Chapter 8:The Man Who Should Be Dead
3199 Words
The gunshot echoed through the mansion.
Then silence.
Amelia couldn’t breathe.
For one terrifying second, the entire world seemed to stop.
Her ears rang.
Her heart pounded.
She couldn’t see.
Couldn’t move.
Couldn’t think.
“Dad?”
Her voice came out as barely a whisper.
Then—
“Amelia!”
Someone grabbed her.
She screamed.
“Let go of me!”
“Amelia, it’s me!”
Adrian.
She froze.
His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her behind him.
“Are you hurt?”
Amelia stared at him.
His face was inches from hers.
“No.”
Adrian looked over her shoulder.
The man was gone.
So was the gunshot’s source.
Amelia pushed away from him.
“Where is he?”
Adrian immediately looked around.
“Who?”
“My father!”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“He’s gone.”
“No.”
Amelia ran forward.
“Amelia!”
She ignored him.
She reached the spot where the man had been standing.
Nothing.
No blood.
No body.
No weapon.
Nothing.
It was as if he had never been there.
Amelia turned around.
“Where did he go?”
Adrian looked at the security guards.
“Lock down the entire property.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Nobody leaves.”
The guards immediately scattered.
Amelia’s breathing became uneven.
“He was here.”
Adrian approached her.
“I know.”
“That was my father.”
“I know.”
“He is alive.”
“I know.”
Amelia turned toward him.
Her eyes were wide.
“How can you say that so calmly?”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“I didn’t say I was calm.”
She stared at him.
Only then did she notice the blood on his shirt.
Her eyes widened.
“You’re hurt.”
Adrian looked down.
“It’s nothing.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s a scratch.”
Amelia stepped closer.
“Let me see.”
Adrian’s eyes flickered.
For a moment, he seemed surprised.
Then he allowed her to examine his arm.
The bullet had grazed his upper arm.
A thin line of blood ran down his skin.
Amelia’s fingers trembled.
“You could have been killed.”
Adrian looked at her.
“But I wasn’t.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
Amelia lifted her eyes.
“My father is alive.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“I understand that.”
“No, you don’t.”
Her voice cracked.
“You don’t understand what that means.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Then tell me.”
Amelia shook her head.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know.”
For the first time, Adrian saw genuine fear in her eyes.
Not the fear of a woman caught in a lie.
Something deeper.
Something that had been buried for years.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Amelia.”
She looked at him.
“Who was your father?”
She swallowed.
“His name was Victor Valmont.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
The name was familiar.
Of course it was.
Victor Valmont.
The billionaire businessman who had vanished eight years ago.
The man whose death had been reported across the world.
The man whose empire had mysteriously disappeared with him.
The man whose daughter…
Was standing in front of Adrian.
His ex-wife.
Adrian stared at her.
“Victor Valmont is dead.”
“No.”
“You said it yourself.”
“I was wrong.”
“Amelia.”
“I was wrong!”
Her voice echoed through the mansion.
Everyone went silent.
Amelia’s eyes filled with tears.
She quickly wiped them away.
“I believed he was dead.”
Adrian watched her.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I was told.”
“By whom?”
“My mother.”
Adrian frowned.
“What happened to your mother?”
Amelia’s expression changed.
“She disappeared.”
“Eight years ago?”
“Yes.”
“The same time your father disappeared?”
Amelia nodded.
Adrian’s mind raced.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Amelia laughed bitterly.
“Tell you what?”
“That you were a Valmont.”
“Would it have changed anything?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Adrian opened his mouth.
No answer came.
Amelia stared at him.
“Exactly.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
She was right.
If he had known she was Amelia Valmont, would he have married her?
Would he have loved her?
Or would he have seen her as an opportunity?
A connection?
A threat?
He didn’t know.
And that uncertainty frightened him.
Suddenly, Damian spoke.
“We need to leave.”
Amelia turned.
Damian stood several feet away.
His expression was grim.
“Why?”
“Because this place isn’t safe.”
Adrian immediately stepped between them.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Damian’s eyes hardened.
“She’s not staying here either.”
“That’s not your decision.”
“Neither is it yours.”
The two men stared at each other.
Amelia felt a headache forming.
“Stop.”
Neither moved.
“Both of you.”
Silence.
Amelia looked at Adrian.
Then Damian.
“I don’t need either of you fighting over me.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“That’s not what this is.”
“Then what is it?”
Neither answered.
Amelia sighed.
“Exactly.”
She turned toward the stairs.
“I’m leaving.”
Adrian caught her arm.
“Where?”
She looked at him.
“Home.”
“Which home?”
Amelia’s expression faltered.
The question again.
She hated it.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian’s grip loosened.
For a moment, something softened in his eyes.
Then he said quietly:
“You can stay here.”
Amelia stared at him.
“What?”
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Amelia—”
“You divorced me.”
“I know.”
“You told me to leave.”
“I know.”
“And now you’re asking me to stay?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“Why?”
Adrian’s expression became unreadable.
“Because someone is trying to kill you.”
Amelia shook her head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust you.”
His face hardened.
“After tonight?”
