Chapter 4:The first attack
1702 Words
Aurora folded her arms.
"No."
Emmanuel stared at her.
"No?"
"I said no."
They stood in the middle of the Sinclair mansion, surrounded by people who had spent the entire day keeping secrets from her.
Aurora was tired of being told what to do.
"You can't suddenly appear in my life and decide where I should go."
Emmanuel remained calm."This is not about control."
"Really?"
She gave a small laugh."Because it feels like it."
"I am trying to protect you."
"I don't need a bodyguard."
Emmanuel stepped closer."You don't understand the situation you're in."
"And you do?"
His silence annoyed her.
"That's the problem. Everyone knows something except me."
Emmanuel looked at her carefully."I know someone is after you."
Aurora's expression changed slightly.
"And you expect me to just trust you?"
"Yes."The simple answer surprised her.
"Why?"
"Because I would rather have you angry with me and alive than comfortable and in danger."
Aurora looked away.She wanted to argue.But she couldn't ignore the fear she had seen in her father's eyes.
A few minutes later, they left the mansion.The car moved through the quiet road.
Aurora stared out of the window.Neither of them spoke.Then Emmanuel suddenly looked ahead.His expression changed.
"Hold on."
Before Aurora could ask what he meant, a truck appeared from the side of the road.It was moving too fast.Straight toward them.
Emmanuel reacted instantly.He turned the steering wheel sharply.The car swerved.
Aurora grabbed the seat as the sound of tires filled the road.The truck missed them by inches.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Aurora looked at Emmanuel.His hands were still firmly on the wheel.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded slowly.
"What just happened?"
"That wasn't an accident."Emmanuel looked toward the truck disappearing in the distance.
Aurora's heart dropped.
"You think someone did that?"
He didn't answer.He didn't need to.
A few hours later, the police investigation began.The road was checked.The truck was examined.But nothing was found.
No evidence.
No explanation.
No suspect.
When Emmanuel returned to the mansion that night, his expression was colder than before.Someone had tried to kill them.And whoever it was had covered their tracks.
Across the city, a man watched the news report on a large screen.The footage of the near accident played again.
"So close,He smiled.."
"But not yet."He leaned back.
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"This is only the beginning."
Emmanuel stood in his office, staring at the city lights outside the window.The sound of the door opening broke his thoughts.
"Sir."
He turned.His lawyer stepped inside.
"Any news?"
The lawyer shook his head."There was nothing unusual. The police couldn't find any proof of interference with the vehicle
Emmanuel's expression hardened."
"That means whoever did this planned everything."
The lawyer nodded."And they knew your route."
A quiet silence followed.Emmanuel looked back at the window.
"They weren't trying to scare me."
"No?"
"They were sending a message."
The lawyer frowned."To you?"
"No."Emmanuel shook his head.
"To Aurora."His voice lowered.
Meanwhile, Aurora sat alone in her room, staring at the events of the day.A stranger had entered her life.A secret marriage had been revealed.A woman who was supposed to be dead had returned.Someone had tried to hurt her.
A knock came at the door.She looked up.
"Come in."
Emmanuel entered.
For once, his usual confidence seemed replaced by concern."Are you okay?"
Aurora looked at him.
"That's a strange question coming from someone who just turned my life upside down."
He accepted the answer."You should hate me right now."
"I don't know what I feel."She looked away."I don't know who to trust."
Emmanuel was silent.Then he said,"Trust yourself first."
"What does that mean?"Aurora looked back at him.
"It means you don't have to take my word as the absolute truth.
"He paused."But don't ignore the danger around you."
"You really think someone wants me gone?"She studied his face.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Emmanuel looked at her."Because for twenty-five years, someone made sure the truth remained hidden."
Aurora's expression changed.
Before she could reply, her phone suddenly rang.She looked at the screen.
It was an unknown number.
Emmanuel noticed."Don't answer."
Aurora hesitated.Then the call ended.
A few seconds later, a message appeared.Her face changed as she read it.Emmanuel noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Aurora slowly handed him the phone.One sentence was written on the screen.
"You should have stayed away from the Laurent family."
Emmanuel's expression turned cold.Because he knew exactly who sent it.He stared at the message and his expression changed.
Aurora noticed.
"You know who sent it."
It wasn't a question.
"I have an idea."Emmanuel looked at her
"An idea?"Her voice rose slightly.
"There are threats against me, someone tried to take us off the road, and you don't have a definite answer?"
He didn't argue.Because she was right.
"I need answers, Emmanuel."Aurora stood up.
"You will get them."
"When?"
His silence frustrated her.
"That's what everyone says. My father. The lawyer. You."
"But nobody tells me anything".She shook her head.
"Because the truth puts you in danger."Emmanuel stepped closer.
"I am already in danger."Aurora looked at him.
The words made him pause.For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"You're right."Then Emmanuel said quietly,
Aurora didn't expect that.He looked at her seriously.
"I should have told you more."
Before she could respond, the lights suddenly flickered.Aurora turned toward the window.
"What was that?"
"Stay behind me."Emmanuel immediately moved.
