A Dangerous Proposal
872 Words
The silence in the drawing room was suffocating.
No one spoke.
James Carter stood frozen near the doorway, while Eleanor Kingsley's trembling hands tightened around the silver necklace.
"The samples... disappeared?" Eleanor finally asked, disbelief filling her voice.
James nodded grimly.
"Yes, Madam. The laboratory confirmed they never arrived. The courier transporting them was attacked on the way. Whoever did it knew exactly what they were looking for."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"This wasn't an accident."
"No," James replied. "Someone planned this."
Aria looked from one face to another, feeling as though she had been thrown into a story she didn't understand.
"I don't know what's happening," she said quietly. "Maybe I should leave."
"No."
Eleanor's voice was unexpectedly firm.
"You are not leaving."
Aria blinked.
"But—"
"If someone is willing to steal DNA evidence just to stop the truth from coming out, then you're already in danger."
A shiver ran down Aria's spine.
"Danger?"
Adrian let out a dry laugh.
"You're finally beginning to understand."
He walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, his hands in his pockets.
"The question is..." he said without turning around, "...who wants to keep your identity a secret?"
"I don't even know my identity."
"Exactly."
His answer only deepened the mystery.
---
Later that afternoon, Eleanor insisted that Aria stay for lunch.
The dining room was larger than Aria's entire apartment.
A long mahogany table stretched across the room, surrounded by elegant chairs.
Portraits of the Kingsley ancestors watched from the walls.
Aria felt every servant's eyes following her.
They were curious.
Some smiled politely.
Others whispered when they thought she couldn't hear.
"Is she really the missing heiress?"
"She looks so much like Lady Aurora."
"I heard the young master doesn't trust her."
Aria lowered her head and pretended not to notice.
Across the table, Adrian silently observed her.
He expected someone pretending to be an heiress to make mistakes—to use the wrong fork, misunderstand expensive etiquette, or act greedily.
Instead, Aria remained calm.
When she accidentally reached for the wrong spoon, she quietly corrected herself without drawing attention.
She thanked every servant who poured her tea.
She even complimented the chef after tasting the soup.
Nothing about her behavior felt rehearsed.
It felt... genuine.
Adrian frowned.
"Either she's an incredible actress..."
"Or she's telling the truth."
He wasn't sure which possibility was more dangerous.
---
After lunch, Eleanor invited Aria into her private library.
Books covered every wall from floor to ceiling.
The scent of old paper and polished wood filled the room.
Eleanor motioned for Aria to sit.
"My dear, I owe you an explanation."
Aria nodded.
"I'm listening."
Eleanor took a deep breath.
"Fifteen years ago, my granddaughter Aurora disappeared during a fire."
"The police searched for months."
"They found nothing."
"No body."
"No kidnappers."
"Nothing."
She paused, her eyes glistening.
"The only thing missing from the ashes was her necklace."
She gently touched the pendant lying on the table between them.
"The one you've worn all your life."
Aria looked down at it.
"So... you believe I'm her?"
"I don't know what to believe."
Eleanor smiled sadly.
"But when I look into your eyes..."
"...I feel the same warmth I saw in my granddaughter."
Tears threatened to form in Aria's eyes.
She had spent her entire life wondering where she came from.
Now someone was telling her she might belong to one of the richest families in the country.
It felt impossible.
---
A knock interrupted the conversation.
James Carter entered.
"Madam, the board members have arrived."
Eleanor sighed.
"I'll be there shortly."
She turned back to Aria.
"There is one more thing."
"What is it?"
Eleanor hesitated before speaking.
"Until we discover the truth..."
"I want you to stay here."
Aria's eyes widened.
"What?"
"This estate has excellent security."
"If someone truly stole the DNA samples, I refuse to let you walk around unprotected."
"I can't."
"My grandmother is still in the hospital."
"I'll take care of every medical expense."
Aria froze.
"What?"
"I'll pay for her surgery."
The words struck her like lightning.
"You don't have to do that."
"I know."
Eleanor smiled kindly.
"I'm choosing to."
For a brief moment, Aria's heart filled with hope.
Then another voice shattered it.
"Absolutely not."
Adrian stood in the doorway.
His expression was colder than ever.
"This woman is still a stranger."
He looked directly at Aria.
"We don't know who sent her."
"We don't know what she wants."
"And now you want her living in this house?"
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"That is my decision."
"And I disagree."
The room fell silent.
Adrian stepped closer to Aria.
"If you're innocent, prove it."
"If you're lying..."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I'll expose you myself."
Before Aria could respond, the mansion's security alarm suddenly echoed through the estate.
Warning! Intruder detected!
Servants screamed.
Footsteps thundered through the hallways.
A security guard burst into the library.
"Young Master!"
"What happened?" Adrian demanded.
The guard's face had turned pale.
"We found someone inside the west garden."
"Who?"
The guard swallowed.
"They were carrying a sniper rifle..."
"...and a photograph of Miss Aria Bennett."
The color drained from Aria's face.
Someone wasn't just watching her anymore.
Someone had come to kill her.
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