“Especially after tonight.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You think I had something to do with this?”
“I don’t know.”
His eyes darkened.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
“Then why did you come here?”
“Because I thought you might have answers.”
“About your father?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
Amelia looked away.
“Now I know less than I did before.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Then stay.”
“No.”
“Amelia.”
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
She looked directly into his eyes.
“You are not my husband anymore.”
The words hit him harder than they should have.
Amelia turned away.
But before she could leave, Adrian spoke.
“You’re still wearing my ring.”
She froze.
Her fingers instinctively moved to her hand.
The wedding ring was gone.
She had removed it.
But there was another ring.
A thin silver band.
One Adrian had given her long before they married.
He remembered it.
Of course he did.
His eyes fixed on it.
“Why are you still wearing that?”
Amelia looked down.
She hadn’t realized she still had it.
“I forgot.”
“Forgot?”
“Yes.”
“Then take it off.”
Amelia looked at him.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Was he challenging her?
She slowly reached for the ring.
But her fingers stopped.
Adrian watched.
“Take it off.”
Amelia’s heart pounded.
She tried.
The ring wouldn’t move.
Her brows furrowed.
“It won’t come off.”
Adrian frowned.
“Let me.”
He reached for her hand.
Amelia immediately pulled away.
“No.”
“Amelia.”
“I said no.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“Fine.”
He stepped back.
Amelia stared at the ring.
She had worn it for six years.
She had never tried to remove it.
Not once.
And now…
It wouldn’t come off.
“That’s strange.”
Damian’s voice came from behind her.
Amelia turned.
He was staring at the ring.
“What’s strange?”
“That ring.”
“What about it?”
Damian’s expression changed.
“Where did you get it?”
“Adrian gave it to me.”
Damian went completely still.
Adrian noticed.
“What?”
Damian didn’t answer.
Adrian looked at Amelia.
Then Damian.
“What’s wrong with the ring?”
“Nothing.”
Damian turned away.
Amelia immediately knew he was lying.
“Damian.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Tell me.”
“I said it’s nothing.”
“Then why did you look at it like that?”
Damian’s jaw tightened.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Answer her.”
Damian’s eyes turned cold.
“I don’t take orders from you.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Then answer Amelia.”
A long silence.
Finally, Damian looked at Amelia.
“Where did Adrian get it?”
Amelia frowned.
“I don’t know.”
“Ask him.”
She turned toward Adrian.
“Where did you get this ring?”
Adrian stared at it.
“I bought it.”
“Where?”
“At an auction.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Amelia’s heart skipped.
Six years.
The same year they met.
“Why did you give it to me?”
Adrian’s expression became distant.
“I don’t remember.”
Amelia stared at him.
“You don’t remember?”
“It was a long time ago.”
“It was the first gift you ever gave me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I remember.”
“Then why did you give it to me?”
He didn’t answer.
Amelia’s voice softened.
“Adrian.”
He finally spoke.
“Because it reminded me of you.”
Her heart tightened.
“Why?”
Adrian looked at the ring.
“Because it was simple.”
Amelia frowned.
“Simple?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“You were different from everyone else I knew.”
The words caught her off guard.
Adrian continued.
“You didn’t want anything from me.”
Amelia looked away.
If only he knew.
If only he knew that she had spent years hiding billions from him.
Adrian’s gaze remained on her.
“I didn’t know who you were.”
Amelia whispered:
“Neither did I.”
A strange silence settled over them.
Then Damian spoke.
“That ring isn’t simple.”
Both turned toward him.
Damian’s face was grim.
“It belonged to the Valmont family.”
Amelia’s blood froze.
“What?”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“That’s impossible.”
Damian looked at him.
“No.”
He turned to Amelia.
“Your mother wore that ring.”
Amelia’s breathing stopped.
She stared at the silver band.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
Amelia’s hand began shaking.
“My mother never had this.”
Damian’s voice softened.
“She did.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I saw it.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago.”
Amelia’s heart pounded.
“Where?”
Damian looked away.
“At the Valmont estate.”
Her eyes widened.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“Before my parents disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damian didn’t answer.
Amelia stepped closer.
“Damian.”
He looked at her.
“Why were you at my family’s estate?”
His silence told her everything.
“You knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about me.”
Damian’s expression hardened.
“Yes.”
Amelia felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her.
“How long?”
“Since you were eighteen.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You’ve known me for eight years?”
“Yes.”
“And you watched me?”
“I protected you.”
“Without telling me?”
“Because I had to.”
“Why?”
Damian’s eyes darkened.
“Because your father asked me to.”
Amelia froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damian took a breath.
“Because he knew he was going to disappear.”
Silence.
Amelia couldn’t move.
“What do you mean?”
“He knew someone was coming for him.”
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
“Then how did he disappear?”
Damian shook his head.
“We don’t know.”
Amelia stared at him.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why did you tell me he was dead?”
“I never did.”
“But you let me believe it.”
“I was protecting you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that!”
Amelia’s voice broke.
“Protecting me from what?”
No one answered.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She turned away.
Then a voice came from behind her.
“From me.”
