The Night Everything Changed
1167 Words
Evelyn stared at Kael.
“You were there?”
Kael didn't look away.
“Yes.”
“The night my father died?”
“Yes.”
Her mind raced.
“You said you were nineteen.”
“I was.”
“And you watched him die?”
“No.”
Kael's voice was firm.
“I didn't.”
“Then what happened?”
He looked toward the dark hallway.
“Your father was alive when I left him.”
Evelyn's anger faltered.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because my father warned me that if I spoke about that night, you would become a target.”
“You've been protecting me with lies.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“You don't get to decide what I deserve to know.”
“I know.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Kael walked toward the staircase.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“The basement.”
Evelyn followed.
They descended a narrow staircase hidden behind a wooden panel.
At the bottom was a heavy metal door.
Kael pulled out the key they had found upstairs.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
Inside was a small underground room.
There were old boxes, documents and photographs scattered across a table.
Evelyn stepped inside.
“This place belonged to your father?”
“No.”
Kael looked around.
“It belonged to my mother.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside were several files.
One had Evelyn's name written on it.
She immediately reached for it.
Kael stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“Because once you read it, there's no going back.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“I've already lost everything.”
She took the file.
The first page contained a photograph of her parents.
Daniel and Elena.
Below it was a handwritten note.
Daniel agreed to raise the child as his own.
Evelyn's heart pounded.
She turned the page.
The biological father must never discover where she is.
Another page.
Victor knows.
Evelyn looked up.
“Your father knew I wasn't Daniel's daughter?”
“Yes.”
She turned another page.
There was a list of names.
Daniel Hart.
Elena Hart.
Victor Vale.
Kael Vale.
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“Your name is here.”
Kael stared at the page.
“I've never seen this.”
At the bottom was one final sentence.
Kael must never be told the truth about what happened that night.
Evelyn looked at him.
“You didn't know?”
“No.”
“Then what did you see?”
Kael took a slow breath.
“Daniel met my father outside the estate.”
“Why?”
“They argued.”
“About my mother?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“My father left.”
“And my father?”
Kael's expression darkened.
“I stayed.”
Evelyn's voice became quiet.
“What happened?”
“Daniel received a phone call.”
“From who?”
“I don't know.”
“Then?”
“He got into his car.”
Kael paused.
“I followed him.”
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Because I thought he was going to meet someone.”
“And did he?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Kael looked at her.
“Your mother.”
Evelyn's breath caught.
“My mother was there?”
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
“They argued.”
“About what?”
“I couldn't hear everything.”
Evelyn clenched her fists.
“Kael.”
He continued.
“Then another car arrived.”
“Who was inside?”
“I couldn't see.”
“Why?”
“It was raining heavily.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What happened next?”
Kael looked down.
“I heard a crash.”
Her heart sank.
“When I reached the road, your father's car was already damaged.”
“And my mother?”
“She was gone.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Evelyn's voice broke.
“You left him there?”
“I called for help.”
“Did you stay?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because someone saw me.”
She froze.
“Who?”
Kael looked at the file.
“I don't know.”
A sound suddenly came from upstairs.
Both of them went silent.
Someone was walking through the house.
Evelyn whispered,
“Could it be the man from earlier?”
Kael shook his head.
“I don't think so.”
The footsteps stopped above them.
Then something heavy fell.
Kael grabbed the file.
“We need to go.”
They hurried toward the door.
But before Kael could open it, the lights came on.
A figure stood at the top of the stairs.
Evelyn froze.
It was a woman.
She slowly stepped into the light.
Evelyn's breath disappeared.
She knew that face.
She had seen it in old photographs.
She had dreamed about it for seven years.
“Mom?”
The woman stared down at her.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Evelyn.”
Kael went completely still.
Elena Hart was alive.
Evelyn ran up the stairs.
She stopped only inches from her mother.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Elena reached out and touched her daughter's face.
“My little girl.”
Evelyn's tears finally fell.
“You're alive.”
Elena pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I've been trying to come back to you.”
“Then why didn't you?”
Elena looked over Evelyn's shoulder.
Her eyes landed on Kael.
Her expression suddenly changed.
“Because of him.”
Evelyn turned.
Kael stared at Elena in shock.
Elena stepped backward.
“You must leave.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
Elena's voice trembled.
“Because Victor knows you're here.”
Kael went still.
“My father?”
Elena nodded.
“And if he discovers that Evelyn has found this room…”
She looked at the file in Kael's hand.
“…he will come for both of you.”
A car suddenly stopped outside the house.
Elena's face went pale.
“He's here.”
Kael moved toward the window.
Headlights flooded the room.
A black car stopped at the entrance.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Evelyn stared through the window.
She had never met him.
But she recognized him immediately.
Victor Vale.
Kael's father.
Elena grabbed Evelyn's hand.
“Listen to me.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“There is something you need to know about your father.”
Evelyn held her breath.
Elena looked at Kael.
Then back at her daughter.
“Daniel wasn't the man who raised you.”
She paused.
“He was the man who saved you.”
A knock sounded against the front door.
Once.
Twice.
Then Victor's voice echoed through the house.
“Kael.”
Silence.
“I know you're in there.”
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