The enemy within
415 Words
The sound of footsteps echoed through the old Vale mansion.
Someone was inside.
Adrian immediately turned toward the door.
"Stay here," he told Elena.
But she shook her head.
"No. I need to know the truth."
Daniel looked at her with sadness.
"You have your mother's courage."
Elena glanced at him.
"You knew her well, didn't you?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Not yet.
---
Adrian walked into the hallway, his eyes scanning the darkness.
"Whoever you are, show yourself."
A shadow moved near the stairs.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
"Still protecting people who don't belong here, Adrian?"
Adrian froze.
Victoria Hale stepped into the light.
Elena stared.
"Victoria?"
Victoria smiled.
"Surprised?"
Adrian's expression turned cold.
"What are you doing here?"
Victoria looked around the mansion.
"I came to stop you from making a mistake."
Daniel stepped forward.
"After all these years, you are still helping them hide the truth."
Victoria's face changed.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Daniel laughed quietly.
"I know exactly what happened."
---
Elena looked between them.
"Someone please explain."
Adrian looked at Victoria.
"Why is she involved?"
Victoria remained silent.
Daniel answered.
"Because her family was connected to the secret."
Elena felt a chill.
"What secret?"
Daniel looked at the wooden box on the table.
"The reason your mother disappeared."
Everyone became silent.
---
Daniel slowly opened the box.
Inside was an old document and a small key.
Elena picked up the document.
Her eyes widened.
It was a legal agreement.
Between the Vale family and another powerful family.
But one name caught her attention.
Grace.
"My family name..."
Daniel nodded.
"Your mother was the rightful owner of something the Vale family lost years ago."
Adrian looked shocked.
"What was it?"
Daniel looked at Elena.
"The company."
Silence.
Elena stared at him.
"You're saying my mother owned part of Vale Corporation?"
"Yes."
Adrian looked at the documents again.
Everything he knew about his family was changing.
---
Suddenly, the mansion lights went out.
A sound came from the room behind them.
The documents were gone.
Someone had taken them.
Adrian immediately ran toward the door.
But whoever stole them was already gone.
On the floor remained only one thing.
A note.
Elena picked it up.
Three words were written:
ASK YOUR FATHER.
She looked at Adrian.
"My father..."
Adrian's face became serious.
Because if Elena's father was still alive, he might hold the final answer.
And finding him could reveal the greatest secret the Vale family had ever hidden.
- Writer
