CHAPTER 4: THE BLACKWOOD GATE
1485 Words
The Blackwood mansion was nothing like Amelia had imagined.
She had expected a large house.
She had not expected a palace.
The iron gates alone were taller than any building Amelia had ever lived in. Beyond them stretched a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed trees, their branches moving gently in the evening breeze. At the end stood a massive white-and-grey mansion with tall windows, golden lights, and balconies that looked as though they belonged in a movie.
Amelia sat inside the taxi, staring through the window.
Her fingers tightened around the old photograph in her lap.
Her mother had kept it hidden for twenty-two years.
Adrian Blackwood stood in the photograph, younger than the man Amelia had seen on the internet. He was smiling beside Emily.
And beside them was a tiny baby wrapped in a white blanket.
Amelia.
Her heart beat faster.
“Are you sure this is the place?” the taxi driver asked.
Amelia swallowed.
“Yes.”
The driver glanced at the mansion and then back at her through the mirror.
“That's the Blackwood residence.”
“I know.”
He hesitated. “You have an appointment?”
Amelia almost laughed.
“No.”
The driver looked concerned.
Amelia opened her bag and counted the little money she had left. She had spent most of it getting to Blackwood City.
“I'll be fine.”
The taxi stopped near the gate.
Amelia stepped out.
The moment the taxi drove away, silence surrounded her.
She looked at the enormous gates.
For twenty-two years, this place had belonged to a family she never knew existed.
And somewhere inside was the man she had spent her entire life believing had abandoned her.
Her father.
Amelia took a deep breath and walked toward the security post.
A guard immediately stepped forward.
“Can I help you?”
“I need to see Adrian Blackwood.”
The guard's expression changed.
“Mr. Blackwood?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Then I'm afraid you can't enter.”
Amelia pulled the photograph from her bag.
“Tell him Amelia Carter is here.”
The guard frowned.
“Who?”
“Amelia Carter.”
He looked at the photograph.
Then at her.
For a second, something strange crossed his face.
Fear.
It disappeared quickly.
“Wait here.”
The guard turned and walked inside the security booth.
Amelia watched him make a phone call.
Her stomach twisted.
What if Adrian refused to see her?
What if her mother had been wrong?
What if the documents were fake?
She reached into her bag and touched the hospital records.
No.
She had seen enough evidence.
Her mother hadn't lied.
Someone had.
A few minutes later, the guard returned.
“You can't come in.”
Amelia's heart sank.
“Why?”
“Mr. Blackwood isn't available.”
“Did you tell him my name?”
The guard avoided her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Then let me speak to him.”
“I already told you—”
“I am his daughter.”
The words escaped before Amelia could stop them.
The guard froze.
Amelia's heart pounded.
“I said I'm Adrian Blackwood's daughter.”
The guard stared at her.
Then his eyes moved toward the mansion.
Suddenly, the gate opened.
Amelia stepped back.
A black car rolled toward her.
It stopped directly in front of the gate.
The rear door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She was elegant, beautiful, and perfectly dressed. Her dark hair was pulled into a neat style, and a diamond necklace rested against her throat.
Amelia recognized her immediately.
Victoria Blackwood.
Adrian's wife.
Victoria looked at Amelia.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Victoria's eyes fell on the photograph in Amelia's hand.
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But Amelia noticed.
“You're Amelia,” Victoria said quietly.
Amelia's chest tightened.
“You know me?”
Victoria's lips pressed together.
“I know who you are.”
“Then you know why I'm here.”
Victoria looked toward the security guard.
“Leave us.”
The guard obeyed.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
Amelia stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because some truths are better left buried.”
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
“My mother is dead.”
Victoria's expression remained calm.
“I heard.”
“Then you should understand why I'm here.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“Do you know Adrian?”
Victoria gave a bitter smile.
“Of course I know Adrian.”
“No. I mean, do you know what happened twenty-two years ago?”
Silence.
Victoria looked at the photograph again.
For the first time, Amelia saw something behind her cold expression.
Fear.
“You look exactly like your mother,” Victoria whispered.
Amelia's breath caught.
“You knew my mother?”
Victoria didn't answer.
Instead, she stepped closer.
“Who gave you that photograph?”
“My mother.”
“Did she tell you everything?”
“She tried.”
Victoria's eyes hardened.
“Emily always was determined to tell the truth.”
Amelia felt a chill.
“You knew her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Victoria looked away.
“Not here.”
She turned toward the mansion.
“Come inside.”
Amelia hesitated.
Every instinct told her not to trust this woman.
But she had travelled hundreds of miles for answers.
She followed.
Inside, the mansion was even more impressive.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Paintings decorated the walls. Expensive furniture filled the enormous living room.
Amelia suddenly became painfully aware of her simple clothes.
She looked down at herself.
Victoria noticed.
“You don't need to feel ashamed.”
“I don't.”
“Good.”
Victoria walked toward the staircase.
“Because if you are truly Adrian's daughter, this house belongs to you as much as it belongs to anyone.”
Amelia stopped.
“What did you say?”
Victoria turned.
For the first time, the calm mask disappeared completely.
“I said nothing.”
“You did.”
Before Victoria could answer, a man's voice came from behind them.
“Victoria?”
Amelia froze.
She knew that voice.
She had heard it countless times in interviews.
Adrian Blackwood.
Victoria slowly turned.
Adrian stood at the entrance to the living room.
He was older than the man in the photograph, but Amelia could still see the resemblance.
His eyes met hers.
And then he saw the photograph in her hand.
His face went completely pale.
The room became silent.
Adrian stared at Amelia as though he had seen a ghost.
“No,” he whispered.
Amelia's heart broke.
She had imagined this moment so many times.
She had imagined him running toward her.
Holding her.
Asking where she had been all his life.
Instead, he looked terrified.
“Dad?”
Adrian took one step backward.
Victoria immediately moved between them.
“Adrian—”
“Don't.”
His voice trembled.
He looked directly at Amelia.
“Who are you?”
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
“My name is Amelia Carter.”
Adrian shook his head.
“That isn't possible.”
She pulled the hospital documents from her bag.
“My mother was Emily Carter.”
Adrian stopped breathing.
Amelia held out the papers.
“She told me you were my father.”
Adrian didn't move.
Victoria looked at him.
“Adrian, we need to talk.”
But he didn't seem to hear her.
His eyes remained fixed on Amelia.
Then Amelia noticed something strange.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
“I was told you died,” he whispered.
Amelia's heart shattered.
“So was I.”
Adrian looked at Victoria.
His expression changed.
For the first time, anger replaced shock.
“You knew?”
Victoria said nothing.
“Victoria,” he said again, his voice dangerously quiet. “Did you know?”
She remained silent.
And that silence was answer enough.
Amelia stepped backward.
Suddenly, she understood.
Her mother hadn't simply been separated from Adrian.
Someone had made sure they never found each other.
And that someone was standing in the room.
Twenty-two years of lies were about to come crashing down.
But before Adrian could say another word, the mansion doors suddenly opened.
A man rushed inside.
“Mr. Blackwood!”
Adrian turned.
“What is it?”
The man's face was pale.
“There is a problem.”
“What problem?”
The man glanced at Amelia.
Then back at Adrian.
“Someone has been asking questions about your daughter.”
Amelia's blood ran cold.
“My daughter?” Adrian repeated.
The man nodded.
“And they know she's here.”
Outside, beyond the tall windows, a black vehicle sat across the street.
Its engine was running.
And behind the tinted glass, someone was watching the mansion.
Watching Amelia.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
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