Shadows Between Us: Dark Truth

chapter 12: The Final Choice

Amelia couldn't move.

Her eyes remained fixed on Lily.

No.

Not Lily.

Elena.

Her mother had called her name.

The woman Amelia had trusted for years was apparently someone else entirely.

Amelia looked at her mother.

"She's your daughter?"

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

"Yes."

Amelia shook her head.

"But how?"

Her mother took a slow breath.

"Before you were born, I had another daughter."

Amelia looked at Elena.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I thought she was dead."

Elena lowered her head.

"I wasn't."

Amelia felt tears running down her face.

"You became my best friend."

Elena looked at her.

"I didn't plan for it to happen."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."

"Of what?"

Elena looked toward Richard.

"Of him."

Amelia turned.

Her father stood completely still.

"What did Dad do?"

Elena's voice trembled.

"Your father took me away from your mother when I was a child."

Richard immediately shook his head.

"That's not what happened."

"You erased me from her life!"

"I was trying to protect you!"

"Protect me?"

Elena laughed bitterly.

"You destroyed our family."

Amelia stepped between them.

"Enough!"

Everyone became silent.

She looked at her father.

Then her mother.

Then Elena.

Three people.

Three different stories.

And Amelia was trapped in the middle.

"I don't know what to believe anymore."

Her mother stepped toward her.

"Amelia..."

"No."

Amelia wiped her tears.

"I need the truth."

Elena looked at her.

"Then ask your father about the night you were born."

Richard's face changed.

Amelia noticed immediately.

"What happened?"

Richard didn't answer.

"What happened that night?"

He finally whispered:

"Your mother was supposed to leave with you."

"Leave where?"

"Far away."

"Why?"

"Because the organization had discovered you existed."

Amelia's heart tightened.

"They wanted me?"

Richard nodded.

"Yes."

"And Elena?"

"They wanted her too."

Elena looked away.

"That's why I disappeared."

Amelia suddenly understood.

Her entire childhood had been built around a secret she never knew existed.

She looked at Elena.

"You became Lily because you wanted to stay close to me?"

Elena nodded.

"I wanted to protect you."

Amelia's voice cracked.

"Then why did you lie to me?"

"Because every time I tried to tell you, someone stopped me."

"Who?"

Elena looked toward the man standing beside her.

Amelia hadn't noticed him properly until now.

"Who is he?"

Elena hesitated.

"My husband."

Amelia stared at him.

"Your husband?"

He stepped forward.

"My name is Marcus."

Adrian immediately moved closer to Amelia.

"Stay back."

Marcus smiled.

"I didn't come here to hurt anyone."

"Then why are you here?"

Marcus looked at Amelia.

"Because I know where the original evidence is."

Amelia's eyes narrowed.

"And you want it."

"Yes."

Richard stepped forward.

"You're not getting it."

Marcus looked at him.

"You don't understand, Richard. The people behind this are coming."

"Who?"

Marcus looked at Amelia.

"The person who has been sending you the messages."

Amelia froze.

"Who is it?"

Marcus reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

He placed it on the table.

The screen showed dozens of messages.

All sent from the same number.

Amelia stared at it.

Then the phone rang.

Marcus answered.

He listened for several seconds.

His face changed.

"They're already here."

A loud sound came from outside.

Amelia looked toward the window.

Several cars had stopped outside the house.

Her mother grabbed her hand.

"We have to leave."

But Amelia didn't move.

For the first time, she wasn't thinking about running.

She was thinking about the key.

The evidence.

Her family.

And all the lies.

She looked at everyone.

"No more running."

Richard stared at her.

"Amelia, what are you saying?"

"I'm going to find the evidence."

Her mother shook her head.

"It's too dangerous."

Amelia held up the key.

"Maybe."

She looked toward the hidden room.

"But this started with my family."

Her voice became steady.

"And I'm going to be the one who ends it."

Adrian nodded.

"I'll help you."

Amelia looked at him.

"You've lied to me too."

"I know."

"Then prove I can trust you."

Adrian nodded.

"I will."

Outside, the sound of footsteps approached the house.

Amelia took a deep breath.

She looked at the people around her one last time.

Then she turned toward the hidden room.

The final secret was waiting behind the door.

And this time, Amelia was ready to face it.