Chapter 6: The Name She Buried
3029 Words
The car moved silently through the night.
Amelia sat in the back seat, her eyes fixed on the city lights rushing past the window.
For years, she had convinced herself that she could keep her two worlds separate.
Amelia Sterling.
The quiet wife.
The woman who lived in Adrian Sterling’s shadow.
And Amelia Valmont.
The heiress.
The last surviving member of a family whose name had once commanded fear and respect in the highest circles of society.
Two identities.
Two lives.
And for six years, she had managed to keep them apart.
Until tonight.
Amelia looked down at her phone.
The message from the man at the airport remained on the screen.
The time has come, Miss Valmont.
She stared at it.
Then typed:
I told you never to call me that.
The reply came almost immediately.
You can hide your name, but you cannot hide your blood.
Amelia’s jaw tightened.
She deleted the message.
“Drive faster.”
The driver glanced at her through the mirror.
“Yes, Miss.”
The car accelerated.
Amelia leaned back.
She hated the name.
Valmont.
It represented everything she had spent years running from.
Power.
Money.
Blood.
Death.
And betrayal.
Especially betrayal.
Her father had once been one of the most powerful men in the country.
His business empire had stretched across several continents.
Hotels.
Private banks.
Shipping companies.
Luxury real estate.
Investment firms.
The Valmont name had been everywhere.
Until one night, everything disappeared.
Her father died.
Her mother disappeared.
The company collapsed.
And Amelia became a ghost.
At least, that’s what the world believed.
The truth was far more complicated.
The Valmont empire had never truly disappeared.
It had simply gone underground.
Hidden behind private trusts and shell companies.
And Amelia was the only person who knew where everything was.
The only person who could claim it.
The only surviving heiress.
She had been eighteen when she learned the truth.
And she had spent the next five years running from it.
Until she met Adrian.
For the first time in her life, she had wanted something that had nothing to do with the Valmont name.
She wanted love.
She wanted a normal life.
She wanted to be Amelia.
Not Miss Valmont.
Not an heiress.
Just a woman who could love a man without worrying about enemies hiding in the shadows.
She had thought Adrian would be that man.
She had been wrong.
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a call.
Amelia stared at the unknown number.
She didn’t answer.
The phone rang again.
And again.
Finally, she accepted.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice came through.
Deep.
Calm.
Familiar.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Amelia’s expression hardened.
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”
“You went back to the Sterling mansion.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Someone stole something that belongs to me.”
A pause.
“Your mother’s necklace.”
Amelia went still.
“How do you know about that?”
“Because I know everything that’s happening.”
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
“Then tell me who took it.”
Silence.
“Answer me.”
“Not yet.”
Amelia’s eyes flashed.
“Don’t play games with me.”
“I’m not.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Protecting you.”
Amelia laughed bitterly.
“I don’t need protection.”
“Everyone needs protection.”
“Not me.”
“You’re wrong.”
The certainty in his voice irritated her.
“Who are you?”
“You already know.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Think carefully.”
Amelia’s heart skipped.
The voice.
There was something familiar about it.
Something she couldn’t place.
“Have we met?”
“More times than you realize.”
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone.
Her mind raced.
More times than she realized.
Who was he?
And why did he know so much about her?
“Miss?”
The driver’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“What?”
“We’re here.”
Amelia looked outside.
The car had stopped in front of a large private estate.
The gates opened immediately.
She frowned.
“Who owns this place?”
The driver didn’t answer.
“Who owns it?”
A voice came from beside her.
“I do.”
Amelia turned.
A man stood outside the car.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair.
A sharp jaw.
He wore a black suit with no tie, his expression unreadable.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed.
“You.”
The man smiled faintly.
“Hello, Amelia.”
She stepped out of the car.
“I told you I don’t want to see you.”
“And yet you’re here.”
“I didn’t know this was your house.”
“Now you do.”
Amelia stared at him.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“I didn’t.”
She frowned.
“You sent the car.”
“I sent someone to pick you up.”
“Why?”
“Because you were followed.”
Amelia went still.
“What?”
The man’s expression changed.
“You weren’t alone when you left the Sterling mansion.”
Her eyes immediately moved toward the road.
“Who followed me?”
“We don’t know.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Because my people saw them.”
Amelia’s heart began to race.
She turned back to him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I am telling you now.”
“You’re always late.”
He smiled.
“You haven’t changed.”
Amelia’s eyes hardened.
“Don’t pretend you know me.”
The man’s smile disappeared.
“I know you better than anyone.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
She stared at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Amelia stepped closer.
“Tell me who took the necklace.”
His expression became serious.
“Someone who wants you to return to the Valmont world.”
“I’m not returning.”
“You already are.”
“No.”
“Amelia.”
She hated the way he said her name.
Like he knew her.
Like he knew the secrets she had buried.
“Your family left behind enemies.”
