The Letter
1156 Words
Neither Elena nor Adrian noticed the camera above the door.
The small red light blinked once.
Then the screen went dark.
Somewhere else, someone was watching them.
Adrian and Elena walked toward the elevator.
Neither of them spoke.
Elena was still thinking about the photograph of her father.
She couldn't understand why everything was suddenly connected.
Her father.
Adrian's family.
The mysterious man.
And now the strange messages.
When they reached the elevator, Adrian pressed the button.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“Are you okay?”
“I don't know.”
Adrian looked at her carefully.
“You're shaking.”
“I keep thinking about my father.”
“I know.”
“He died when I was young. My mother always told me there was nothing more to know.”
Adrian remained silent.
Elena looked at him.
“But now I'm not sure she told me everything.”
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Adrian pressed the button for the ground floor.
“Elena, whatever we find tonight, stay close to me.”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“Because I don't know who we can trust.”
The elevator reached the ground floor.
They walked outside.
Adrian's car was waiting.
His driver opened the door.
Elena entered first.
Adrian followed.
As the car drove away, Elena looked through the window.
She suddenly noticed a black car behind them.
It was following them.
“Adrian.”
He looked at her.
“That car has been behind us since we left.”
Adrian looked through the rear window.
His expression became serious.
“Driver, take the next turn.”
The driver nodded.
The black car turned too.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Don't worry,” he said.
Elena looked at him.
“I'm trying.”
The driver made another turn.
The black car disappeared.
Adrian watched the road carefully.
“Maybe it wasn't following us.”
“Maybe.”
But Elena didn't believe it.
After several minutes, they arrived at her family home.
Elena quickly got out of the car.
“Mom!”
She rushed inside.
Her mother was sitting on the sofa.
She looked frightened.
“Elena.”
“Mom, what happened?”
Her mother stood up and held her tightly.
“I was scared.”
“Why?”
“Someone came here earlier.”
Elena froze.
“Who?”
“I don't know. I didn't open the door.”
Adrian walked inside.
“What did they want?”
Her mother looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Then she remembered something.
“The letter.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“Where is it?”
Her mother pointed toward the table.
“It is there.”
Elena walked toward it.
A small brown envelope was lying on the table.
Her father's name was written on the front.
Elena's hands trembled.
She picked it up.
Adrian stood beside her.
“Don't open it yet.”
“Why?”
“We don't know who sent it.”
“My mother said it belongs to my father.”
Adrian looked at her mother.
“Where did you find it?”
Her mother swallowed.
“It was inside an old box in the attic.”
Elena stared at the envelope.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before?”
Her mother looked down.
“I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Her mother didn't answer.
Elena's voice became softer.
“Mom, please.”
Her mother finally looked at her.
“Your father told me never to speak about that night.”
“What night?”
“The night he disappeared.”
Elena's heart raced.
“You said he died.”
“I know what I said.”
Her mother's eyes filled with tears.
“But I wasn't telling you the whole truth.”
Elena took a step back.
“What happened to him?”
Her mother shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Mom!”
“I swear, Elena. I don't know where your father went.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What did he tell you before he disappeared?”
Her mother looked at him.
“He said someone was coming for him.”
Elena felt a chill.
“Who?”
“He never told me.”
Her mother pointed at the envelope.
“He only left that letter.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
He nodded slowly.
“Open it.”
Elena carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
She unfolded it.
The handwriting was familiar.
Her father's handwriting.
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
She began reading.
Elena, if you are reading this, something happened to me.
Her hands began to shake.
She continued.
There is a secret between the Carter and Blackwood families.
Elena stopped.
She looked at Adrian.
He was staring at the letter.
She read the next line.
Trust no one in the Blackwood family.
Elena's heart dropped.
She looked at Adrian.
He didn't move.
“Adrian…”
His expression was unreadable.
Then Elena read the final sentence.
Especially the person who claims to protect you.
The room became completely silent.
Elena slowly lowered the letter.
Her eyes met Adrian's.
“What does this mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Her mother suddenly covered her mouth.
Elena turned toward her.
“Mom?”
Her mother was staring at Adrian.
Not Elena.
Adrian noticed.
“What is it?” he asked.
Her mother stepped backward.
“You…”
Her voice trembled.
“You look exactly like your father.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Elena looked between them.
“What are you talking about?”
Her mother whispered,
“Your father warned me about the Blackwoods.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What exactly did he say?”
Her mother shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Tell us.”
She looked at Elena.
Then at Adrian.
“He said that one day, a Blackwood would come looking for my daughter.”
Elena's heart stopped.
Adrian stared at her mother.
“And now,” she continued, “you're here.”
Elena couldn't breathe.
Her marriage had been a contract.
At least, that's what she had believed.
But suddenly, everything felt different.
Adrian reached for her hand.
“Elena, listen to me.”
She pulled her hand away.
“Did you know about my father before you married me?”
Adrian was silent.
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Adrian…”
He finally answered.
“Yes.”
Elena stared at him.
Her heart shattered.
“You knew?”
Before Adrian could explain, Elena's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
Now ask Adrian why his father wanted your family destroyed.
Elena looked up.
Adrian was already staring at the message.
And for the first time, Elena wondered if the man she had married was really protecting her…
Or if he was the reason her family had been in danger all along.
To be continued…
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