chapter thirty
366 Words
Echoes of the Past
The photograph refused to leave Maya's mind.
Even after she returned to her room...
She couldn't stop staring at it.
The little girl looked exactly like her.
The same smile.
The same eyes.
The same tiny birthmark on her wrist.
Yet she couldn't remember ever meeting Ethan's father.
Not once.
Unable to keep it to herself, Maya hurried to Ethan's study.
He looked up as she entered.
"Maya?"
Without a word, she handed him the photograph.
His face turned pale.
"Where did you find this?"
"It was hidden inside a book in the library."
Ryan took the photograph and examined it carefully.
After a long silence, he spoke.
"I know this place."
Ethan looked at him.
"It's the Carter Children's Foundation."
Ryan nodded.
"Your father visited it often before it was closed."
Maya frowned.
"Why would I be there?"
Ethan slowly shook his head.
"I don't know..."
"But I intend to find out."
Ryan suddenly noticed something unusual.
"The date."
He pointed to the bottom corner of the photograph.
"It was taken twenty-two years ago."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
"That was just a few weeks before the foundation burned down."
Silence filled the room.
Could the fire...
And Maya...
Be connected?
Just then, Ryan's phone vibrated.
He answered immediately.
"Yes?"
His expression hardened.
"We're on our way."
He hung up and looked at Ethan.
"The forensic team found something."
"What is it?"
"They recovered a fingerprint from the security control room."
Maya's eyes widened.
"Does it belong to the traitor?"
Ryan nodded slowly.
"It belongs to someone who officially resigned from Carter Group... fifteen years ago."
Ethan frowned.
"That's impossible."
Ryan looked him straight in the eye.
"Because according to government records..."
"The man is dead."
Across the city...
Victor Hayes poured himself a glass of wine.
Sophia stood quietly beside him.
"The fingerprint was left on purpose, wasn't it?"
Victor smiled.
"I wanted Ethan to chase a ghost."
Sophia folded her arms.
"And while he's distracted?"
Victor looked toward the Project Phoenix file.
"I'll make sure Maya discovers who she really is."
He gently placed his hand on the folder.
"The truth..."
"Will destroy everything Ethan is trying to protect."
- Writer
