Chapter 5 — The Man in the Photograph
1168 Words
Chapter 5 — The Man in the Photograph
“That man is my father.”
Alexander's words left Amelia speechless.
She stared at the photograph again.
Her mother was holding a newborn baby.
Standing beside her was Alexander's father.
But why?
“Why is your father in this picture?” Amelia asked.
Alexander took the photograph from her.
“I don't know.”
“You always say that.”
“Because I genuinely don't know.”
Amelia crossed her arms.
“My mother knows.”
They both turned toward Elena.
She was sitting on the bed, looking exhausted.
Elena slowly nodded.
“Yes. I know.”
Amelia moved closer.
“Then tell me everything.”
Elena looked at Alexander.
“Your father and my husband knew each other long before you were born.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Alexander frowned.
“My father was married to your mother?”
Elena shook her head.
“No. That's not what I mean.”
She took a deep breath.
“Your father was involved in a business partnership with my husband.”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“My father destroyed that partnership.”
“He did more than that.”
“What?”
“He became obsessed with something your father discovered.”
Amelia looked confused.
“What did my father discover?”
Elena looked at her daughter.
“The Black family had been hiding money.”
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
“How much?”
“Millions.”
Silence filled the room.
“My father was a criminal?” Alexander asked.
Elena shook her head.
“No. He was trying to expose them.”
Alexander looked stunned.
“All these years, I believed Amelia's father betrayed mine.”
“He didn't.”
“Then why did my father blame him?”
“Because he needed someone to take the blame.”
Amelia felt sick.
“And my father died because he knew the truth?”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
Alexander stared at the floor.
“My entire life…”
His voice became quiet.
“I believed the wrong story.”
Amelia touched his arm.
He looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
There was pain in his eyes she had never seen before.
“I'm sorry,” Amelia whispered.
Alexander gave a small nod.
“Thank you.”
Their hands remained together.
Neither pulled away.
Then Elena spoke.
“There is something else.”
Amelia turned.
“What?”
“The man in that photograph isn't the only secret.”
Elena reached beneath the pillow and pulled out a small envelope.
She handed it to Amelia.
“Your father gave me this before he died.”
Amelia opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
She read silently.
Amelia,
If you ever discover the truth, do not trust anyone connected to the Black family.
Her eyes moved to Alexander.
He saw the words.
“You don't have to trust me.”
Amelia looked at him.
“I don't know if I can.”
“I understand.”
He stepped back.
For some reason, that hurt her more than she expected.
---
Later that night, Amelia stood alone on the balcony.
The city lights stretched beneath her.
She couldn't stop thinking about Alexander.
She knew she should stay away from him.
Her mother's warning was clear.
Yet every time Alexander looked at her, something inside her became impossible to ignore.
“You're thinking too loudly.”
Amelia turned.
Alexander stood behind her.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry.”
She looked away.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“Neither should you.”
“This is your balcony.”
“I meant outside.”
She smiled slightly.
“Very funny.”
He walked beside her.
For a while, they watched the city in silence.
Then Alexander said, “You can leave tomorrow.”
Amelia looked at him.
“What?”
“I'll arrange security and take you somewhere safe.”
“And you'll stay away from me?”
“Yes.”
She didn't know why those words bothered her.
“Maybe that's better.”
“Probably.”
Silence.
Then Amelia asked, “Do you really believe your father was involved?”
Alexander stared at the city.
“I don't know what to believe anymore.”
She looked at him.
“You're not like him.”
He turned toward her.
“You don't know me well enough to say that.”
“Maybe I don't.”
She paused.
“But I know you saved me.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“I'd do it again.”
Their eyes met.
The distance between them slowly disappeared.
Amelia's heart raced.
Alexander lifted his hand but stopped before touching her.
“Tell me to move away.”
She couldn't speak.
“Amelia.”
She looked into his eyes.
“Don't.”
He leaned closer.
Their lips were almost touching.
Then—
BANG!
A loud sound came from downstairs.
They immediately separated.
Alexander rushed inside.
“What happened?”
A security guard appeared at the door.
“Sir, someone broke into the garage.”
Alexander's face hardened.
“Did you catch them?”
“No.”
“Check the cameras.”
“They're offline.”
Alexander looked at Amelia.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Amelia—”
“I said no.”
She followed him downstairs.
The garage door was open.
One of the cars had been damaged.
Something had been written across the windshield in red.
Amelia froze.
Alexander stepped closer.
The message read:
YOU ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS.
Beneath it was another sentence.
ASK WHO YOUR REAL FATHER IS.
Amelia's heart pounded.
She turned toward her mother.
Elena had followed them downstairs.
She was staring at the message.
Her face had gone completely white.
“Mom?”
Elena whispered:
“They know.”
“Who?”
Elena looked at Alexander.
“They know Amelia has discovered the truth.”
Alexander walked toward her.
“Who are they?”
Elena didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at Amelia.
“There is one person who knows everything.”
“Who?”
Elena's lips trembled.
“Your father's older brother.”
Amelia frowned.
“My father was an only child.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward the dark garage.
“He disappeared twenty-five years ago.”
Alexander stared at her.
“Where is he now?”
Elena whispered:
“That's what you need to find out.”
Suddenly, Amelia's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man's voice whispered:
“Hello, little princess.”
Amelia froze.
Nobody had called her that since she was a child.
The voice continued:
“I've been waiting for you.”
The call ended.
Amelia slowly lowered the phone.
Alexander looked at her.
“Who was it?”
She stared into the darkness.
“I don't know.”
But deep inside, Amelia knew one thing.
The stranger knew her.
And somehow, he knew her childhood nickname.
To be continued…
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