“I know.”
“Some of them have been waiting for you to emerge.”
“I said I know.”
“And now they know you’re back.”
Amelia’s expression changed.
“How?”
The man looked at her.
“Because of Adrian.”
Her heart stopped.
“What does Adrian have to do with this?”
“Everything.”
Amelia stepped back.
“Explain.”
“Your marriage to Adrian Sterling was never as private as you believed.”
She stared at him.
“What are you saying?”
“Someone knew who you were before you married him.”
Amelia’s face went pale.
“Who?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”
“Who is we?”
The man said nothing.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re hiding something.”
“Of course I am.”
“Then why should I trust you?”
“Because I’m the only person standing between you and the people who want you dead.”
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
Amelia stared at him.
“Who wants me dead?”
The man stepped closer.
“Everyone who wants the Valmont fortune.”
Her blood ran cold.
She had known this day would come.
She just hadn’t expected it to happen now.
Not after the divorce.
Not after Adrian.
She turned away.
“I want to go home.”
“Which one?”
Amelia stopped.
The question cut deeper than he intended.
She didn’t have a home anymore.
The Valmont estate was gone.
Her parents were gone.
And Adrian’s mansion…
She had just walked away from it.
She looked over her shoulder.
“Somewhere I can be alone.”
The man studied her.
Then nodded.
“Take her to the safe house.”
Amelia turned sharply.
“What?”
“You’ll stay there tonight.”
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s not a request.”
She glared at him.
“You don’t give me orders.”
“I just did.”
For the first time, Amelia almost smiled.
There was something about his arrogance that reminded her of Adrian.
She immediately hated the thought.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Amelia turned away.
“Fine.”
He looked surprised.
“Fine?”
“One night.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“Three.”
She turned.
“Are you negotiating with me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re stubborn.”
Amelia rolled her eyes.
“One night.”
He smiled.
“Two.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“One.”
He laughed.
It was the first time Amelia had heard him laugh.
She stared at him.
The sound was strangely familiar.
And suddenly, something clicked.
Her eyes widened.
“You.”
His smile disappeared.
Amelia stepped closer.
“I know you.”
He didn’t move.
“Do you?”
“That voice.”
His expression changed.
She looked at him carefully.
“You’re the man who called me.”
He didn’t answer.
“You were the one at the airport.”
Still nothing.
Amelia’s heart pounded.
“The man who was waiting for me.”
Finally, he nodded.
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Who are you?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“My name is Damian Vale.”
Amelia froze.
The name meant something.
She just couldn’t remember what.
Damian watched her carefully.
“Do you remember my family?”
Amelia’s face changed.
Her mother had once mentioned the Vale family.
A powerful family.
Old money.
Private investments.
Dangerous connections.
And a history with the Valmonts.
“You knew my father.”
Damian nodded.
“Our families were partners.”
“Partners in what?”
His expression became unreadable.
“That’s a story for another day.”
Amelia’s eyes narrowed.
“I hate you already.”
Damian smiled.
“Good.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if you hate me, you’ll be less likely to trust me.”
Amelia stared at him.
He was strange.
Dangerous.
And somehow…
Familiar.
She looked away.
“Take me to the safe house.”
Damian nodded.
But before Amelia could walk away, he spoke.
“There’s one more thing.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Adrian was right.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“About what?”
Damian looked at her.
“You’re hiding something.”
Amelia’s heart stopped.
Damian stepped closer.
“But unlike Adrian…”
He lowered his voice.
“I already know what it is.”
⸻
Across the city, Adrian sat alone in his study.
The rain had returned.
He hadn’t moved for nearly an hour.
His laptop was open in front of him.
On the screen was Amelia’s name.
Not Amelia Sterling.
Something else.
Adrian had ordered Marcus to investigate his ex-wife.
He had expected a few basic details.
Her education.
Her employment history.
Her family.
Nothing complicated.
But the report Marcus had sent him was disturbing.
There were gaps.
Too many gaps.
Amelia’s records began when she was eighteen.
Before that…
Nothing.
No school records.
No medical records.
No official family history.
It was as if Amelia Sterling had simply appeared in the world at eighteen years old.
Adrian stared at the screen.
“Impossible.”
The door opened.
Marcus walked inside.
Adrian didn’t look up.
“Tell me you found something.”
Marcus hesitated.
“I did.”
Adrian’s eyes lifted.
“Well?”
Marcus placed a folder on the desk.
“Her identity is clean.”
Adrian frowned.
“Too clean.”
“Exactly.”
Adrian opened the folder.
There were photographs.
Documents.
Records.
Everything appeared normal.
Too normal.
“What are you not telling me?”
Marcus took a breath.
“There is one problem.”
Adrian’s eyes sharpened.
“What?”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“We found another identity connected to Amelia.”
Adrian’s hand stopped moving.
