swing?"
"My mother built it."
"You used to play here?"
"When I was little."
He gently touched the weathered rope.
"After she died..."
"I never came back."
Ava looked at him with quiet sympathy.
"I'm sorry."
He looked up at the stars.
"So am I."
She stepped closer.
Without saying a word, she slipped her hand into his.
This time...
Ethan didn't hesitate.
He held it firmly.
Neither of them noticed the tiny red light blinking from a camera hidden in the bushes.
Someone was watching.
A lens silently captured every moment.
Inside a nearby parked van, a man smiled as the photographs appeared on his screen.
He picked up his phone.
"They're falling for each other."
Victoria's voice came through the speaker.
"Perfect."
"Then it's time to destroy their trust."
The call ended.
The man looked at the newest photograph of Ethan and Ava holding hands.
He quietly whispered,
"Love is always the easiest weapon to use."
- Writer
