Chapter 4 — The Warning
1688 Words
Elena remained in the hallway long after Damian disappeared.
His words kept repeating in her mind.
Your father is hiding something that could get you killed.
She didn't know what frightened her more—the possibility that Damian was telling the truth or the fact that her father had sounded terrified when she mentioned his name.
For twenty-four years, Elena had believed she knew her family.
Now, every memory felt like a question.
She looked toward the study.
Her father's voice echoed in her head.
Stay away from Damian.
But how was she supposed to stay away from the man she had just married?
She was living in his house.
Sleeping under his roof.
Bound to him by a contract.
And apparently, he knew secrets about her family that her own father refused to reveal.
Elena turned and walked back to her room.
She closed the door and locked it.
For the first time since arriving at the mansion, she felt genuinely afraid.
She pulled the photograph from her handbag and placed it on the bed.
Her mother's face stared back at her.
“Who were you really?” Elena whispered.
A soft knock came from the door.
Elena quickly picked up the photograph.
“Who is it?”
“Mrs. Carter.”
Elena unlocked the door.
The older woman entered carrying a small tray.
“I brought you some tea.”
“I don't need it.”
“You haven't eaten.”
“I don't feel hungry.”
Mrs. Carter placed the tray on the table.
“You should eat something.”
Elena looked at her.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“How long have you worked for Damian?”
“Almost ten years.”
“Then you must know him well.”
Mrs. Carter smiled faintly.
“I know enough.”
“Does he usually bring women here?”
The woman's expression changed.
“No.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
Elena frowned.
“Then why me?”
Mrs. Carter hesitated.
“You should ask him.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“He didn't answer.”
Mrs. Carter sighed.
“Mr. Cross doesn't talk about his personal life.”
Elena picked up the photograph.
“Do you know my mother?”
Mrs. Carter's eyes immediately dropped to it.
For a second, she looked shocked.
“You know her?”
Mrs. Carter slowly nodded.
“I saw her once.”
“When?”
“Many years ago.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
Elena's heart jumped.
“My mother came to this house?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Mrs. Carter looked uncomfortable.
“I shouldn't talk about it.”
“Please.”
The older woman shook her head.
“You'll have to ask Mr. Cross.”
“Everyone keeps telling me that.”
Elena's frustration grew.
“Did she come here alone?”
Mrs. Carter hesitated.
“No.”
“With my father?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
Elena froze.
“My father came here?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Do you remember what they discussed?”
Mrs. Carter's face became serious.
“They argued.”
“About what?”
“I don't know.”
“You must have heard something.”
“I heard your mother crying.”
Elena's heart tightened.
“She was crying?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Mrs. Carter looked toward the door.
“I really shouldn't say more.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Was Damian here?”
Mrs. Carter stopped.
“Yes.”
“How old was he?”
“About fourteen.”
Elena stared at her.
“Fourteen?”
Mrs. Carter nodded.
“He saw your mother that night.”
“Did they speak?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened after?”
Mrs. Carter lowered her voice.
“Your mother left this house very late.”
Elena's fingers tightened around the photograph.
“And my father?”
“He stayed.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Mrs. Carter walked out.
Elena stood frozen.
Her mother had been in Damian's house.
Her father had been there too.
And Damian had seen her.
Fourteen years old.
What had happened that night?
---
Across the mansion, Damian stood inside his office.
A file lay open on his desk.
Inside were photographs, financial records, and newspaper articles.
At the top of the file was a photograph of Elena's mother.
Beside it was another photograph.
Richard Hart.
Damian stared at both.
His phone rang.
“Speak.”
Cole's voice came through.
“Sir, we found something.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“The security footage from the night Elena's mother died.”
Damian immediately stood.
“Send it to me.”
“I think you should see it in person.”
“Why?”
“There is someone in the footage.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Damian's expression hardened.
“I'll be there.”
He left the office.
Before reaching the security room, he noticed Elena standing at the end of the hallway.