“Which identity?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Amelia Valmont.”
The room went silent.
Adrian slowly looked up.
“Valmont?”
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
Marcus swallowed.
“That’s the problem.”
“Explain.”
“The Valmont family officially disappeared eight years ago.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Nobody knows.”
Adrian stared at him.
Marcus continued.
“The family fortune was supposedly lost.”
“Supposedly?”
“Yes.”
Adrian leaned back.
“How much?”
Marcus hesitated.
“More than the Sterling family.”
For the first time that night, Adrian said nothing.
He looked down at the photograph in front of him.
Amelia.
His wife.
His ex-wife.
The woman he thought he knew.
He remembered her calm face.
Her quiet voice.
Her words.
Perhaps you’re simply noticing me for the first time.
Adrian’s stomach tightened.
“Where is she?”
“We don’t know.”
“Find her.”
Marcus nodded.
“Sir.”
“Now.”
Marcus turned to leave.
“Marcus.”
He stopped.
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
“Don’t tell anyone about this.”
“Of course.”
“And find out everything about the Valmont family.”
Marcus hesitated.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“There is something else.”
Adrian looked up.
Marcus’s expression was grim.
“Someone has already accessed the Valmont records.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
Adrian went still.
Three days.
The exact day Amelia signed the divorce papers.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Adrian looked down.
An unknown number.
A message.
Stop looking for her.
His eyes darkened.
Another message arrived.
You have already taken enough from Amelia.
Adrian’s fingers tightened around the phone.
Then the final message appeared.
If you continue, you will learn why the Valmonts disappeared.
Adrian stared at the screen.
His heart began to pound.
For the first time, he understood.
The divorce wasn’t the end of his marriage.
It was the beginning of something far more dangerous.
Something involving Amelia.
Something involving the Valmont family.
And someone was terrified that Adrian would discover the truth.
⸻
At the safe house, Amelia stood in front of a large window.
She couldn’t sleep.
Damian had left her alone for the night.
But his words wouldn’t leave her mind.
I already know what it is.
Amelia looked down at her hands.
She had spent six years protecting her secret.
And now, one by one, people were beginning to uncover it.
First Adrian.
Then whoever had stolen her mother’s necklace.
And now Damian.
She reached for her phone.
There was one new message.
This time, it came from a number she knew.
Her grandmother.
Amelia’s heart skipped.
She opened it.
There were only five words.
Your father was never dead.
Amelia stopped breathing.
The phone slipped from her fingers.
It hit the floor.
Her entire body went cold.
Slowly, she bent down and picked it up.
Her hands were shaking.
She read the message again.
And again.
Her father.
The man she had believed was dead for eight years.
The man whose death had destroyed the Valmont family.
The man whose disappearance had forced her into hiding.
Alive?
Impossible.
A second message appeared.
He is coming for you.
Amelia stared at the screen.
Then another message.
And he knows about Adrian.
Her blood ran cold.
The bedroom door suddenly opened.
Damian stood there.
His expression was unusually serious.
“Amelia.”
She looked at him.
For the first time since he had known her, Damian saw genuine fear in her eyes.
“What happened?”
Amelia couldn’t speak.
She held out the phone.
Damian read the messages.
His face changed.
“Who sent this?”
“My grandmother.”
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
Damian looked at Amelia.
“Did you know your father might be alive?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Amelia—”
“I didn’t know.”
Her voice broke.
Damian stepped closer.
She immediately backed away.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
Amelia looked down at the phone.
Her entire world was collapsing again.
Her father was alive.
Someone had stolen her mother’s necklace.
Someone knew her identity.
And Adrian was investigating the Valmont family.
She suddenly realized something.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
The divorce.
The necklace.
The anonymous messages.
The Valmont records.
Someone had been waiting.
Waiting for her to become vulnerable.
And the moment she divorced Adrian…
They had made their move.
Amelia looked up.
Her eyes hardened.
“Call your people.”
Damian frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going back.”
“Back where?”
“To Adrian.”
Damian’s expression changed.
“Absolutely not.”
Amelia grabbed her coat.
“Get out of my way.”
“Amelia.”
She looked at him.
“I need to know what Adrian knows.”
Damian stepped in front of the door.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You don’t control me.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Then help me.”
“By sending you back to the man you just divorced?”
Amelia’s expression hardened.
“Adrian may be many things.”
She reached for the door.
“But he’s not stupid.”
Damian stared at her.
Amelia looked back.
“And right now, he may be the only person who can help me find out who is coming for me.”
Damian said nothing.
Amelia opened the door.
Then she stopped.
Her phone vibrated again.
Both of them looked down.
Another message.
From the unknown number.
Don’t trust Damian Vale.
Amelia’s blood ran cold.
She slowly looked up.
Damian was watching her.
And for the first time…
She wondered if the person she had trusted all these years was actually the one she should fear most.
- Writer
