Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Glass
569 Words
Adrian's security team searched the estate, but whoever had entered was already gone.
Amara stood in the study, staring at the old document.
There were too many questions.
Too many secrets.
And somehow, every answer led back to her family.
“Adrian.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Your mother said my father knew who was stealing from Sterling Enterprises.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would they want me?”
“Because you might know something without realizing it.”
Amara frowned.
“How?”
“Your mother may have left something with you.”
“I don't have anything.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Think carefully.”
Amara closed her eyes.
Her childhood memories came rushing back.
Her mother's voice.
Her old bedroom.
A wooden music box.
She suddenly opened her eyes.
“The necklace.”
“What necklace?”
“My mother gave me a necklace when I turned sixteen.”
“Where is it?”
“At home.”
Adrian immediately picked up his keys.
“Let's go.”
---
They returned to Amara's apartment.
She searched through her belongings until she found the necklace inside an old jewelry box.
It was simple—a silver chain with a small pendant.
Adrian examined it.
“There must be something inside.”
He turned the pendant over.
A tiny symbol was engraved on the back.
An S surrounded by a crown.
Amara stared.
“Sterling.”
Adrian nodded.
He pressed the center of the pendant.
A tiny compartment opened.
Inside was a miniature memory card.
Amara's eyes widened.
“My mother hid this inside my necklace.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Do you have a computer?”
“Yes.”
They inserted the memory card.
A single video appeared.
Amara clicked it.
The screen showed a woman sitting in a dark room.
Isabella.
Amara couldn't breathe.
The woman in the video looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Amara, then I'm sorry.”
Amara's eyes filled with tears.
“I wanted you to have a normal life.”
Isabella continued.
“But there is something you must know.”
She paused.
“Your father did not betray the Sterling family.”
Adrian leaned closer to the screen.
“He was trying to expose the person who did.”
The video suddenly glitched.
Then Isabella said:
“The person responsible is—”
The screen went black.
Amara stared at it.
“No.”
Adrian tried restarting the file.
Nothing.
“The recording is damaged,” he said.
“But she was about to tell us.”
“I know.”
Amara looked at the pendant.
Then the screen.
Then Adrian.
“Someone doesn't want us to know.”
Adrian nodded.
“Then we'll find out ourselves.”
Suddenly, a notification appeared on the computer.
A new file had been added.
Neither of them had opened it.
Adrian clicked it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Daniel Cross.
Older.
Alive.
Standing outside a building.
And beneath the photograph was an address.
Amara stared at it.
“My father.”
Adrian reached for his jacket.
“Let's go.”
But before they could leave, another message appeared.
Come alone, Amara.
Then a second line appeared.
If Adrian comes with you, Daniel Cross dies.
Amara's blood ran cold.
She looked at Adrian.
For the first time, neither of them knew what to do.
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