Chapter Ten: The Girl in the Photograph
1137 Words
The photograph trembled in Amelia’s hands.
She turned it over again, hoping the words would somehow change.
They didn’t.
Protect her. She is your sister.
Her mother’s handwriting was unmistakable.
Elegant.
Neat.
Every birthday card Amelia had received before her parents’ deaths had carried those same graceful strokes.
She traced the faded ink with her thumb.
“No…”
Her voice was barely audible.
“I don’t have a sister.”
At least…
She had never been told she did.
The little girl in the picture looked about six years old, standing beside Amelia in a field of sunflowers. They were laughing, their hands stained with blue paint.
The girl’s face was bright with mischief, her dark curls escaping from a ribbon tied carelessly at the back of her head.
She looked familiar.
Not because Amelia remembered her.
But because something deep inside her whispered that she should.
A sharp pain bloomed behind her eyes.
Then
A memory.
Warm sunshine.
Laughter.
Someone running ahead of her through a garden.
A small hand reaching for hers.
“Mia! Catch me!”
The memory vanished before she could grasp it.
Amelia pressed her fingers to her temple.
“Mia…”
No one had called her that in over twenty years.
Except…
Her mother.
“Miss Carter?”
The voice startled her.
She spun around.
Lily stood a few steps away, carrying a basket of freshly cut flowers.
The young maid looked concerned.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Amelia quickly slipped the photograph into her handbag.
“I’m sorry. I needed some air.”
Lily glanced toward the abandoned chapel.
“My grandmother used to say this place keeps secrets.”
Amelia managed a faint smile.
“I think she was right.”
Lily hesitated.
“The family meeting is starting.”
“So soon?”
“The lawyers are already here.”
Amelia’s stomach tightened.
The inheritance.
She had almost forgotten.
The grand hall of Carter Manor buzzed with quiet conversation as Amelia entered.
Every chair around the long mahogany table was occupied.
Her uncles.
Her aunts.
Their spouses.
Their children.
The Carter family had gathered like shareholders waiting for the opening bell of the stock market.
Only one chair remained empty.
The one at the head of the table.
Her grandfather’s.
Mr. Lawson stood beside it, immaculate in a navy suit, a leather folder tucked beneath his arm.
His expression betrayed nothing.
If Amelia hadn’t overheard him in the garden, she would never have suspected him.
Their eyes met briefly.
He smiled.
“Miss Carter.”
She returned the smile.
Polite.
Measured.
As though nothing had changed.
As though she hadn’t heard him plotting with the man in the gray suit.
She took her seat.
For now…
She would keep what she knew to herself.
Mr. Lawson cleared his throat.
“Thank you all for coming.”
The conversations died immediately.
“As you know, Chairman Edward Carter remains under medical supervision. He has instructed me to oversee today’s meeting.”
Vivian folded her arms.
“When will we discuss the succession?”
“In due time.”
Another uncle leaned forward impatiently.
“We’ve postponed this for years.”
“The company needs certainty.”
“So do the investors.”
Voices rose around the room.
Everyone had an opinion.
Everyone wanted control.
Amelia listened quietly.
Not one person had asked how her grandfather was feeling.
Only who would replace him.
Mr. Lawson raised a hand.
“The Chairman has prepared a provisional directive.”
Every head lifted.
“He has decided that until he fully recovers…”
He opened the folder.
“…all major decisions regarding Carter Group will require the approval of a temporary executive representative.”
Silence.
Vivian smiled confidently.
Amelia noticed Ethan looking unusually tense.
Mr. Lawson unfolded the document.
“The temporary representative appointed by Chairman Edward Carter is…”
He paused.
“…Miss Amelia Carter.”
The room erupted.
“Impossible!”
“She’s been gone for years!”
“She has no right!”
“She abandoned this family!”
Vivian slammed both hands onto the table.
“This is outrageous!”
Amelia remained seated.
She hadn’t expected this.
Neither had Ethan.
Mr. Lawson waited patiently for the shouting to subside.
“The Chairman’s decision is final.”
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“Fine.”
She turned to Amelia.
“Tell us, dear.”
Her smile was razor-sharp.
“Do you even know how many companies Carter Group owns?”
Amelia met her gaze calmly.
“No.”
A few relatives smirked.
Vivian’s confidence grew.
“Do you know our quarterly revenue?”
“No.”
“What about international acquisitions?”
“No.”
Vivian spread her hands triumphantly.
“There.”
She looked around the room.
“She’s completely unqualified.”
Amelia slowly stood.
The room fell quiet.
“You’re right.”
Vivian blinked.
“I don’t know those numbers.”
She took a slow breath.
“Because I haven’t been part of this family for three years.”
Her voice remained calm.
“But I do know this.”
She looked around the table.
“A company doesn’t survive because people fight over who sits in the biggest chair.”
“It survives because someone protects the people who built it.”
No one spoke.
“I didn’t come here asking for this position.”
She glanced at Mr. Lawson.
“My grandfather chose me.”
She looked back at the family.
“If any of you believe you can serve him better…”
She gently pushed her chair back.
“…I’ll walk away right now.”
The silence was deafening.
Not one person stood.
Not one.
Even Vivian lowered her eyes.
Because everyone wanted power.
No one wanted responsibility.
As the meeting ended, Ethan caught up with Amelia in the hallway.
“You handled that better than I would have.”
She smiled weakly.
“I was terrified.”
“It didn’t show.”
Before she could answer, her phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
She frowned.
“Hello?”
For several seconds…
Only breathing.
Then a distorted male voice spoke.
“You read the letter.”
Her blood ran cold.
“You know the truth about your parents.”
She stopped walking.
Ethan looked at her questioningly.
The voice continued.
“Now listen carefully.”
A pause.
“If you want your sister to stay alive…”
Amelia’s heart nearly stopped.
“…stop looking for answers.”
The call ended.
She stared at the dark screen.
Then, almost immediately, a message appeared.
It contained only a photograph.
A young woman.
Early twenties.
Standing outside a university library.
She looked so much like Amelia that it felt like looking into another life.
At the bottom of the image were five chilling words.
She’s watching you already.
- Writer