Amelia froze.
Everyone turned.
The voice had come from the shadows near the entrance.
A man stepped forward.
Amelia’s heart stopped.
Victor Valmont.
Her father.
He was alive.
And this time, he wasn’t holding a gun.
He was holding a photograph.
He walked toward them.
“Your mother was afraid of me.”
Amelia stared at him.
“No.”
Victor stopped.
“Amelia.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He frowned.
“You are my daughter.”
“No.”
She stepped back.
“You died.”
“I had to.”
“You left me.”
“I had no choice.”
“You let me believe you were dead!”
“I was protecting you.”
Amelia laughed through her tears.
“That’s all anyone ever says.”
Victor’s face changed.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain!”
Her voice echoed.
“Explain why my mother disappeared!”
Victor went silent.
“Explain why you abandoned me!”
“Amelia—”
“Explain why I had to grow up believing my entire family was dead!”
Victor’s eyes filled with something she couldn’t identify.
Regret.
Perhaps guilt.
Then he said quietly:
“Because your mother betrayed me.”
Amelia froze.
“What?”
Victor looked at Damian.
Then Adrian.
Then back at Amelia.
“Your mother didn’t disappear.”
Amelia’s heart pounded.
“Where is she?”
Victor’s expression became cold.
“She’s alive.”
The room went silent.
Amelia couldn’t breathe.
“Where?”
Victor didn’t answer.
“Where is my mother?”
“She’s the reason your family was destroyed.”
“No.”
“She betrayed the Valmonts.”
“No!”
“She took everything from me.”
“You’re lying!”
Victor’s voice suddenly became sharp.
“Your mother is the reason I disappeared!”
Amelia flinched.
Victor took a breath.
“She wasn’t the woman you believed her to be.”
Amelia shook her head.
“My mother loved me.”
“Yes.”
“She loved my father.”
“Once.”
“She would never betray you.”
Victor’s eyes darkened.
“She already did.”
Amelia looked at Damian.
He wasn’t surprised.
And that terrified her more than anything.
“You knew.”
Damian didn’t answer.
“You knew about my mother.”
“Amelia—”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
Her heart shattered.
She looked at Adrian.
He stood silently, watching her.
For once, he wasn’t the billionaire.
He wasn’t the cold husband.
He was simply a man witnessing a woman discover that everything she believed about her family was a lie.
Amelia felt completely alone.
Then Victor stepped closer.
“There is one thing you need to understand.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
Victor’s eyes moved toward Adrian.
“You should never have married him.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Why?”
Victor looked directly at him.
“Because the Sterling family is the reason the Valmont family fell.”
Silence.
Adrian’s face changed.
“What did you say?”
Victor smiled.
“Your family destroyed mine.”
Amelia’s heart stopped.
Adrian stepped forward.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
Victor’s gaze was cold.
“Ask your grandmother.”
Adrian went completely still.
His grandmother.
The woman who had warned him not to look for Amelia.
The woman who knew something about Amelia’s identity.
The woman who had told him to leave her alone.
Victor turned toward Amelia.
“Your divorce was not a coincidence.”
Amelia’s blood froze.
“What?”
“Someone wanted you separated from Adrian.”
“Who?”
Victor’s eyes darkened.
“The same people who destroyed the Valmont family.”
Amelia stared at him.
“Why?”
Victor’s gaze moved to the ring on her finger.
“Because they are afraid of what happens when the Valmont heiress and the Sterling heir stand on the same side.”
Amelia looked at Adrian.
Adrian looked back at her.
For the first time, neither of them knew what to say.
Then Victor spoke again.
“And now that you’ve divorced him…”
His eyes turned toward the door.
“You are vulnerable.”
A sound came from outside.
A car.
Then another.
Victor’s expression changed.
“They found us.”
Damian immediately moved toward Amelia.
Adrian stepped in front of her.
“Who?”
Victor looked at him.
“The people who have been waiting eight years for my daughter to come out of hiding.”
The mansion lights suddenly flickered.
Amelia’s heart pounded.
Outside, several vehicles screeched to a stop.
Security alarms began screaming.
Victor looked at Amelia.
“Now you must choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Whether you want to continue running…”
He glanced at Adrian.
“Or finally fight.”
Amelia stared at him.
Then she looked at Adrian.
The man she had divorced.
The man she had loved.
The man who might be connected to the destruction of her family.
And then she looked at Damian.
The man who had watched over her for eight years.
The man who had lied to her.
The man she wasn’t sure she could trust.
For the first time, Amelia understood.
There was no safe side.
There was only the truth.
And the truth was coming for all of them.
A loud explosion shook the mansion.
Amelia screamed.
Adrian grabbed her and pulled her against his chest.
Damian drew a gun.
Victor moved toward the window.
And somewhere outside…
A man’s voice shouted:
“Bring me the Valmont heiress!”
Amelia looked up at Adrian.
His arms tightened around her.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment, Amelia realized something terrifying.
The divorce had not freed her from Adrian Sterling.
It had placed a target on both their backs.
And now…
If she wanted to survive, she might have to trust the man who had broken her heart.
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