She was holding the photograph.
Damian stopped.
“You spoke to Mrs. Carter.”
Elena nodded.
“She told me my mother came here.”
Damian said nothing.
“With my father.”
Still nothing.
“And you were here.”
Damian's eyes darkened.
“Yes.”
“You were fourteen.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing you need to know.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“That's becoming your favorite sentence.”
Damian walked toward her.
“You need to stop asking questions.”
“Why?”
“Because you're getting too close.”
“To what?”
He didn't answer.
Elena stepped closer.
“Did my mother know your father?”
“Yes.”
“Did they have some kind of business together?”
“Yes.”
“Was my father involved?”
“Yes.”
“Was my mother afraid of you?”
“No.”
“Then why was she crying?”
Damian froze.
“Who told you that?”
“Mrs. Carter.”
His expression hardened.
“What else did she tell you?”
“That my father stayed here after my mother left.”
Damian's eyes became colder.
Elena studied his face.
“You know what happened.”
“I know some of it.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Can't or won't?”
“Both.”
Elena shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
She walked past him.
Damian caught her wrist.
She immediately turned.
“Let go.”
His hand loosened.
“I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“Whatever you discover about your family, don't confront anyone alone.”
“Why?”
“Because the people involved may still be watching.”
Elena's expression changed.
“You mean they're still alive?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You keep saying you don't know.”
“Because I don't.”
He released her wrist.
“Stay inside the mansion tonight.”
“Why?”
“I have a meeting.”
“With whom?”
“Someone who may know what happened to your mother.”
Elena stared at him.
“You're investigating it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damian looked away.
“Because I need the truth.”
“And if the truth hurts my father?”
His expression hardened.
“Then he'll have to face it.”
---
Later that night, Elena couldn't sleep.
She stood on the balcony, staring at the dark gardens.
The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
She heard a faint sound.
A branch breaking.
Elena turned.
Nothing.
She looked toward the garden again.
A shadow moved near the trees.
Her heart jumped.
She stepped backward.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
The shadow disappeared.
Elena rushed inside and locked the balcony doors.
She grabbed her phone.
Her hands trembled as she called Damian.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
“I think someone is outside.”
Silence.
“Where are you?”
“My room.”
“Lock the door.”
“I already did.”
“Stay there.”
His voice was different now.
Urgent.
“Damian?”
“Do not open the door for anyone.”
The call ended.
Elena stood frozen.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone was at her bedroom door.
Her blood ran cold.
She didn't move.
Another knock.
“Elena?”
It was Damian's voice.
Relief rushed through her.
She moved toward the door.
Then stopped.
Something was wrong.
Damian had just told her not to open the door for anyone.
She stepped backward.
The voice came again.
“Elena, open the door.”
Her hand trembled.
“Damian?”
“Yes.”
“What's the security code?”
Silence.
Elena's heart pounded.
She knew Damian had told her the code earlier that evening.
The man outside didn't answer.
Instead, the doorknob slowly turned.
Elena backed away.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from Damian appeared.
DON'T OPEN THE DOOR. I'M NOT THERE.
Elena's blood ran cold.
The man outside knocked again.
This time, there was no voice.
Just silence.
Then the lock began to move.
Someone was trying to get inside.
Elena looked around desperately.
There was nowhere to run.
Suddenly, the door slammed open.
A dark figure stepped into the room.
Elena screamed.
The figure rushed toward her—
And before he could reach her, another shadow appeared behind him.
A gunshot exploded through the room.
The intruder collapsed.
Elena stood frozen.
Damian lowered his gun.
His eyes immediately found hers.
“Are you hurt?”
Elena couldn't speak.
Damian walked toward her.
Then he looked down at the unconscious man.
His expression became deadly.
“He wasn't here for your father's money.”
Elena finally found her voice.
“Then why was he here?”
Damian looked at her.
“Because someone wants you dead.”
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