Chapter 6: The Sterling Secret
508 Words
The next morning, Adrian took Amara to the Sterling family estate.
The enormous mansion stood behind tall gates, surrounded by carefully maintained gardens.
Amara stared through the car window.
“This is where you grew up?”
“Yes.”
“It doesn't feel like a home.”
Adrian glanced at her.
“It wasn't.”
They entered through the main doors.
A woman was waiting in the hallway.
Elegant. Calm. Impossibly composed.
Amara recognized her immediately.
Victoria Sterling.
Adrian's mother.
Her eyes moved from Adrian to Amara.
Then stopped.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Victoria whispered:
“Isabella's daughter.”
Amara's heart dropped.
“You knew?”
Victoria looked at Adrian.
“You brought her here?”
“She deserves answers.”
“She deserves to stay alive.”
Amara stepped forward.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Victoria looked at her carefully.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Where is she?”
Victoria's expression softened.
“Isabella disappeared because she discovered something about this family.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather had been hiding financial crimes for years.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“You never told me this.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Amara looked between them.
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Everything.”
She led them into a private study.
On the desk was an old photograph of Isabella.
Victoria touched it gently.
“Your mother discovered that someone inside the family was stealing from Sterling Enterprises.”
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
“But she disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And I disappeared too.”
Victoria nodded.
“Your mother believed whoever was responsible would come after you.”
Amara's voice trembled.
“So she gave me to Lydia.”
“Yes.”
“Why Lydia?”
“She was the only person Isabella trusted.”
Amara stared at the photograph.
“Then why did you say my father was dangerous?”
Victoria looked away.
“Because Daniel Cross was involved.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Involved how?”
Victoria didn't answer.
Instead, she opened a drawer and removed a sealed document.
“This was found after Isabella disappeared.”
She handed it to Amara.
Amara opened it.
It was a company record.
At the bottom was a signature.
Daniel Cross.
“What did he do?”
Victoria's voice was quiet.
“He knew who was stealing from the company.”
“Who?”
“He refused to tell us.”
Amara looked at Adrian.
“Maybe that's why he disappeared.”
“Maybe,” Adrian said.
A sudden noise came from outside.
Security alarms began ringing.
Adrian immediately moved toward the window.
A black vehicle was speeding away from the estate.
Victoria's face went pale.
“They found her.”
Adrian turned.
“Who?”
Victoria looked at Amara.
“The people who have been searching for you.”
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