❤︎ 𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓐𝓭𝓭𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 ❤︎

❤︎ 𝓒𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 19: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐 ❤︎

The room was engulfed in silence.

Aria stared at the photograph on Adrian's phone, unable to look away.

The young woman in the picture looked to be around her age.

She had long black hair, striking emerald-green eyes, and a small crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her left ear.

The caption beneath the photo read:

"Meet your sister."

Aria slowly looked up.

"This... this has to be a joke."

Mrs. Collins' hands began to tremble.

"No..."

"It can't be."

Adrian noticed the fear in her eyes.

"You know who she is, don't you?"

Mrs. Collins lowered her head.

"I've spent years hiding the truth."

Aria's heart pounded.

"Mom..."

"What truth?"

Tears rolled down Mrs. Collins' cheeks.

"When you were five years old..."

"...you weren't an only child."

The room fell silent.

Aria felt as though the air had been pulled from her lungs.

"I..."

"I had a sister?"

Mrs. Collins nodded, unable to meet her daughter's eyes.

"Her name was..."

"...Amelia."

---

Aria staggered backward.

"No..."

"You told me Dad died in the fire."

"I never lied."

"He did."

"But in all the chaos..."

"...Amelia disappeared."

"I searched for her for years."

"The police searched."

"Everyone believed she had died."

Mrs. Collins broke down in tears.

"I had no choice but to let go."

Aria couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"My sister..."

"...could still be alive?"

---

Adrian picked up the phone again and enlarged the picture.

"There has to be a clue."

Ethan leaned closer.

"The image was taken recently."

"In Blackwood District."

Adrian immediately stood.

"Ethan."

"Yes, sir."

"Send our best investigators."

"I want every security camera checked."

"Find that woman."

"No matter what it takes."

"Yes, sir."

---

Meanwhile...

In an abandoned estate outside the city...

The mysterious sniper stood by a large window.

The young woman from the photograph walked into the room.

"You sent the picture."

The sniper nodded.

"They've seen it."

She crossed her arms.

"Good."

"It's time they remembered."

The sniper looked at her.

"Are you ready?"

She stared at an old family photograph in her hand.

One corner had been burned away.

Only two children remained visible.

A little girl...

And a little boy.

She smiled sadly.

"I've waited twenty years."

"It's time to go home."

---

Back at Knight Mansion...

Aria couldn't sleep.

Too many questions filled her mind.

She walked out into the garden.

The moonlight reflected across the fountain.

She closed her eyes.

Fragments of her childhood flashed before her.

A little girl laughing.

Holding her hand.

Calling her name.

"Aria!"

The memory disappeared as quickly as it came.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"I remember your voice..."

"...but not your face."

A gentle voice spoke behind her.

"You'll remember."

She turned around.

Adrian stood a few steps away.

He walked over and handed her a warm cup of tea.

"You've been through a lot."

She managed a faint smile.

"I don't even know who I am anymore."

Adrian looked into her eyes.

"You don't have to figure it out alone."

"I'll help you."

She looked down.

"Why?"

"Because every time you're in danger..."

"I feel like I'm losing someone I was always meant to protect."

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the world around them disappeared.

Slowly...

Adrian reached for her hand.

This time...

Aria didn't pull away.

Instead...

She intertwined her fingers with his.

A soft smile appeared on both their faces.

Neither of them noticed the shadow watching from the rooftop.

The sniper lowered his rifle.

"They're getting closer."

The young woman beside him sighed.

"Should we tell them the truth?"

The sniper shook his head.

"Not yet."

"If Adrian discovers who ordered the fire..."

"...none of us will survive."

Far away, in a luxurious office overlooking the city, an elderly man watched the live camera feed from the mansion.

He smiled coldly.

"So..."

"They've finally started remembering."

He pressed a button on his desk.

"Prepare the next phase."

A deep voice replied through the speaker.

"Yes, Chairman."

The old man leaned back in his chair.

"No one must discover what really happened..."

"...especially Adrian Knight."

♡︎ 𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒅... ♡︎