Chapter Six — The Warning
1319 Words
Chapter Six — The Warning
The rain began before dawn.
Sandra woke to the sound of water striking the window and the distant rumble of thunder.
For a few seconds, she forgot everything.
Then she remembered Emma.
A smile appeared on her face.
She reached for her phone.
There was a message waiting for her.
Emma: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you slept well.
Sandra smiled as she typed.
Sandra: Good morning. I slept well. I miss you already.
His reply came almost immediately.
Emma: Then I’ll come and steal you away after work.
She laughed quietly.
For the first time, Sandra felt as though life was finally giving her something beautiful.
But when she entered the kitchen, that feeling disappeared.
Her father was sitting at the table.
He looked exhausted.
“Dad?”
Daniel looked up.
“You need to leave Emma.”
Sandra stopped.
“Again?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. I love him.”
Daniel rubbed his face.
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Then tell me.”
He remained silent.
Sandra pulled out a chair.
“You’ve been acting strangely ever since I told you his name. You know something about the Hayes family.”
Daniel’s eyes moved toward the window.
“I knew his father.”
Sandra’s heart stopped.
“What?”
“Years ago.”
“How?”
Daniel took a slow breath.
“Your mother and I worked for his family.”
Sandra stared at him.
“You never told me that.”
“There was nothing to tell.”
“There clearly is.”
Daniel looked down.
“Richard Hayes was different back then.”
“Different how?”
“He was younger. Less powerful. But he was already determined to get whatever he wanted.”
Sandra listened carefully.
“Your mother worked in one of his companies. I worked there too.”
“What happened?”
Daniel’s face darkened.
“There was an accident.”
Sandra’s voice softened.
“What kind of accident?”
Daniel looked at her.
“The kind that changed everything.”
Before he could continue, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Who is it?”
“No one.”
He stood and walked outside.
Sandra watched him through the window.
He answered the call.
“Hello?”
A voice spoke on the other end.
Daniel’s face became pale.
“Don’t involve my daughter.”
There was a long silence.
Daniel’s voice trembled.
“I said leave her alone.”
Sandra could hear only one side of the conversation.
Then her father whispered:
“I’ll come.”
He ended the call.
When he returned inside, Sandra stood waiting.
“Who was that?”
“No one.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“I have to go somewhere.”
“Where?”
Daniel picked up his jacket.
“Just stay away from Emma.”
He walked out.
Sandra followed him to the door.
“Dad!”
He stopped.
She stared at him.
“Please tell me the truth.”
Daniel looked back at his daughter.
There was fear in his eyes.
“I’m trying to protect you.”
Then he left.
Sandra stood alone.
She didn’t know what frightened her more—the secrets her father was hiding or the possibility that Emma’s family was somehow connected to her past.
Later that afternoon, Emma arrived at the café.
Sandra immediately noticed something was wrong.
“You look worried.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“My father.”
Emma frowned.
“What happened?”
“He knows about us.”
“I expected that.”
“No. It’s different.”
Sandra lowered her voice.
“My father knew your father years ago.”
Emma froze.
“What?”
“I don’t know what happened between them.”
Emma’s expression became serious.
“Did he tell you anything?”
“Not enough.”
Emma reached for her hand.
“Whatever happened, we’ll find out.”
Sandra looked into his eyes.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He kissed her hand.
But neither of them noticed the man standing outside the café.
He was watching them again.
This time, he wasn’t alone.
A second man stood beside him.
“That’s her?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s Emma?”
“Yes.”
The second man looked through the window.
“His father wants them separated.”
“Then we’ll separate them.”
That evening, Emma drove Sandra home.
They stopped a few streets away from her apartment.
Sandra looked at him.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me happy.”
Emma smiled.
“You make me happy too.”
She leaned closer and kissed him.
Neither of them noticed the car parked behind them.
Suddenly, another vehicle drove toward them.
The headlights flashed directly into Emma’s eyes.
Emma raised his hand.
“What the—”
The vehicle stopped beside them.
Two men stepped out.
Sandra’s heart began pounding.
Emma immediately locked the doors.
“Stay inside.”
“Emma, who are they?”
“I don’t know.”
One of the men walked toward the driver’s window.
Emma lowered the glass slightly.
“What do you want?”
The man leaned closer.
“Mr. Hayes.”
Emma’s expression hardened.
“Who are you?”
“Your father sends his regards.”
Sandra’s eyes widened.
Emma opened the door.
“Don’t involve her.”
The man smiled.
“Then stay away from her.”
Emma stepped out.
“No.”
The man stared at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
He pointed toward Sandra.
“She has nothing to do with this.”
“Then prove it.”
Emma’s fists tightened.
“Tell my father I’ll never leave her.”
The man’s smile disappeared.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Maybe.”
Emma stepped closer.
“But it’s my mistake to make.”
The man stared at him for a moment.
Then he turned.
“Let’s go.”
The two men returned to their vehicle and drove away.
Sandra stepped out of Emma’s car.
She was trembling.
“Emma.”
He turned toward her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but tears filled her eyes.
“Your father is trying to scare me.”
Emma pulled her into his arms.
“I won’t let him hurt you.”
“But what if he doesn’t stop?”
“Then I’ll stand between you and him.”
Sandra held him tightly.
“I don’t want you to fight your family because of me.”
“I’m not fighting them because of you.”
He lifted her face gently.
“I’m fighting for us.”
She closed her eyes.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Across the city, Richard Hayes stood by his office window.
His assistant entered.
“They refused to separate.”
Richard turned.
“Then increase the pressure.”
“Sir, Emma is becoming more resistant.”
Richard’s expression hardened.
“He’s my son. He will eventually understand.”
“And the girl?”
Richard looked toward the city.
“She will understand first.”
Meanwhile, Daniel returned home late that night.
Sandra was waiting.
“Dad.”
He looked at her.
“Where were you?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
Sandra stepped closer.
“I know something happened.”
He sighed.
“Go to your room.”
“No.”
“Sandra.”
“I need the truth.”
Daniel looked at his daughter for a long time.
Finally, he whispered:
“Your mother died because of the Hayes family.”
Sandra’s world stopped.
“What?”
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.
“And if you continue loving Emma…”
He swallowed hard.
“I am afraid I will lose you too.”
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