BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD

The car remained completely silent.

Amara stared at the photograph on Adrian's phone.

It showed them outside Blackwood Publishing that morning.

Whoever had taken it had been close enough to see their faces clearly.

Her stomach tightened.

"How long have they been following us?"

Daniel answered quietly.

"Longer than you think."

Adrian looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"You said Richard Blackwood is alive."

"Yes."

"Then prove it."

Daniel reached into his coat and pulled out another photograph.

He handed it to Adrian.

Amara leaned closer.

The picture showed an older man standing outside a restaurant.

Adrian's face changed.

"That's him."

Daniel nodded.

"Taken three weeks ago."

Adrian stared at the photograph.

"My uncle has been hiding for years."

"Not hiding," Daniel corrected.

"Waiting."

"For what?"

Daniel looked at Amara.

"For the right moment."

Amara felt a chill.

"What does that have to do with me?"

Daniel didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at Elena.

"Tell her."

Elena looked down.

"Your mother discovered that Richard was involved in the financial scheme."

Amara's eyes widened.

"Uncle Richard?"

"He wasn't working alone," Elena continued.

"Who was helping him?"

"Daniel's records were being used to cover the transactions."

Daniel nodded.

"Richard wanted your mother to believe I was responsible."

"And my father?"

Adrian's voice was cold.

"He discovered the truth?"

Daniel looked at him.

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Your father confronted Richard."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"And then?"

"He disappeared."

Amara looked at Daniel.

"You said you saw Richard at his grave."

"I did."

"Why would he visit the grave of the man he supposedly killed?"

Daniel shook his head.

"I don't know."

A strange silence filled the car.

Then Elena suddenly spoke.

"Maybe he didn't kill him."

Everyone looked at her.

"What do you mean?" Adrian asked.

Elena's voice trembled.

"Maybe your father is still alive."

Adrian froze.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he laughed once, without humor.

"My father has been missing for five years."

"Missing isn't the same as dead."

"You saw him disappear."

"I saw him leave with Richard."

"Exactly."

"And I never saw him die."

Adrian stared at her.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I wasn't sure."

Amara looked at Elena.

"You knew there was a possibility he was alive?"

Elena nodded.

"Your mother believed it."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"Where did she think he was?"

Elena reached into her bag.

She pulled out a small folded piece of paper.

"She left this."

Adrian took it.

There was an address written on it.

His expression changed.

"What is this place?"

Daniel looked at the address.

"The old Blackwood estate."

Adrian stared at him.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

"That house was abandoned after my father's disappearance."

Daniel shook his head.

"Not completely."

Amara looked between them.

"What does that mean?"

Daniel lowered his voice.

"Someone has been using it."

Adrian started the car again.

"Then that's where we're going."

Elena grabbed his arm.

"No."

He looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because that's exactly where Richard wants you to go."

Adrian pulled away.

"Then I'll go anyway."

"Adrian, listen to me."

"No."

His voice was sharper now.

"I spent five years believing my father was dead. If there's even a small chance he's alive, I'm going."

Amara watched him carefully.

She could see the pain behind his anger.

She understood it.

She had spent years believing her mother died in an accident.

Now she wasn't sure she believed that either.

"We'll go," Amara said.

Adrian looked at her.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She held his gaze.

"But I'm coming."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian nodded.

---

The old Blackwood estate stood beyond the city, hidden behind a line of tall trees.

The house looked abandoned.

Broken windows.

Overgrown gardens.

A rusted gate hanging open.

Adrian stopped the car.

"This is it."

Amara looked at the house.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

Daniel looked uneasy.

"Someone has been here recently."

Adrian stepped out.

Everyone followed.

They approached the front door.

It was unlocked.

Adrian pushed it open.

The smell of dust filled the air.

Inside, everything looked untouched.

Old furniture.

Covered paintings.

Dusty shelves.

Amara noticed footprints on the floor.

"Someone's been here."

Adrian nodded.

They followed the footprints down a hallway.

They stopped at a locked door.

Adrian tried the handle.

Nothing.

Daniel looked at the door.

"This was your father's study."

Adrian pulled out the black key.

He inserted it.

Click.

The door opened.

Amara's heart began racing.

Inside was a desk covered with papers.

A lamp.

Several photographs.

And a single chair facing the window.

Adrian walked toward the desk.

Then stopped.

There was a photograph sitting in the middle.

He picked it up.

His face went pale.

Amara stepped closer.

The photograph showed Adrian's father.

Alive.

Sitting in the same room.

And beside him stood Richard Blackwood.

On the back was a handwritten message:

HE IS ALIVE.

Adrian's hands began trembling.

"Where is he?"

A voice answered from the darkness behind them.

"You're looking at him."

Everyone froze.

Amara slowly turned.

A man stepped into the doorway.

Older.

Calm.

His eyes fixed on Adrian.

Adrian stared at him.

"Father?"

The man said nothing.

Then he smiled sadly.

"Hello, son."

Adrian couldn't move.

Five years of questions.

Five years of grief.

Five years of believing he had lost the man he loved.

And now—

His father was standing in front of him.

Alive.

But before anyone could speak, the lights suddenly went out.

A gunshot-like bang echoed from somewhere outside.

The man grabbed Amara's arm.

"Get down!"

Adrian rushed toward them.

And in the darkness, another voice whispered:

"You're too late."