"Again with the protecting?"She frowned.
"Yes."
This time, there was no argument in his voice.A security guard rushed into the room.
"Sir."
"What happened?"
"The cameras around the east gate went offline."
Emmanuel's expression darkened."How long?"
"Three minutes."
"Three minutes is enough for what?"Nobody answered.
Aurora felt uneasy.
Emmanuel picked up his phone."Lock every entrance."
The guard nodded and left.Aurora watched him.
"You really think someone is here?"
Emmanuel looked toward the dark hallway."I know someone is."
A few seconds passed.Then his phone received another message.
He opened it.His face changed.
Aurora stepped closer.
"What now?"
Emmanuel looked at the screen.A picture of Aurora sleeping in her room the night before appeared on the screen.
Her blood ran cold.
"How did they get that?"
Emmanuel looked up.And his voice was low.
"Because they were already inside."
Aurora stared at the picture on Emmanuel's phone.Her own face looked back at her.A picture taken while she was asleep.
"This is impossible."
Emmanuel looked at the security guard.
"Check every camera recording from the past week."
"Yes, sir."
Aurora looked at him."Someone was inside this mansion?"
Emmanuel didn't answer immediately.That was answer enough.She stepped back.
"How long have they been watching me?"
"I don't know."
"And you still brought me here?"
His jaw tightened."I brought you here because it was the safest place I had."
Aurora shook her head.
"Safe?"
She pointed at the phone.
"Someone was taking pictures of me in my room."
"I will find them."Emmanuel lowered his voice.
"That's what everyone says."Aurora looked at him.
Before he could respond, the security system suddenly sounded.A loud alarm filled the mansion.The guard rushed back into the room.
"Sir."
Emmanuel turned."What happened?"
"The person who accessed the cameras left something behind the guard swallowed."
A few seconds later, he handed Emmanuel a small envelope.Aurora watched as he opened it.Inside was a single piece of paper.
Emmanuel read the message.His expression changed.
"What does it say?" Aurora asked.
He looked at her.Then slowly handed her the paper.Three words were written on it.
"Ask your mother."
Aurora froze.Because her mother had been dead for years.And someone knew a secret about her that she didn't.
Aurora stared at the message.
Ask your mother.Her fingers trembled slightly.
"My mother..."The words felt strange.
She looked at Emmanuel.
"Why would someone send this?"
Emmanuel didn't answer.He was watching her reaction.
"You seem to know a lot."
"Do you?"Aurora's eyes narrowed.
A long silence followed.Finally, Emmanuel said,"Your mother's death was never as simple as you were told."
Aurora froze.
"What does that mean?"
Before he could reply, a loud crash came from downstairs.Both of them turned.The security guard quickly reached for his radio.
"Someone is in the house."
Emmanuel immediately moved toward the door.Aurora followed.
"No."He looked back.
"You stay here."
"I'm done staying behind while everyone hides the truth from me."
For a moment, he stared at her.
Then he nodded.
Together, they walked downstairs.The mansion was too silent.The guard checked the security monitors.
"Sir..."
Emmanuel looked at the screen.The intruder wasn't there.Instead, the cameras showed a figure standing outside the mansion gates.A person wearing a hood.
"Who is that?"Aurora stepped closer.
The figure slowly lifted their head toward the camera.Then the screen went black.
A few seconds later, Emmanuel's phone rang.
He answered.
Nobody spoke at first.Then a voice came through.
"Emmanuel Laurent."
Everyone froze.
The voice continued.
"You spent twenty-five years searching for Aurora."
Emmanuel's grip tightened around the phone.
"Who are you?"
A quiet laugh came from the other end."Someone who knows why she was hidden."
Aurora felt a chill.
The voice continued."And someone who knows the truth about her mother's death."
The call ended.Silence filled the room.
Aurora looked at Emmanuel.
"What did they mean?"
Emmanuel stared at the blank screen.For the first time, he looked afraid.Because he knew one thing.The person behind the call wasn't trying to scare them.They were warning them.And they were closer than they thought.
Aurora couldn't take her eyes off Emmanuel.
"You know who that was."It was not a question.
Emmanuel remained silent.That silence confirmed her suspicion.
"Emmanuel."
He looked at her."There are things I need to tell you."
"Then tell me."
His phone suddenly rang again.Everyone froze.The same unknown number.
Aurora stared at the screen.
"Answer it."
Emmanuel hesitated before picking up.This time, a video appeared.A live video.
The room went quiet as they watched the screen.
A woman sat in a dark room.Aurora's breath caught.Because she recognized her.
Not from memory.From the photographs.
"My mother..."
Emmanuel looked at the screen in disbelief.
The woman looked older, but there was no mistaking her.
It was Claire Sinclair.Aurora's mother.
Impossible.
"She's dead."Her voice trembled
The woman on the screen slowly opened her eyes.
"Aurora..."
Tears filled Aurora's eyes."Mom?"
The video cut off.The screen went black.Nobody spoke.
Then Emmanuel's phone received one final message.A single sentence appeared.
"Now you know why your mother had to disappear.”
- Writer
