BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE BLACKWOOD MANSION

The rain had become heavier by the time Adrian started the car again.

For several minutes, no one spoke.

Amara sat quietly in the back seat, staring through the window as rain blurred the city lights.

Her mother's death.

The blue file.

Victor Hale.

Daniel Cross.

Adrian's father.

Everything seemed connected, yet every answer created another question.

Finally, Amara broke the silence.

"Where are we going?"

Adrian glanced at her through the mirror.

"My house."

Elena immediately objected.

"No."

Adrian sighed.

"We can't go to the Bennett house anymore."

"They'll expect us there."

"Exactly."

Elena folded her arms.

"And you think your house is safer?"

"My security system is better."

"That doesn't mean it's safe."

Adrian looked at her.

"You have a better suggestion?"

Elena said nothing.

Amara looked between them.

"Can someone please stop arguing for five minutes?"

Neither answered.

Amara sighed.

"I just want to understand what's happening."

Adrian's voice softened.

"I know."

He drove toward the northern part of the city.

The buildings gradually became larger and more luxurious.

Soon, they left the busy streets behind.

A long private road appeared ahead.

At the end of it stood a massive iron gate.

Adrian entered a security code.

The gate opened.

Amara stared through the window.

Beyond it was a huge mansion surrounded by tall trees and carefully maintained gardens.

She had seen pictures of the Blackwood estate online.

But pictures hadn't prepared her for this.

The house looked more like a private hotel than a home.

When they stopped, several security lights came on.

Adrian stepped out.

"Stay close."

Amara followed him.

Elena remained beside her.

The front doors opened before they reached them.

An older woman stood inside.

"Mr. Blackwood."

"Mrs. Harris."

Her eyes moved toward Amara and Elena.

"Are they staying here?"

"For tonight."

Mrs. Harris nodded.

"Of course."

Adrian led them inside.

The entrance hall was enormous.

A grand staircase curved toward the upper floor.

Old paintings covered the walls.

Amara stopped when she noticed one particular portrait.

A middle-aged man stood in front of a large building.

She recognized him immediately.

"That's your father."

Adrian stopped.

"Yes."

Amara studied the painting.

"He looks happy."

"He was."

"Before everything happened?"

Adrian nodded.

"Before everything."

Elena looked away.

Amara noticed.

"You knew him well."

Elena didn't answer.

Adrian looked at her.

"She did."

Amara turned.

"What was he like?"

Adrian looked at the portrait.

"Kind."

He paused.

"Too trusting."

There was sadness in his voice.

"He trusted the wrong people."

Amara looked at him.

"Like Daniel?"

"Yes."

"And Victor?"

"Especially Victor."

Adrian continued walking.

They entered a large sitting room.

"Stay here."

He turned toward the security guard.

"Double the security around the property."

"Yes, sir."

Adrian left.

Amara sat on the sofa.

Elena remained standing near the window.

"Are you okay?" Amara asked.

Elena shook her head.

"No."

Amara moved closer.

"You can tell me."

"I should have told you years ago."

"About Mom?"

"About everything."

Amara looked at her.

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I was afraid."

"Of Victor?"

"Of everyone."

Elena sat down.

"When your mother died, I promised her I would protect you."

"You did."

"No."

Elena shook her head.

"I protected you from the truth. That's different."

Amara didn't know what to say.

Before she could respond, Adrian returned.

He carried the blue file.

Amara stood immediately.

"Where did you get that?"

"My security team recovered it."

Elena looked alarmed.

"You shouldn't have brought it here."

"Why?"

"Because whoever wants it knows where it is."

Adrian placed it on the table.

"Then we find out why."

He opened it.

Amara stood beside him.

The first pages contained bank records.

Then photographs.

Then names.

Adrian turned another page.

Amara saw something that made her heart stop.

Her mother's name.

CLAIRE BENNETT.

Below it was a date.

Five years ago.

And beside the name was a handwritten note.

She knows about Room 217.

Amara looked at Adrian.

"What's Room 217?"

Adrian's expression changed.

He didn't answer.

Elena looked at him.

"You never told her?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"Adrian."

He closed the file.

"Room 217 belonged to my father."

Amara frowned.

"Where?"

"Blackwood Publishing."

"Why is my mother's name connected to it?"

"I don't know."

Elena stepped forward.

"Then we need to go there."

Adrian shook his head.

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because someone is watching the building."

Elena stared at him.

"And if they are watching it, then they already know about Room 217."

Amara looked between them.

"What is inside?"

Neither answered.

She became frustrated.

"Why does everyone keep doing that?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Doing what?"

"Keeping secrets from me."

He walked toward her.

"Because knowing the truth can put you in danger."

"I am already in danger."

He stopped.

She was right.

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.

Adrian's expression softened.

"I know."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"And that's exactly why I don't want you anywhere near this."

Amara felt something shift between them.

For the first time, she saw beyond his cold exterior.

He wasn't simply protecting a family secret.

He was afraid of losing someone again.

Before she could speak, the lights went out.

Elena gasped.

Adrian immediately reached for his phone.

"Stay where you are."

The mansion became completely dark.

Amara heard movement somewhere upstairs.

Then came a loud crash.

Someone had broken a window.

Adrian pulled out his phone and activated the emergency lights.

Dim lights appeared along the hallway.

"Security!" he called.

No answer.

He looked toward the entrance.

"Stay here."

Amara grabbed his arm.

"Don't go alone."

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Adrian nodded.

"Stay behind me."

They moved through the hallway.

Elena followed closely.

Another crash came from upstairs.

Adrian stopped beneath the staircase.

He looked upward.

"Someone's inside."

Amara's heart raced.

"How did they get in?"

"I don't know."

Then they heard footsteps.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Coming down the stairs.

A shadow appeared.

Amara held her breath.

Adrian stepped forward.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

The shadow disappeared.

Adrian ran upstairs.

Amara followed despite his warning.

They reached the hallway.

A bedroom door stood open.

Inside, drawers had been pulled out.

Clothes were scattered across the floor.

But nothing seemed missing.

Adrian walked toward the desk.

Then he stopped.

A photograph lay on the floor.

He picked it up.

It showed his father standing beside Amara's mother.

Elena's face went pale.

"Where did you get that?"

Adrian turned toward her.

"You tell me."

Elena shook her head.

"I've never seen it."

Amara looked at the photograph.

Her mother was smiling.

Adrian's father stood beside her.

Between them was a young Elena.

And in the background...

was Adrian.

Much younger.

Amara stared.

"How old were you?"

Adrian looked at the picture.

"Seventeen."

She looked closer.

There was something strange written on the back.

Adrian turned it over.

Four words were written in black ink.

ASK YOUR SISTER WHY.

Everyone looked at Elena.

She stepped backward.

Amara's voice trembled.

"Elena?"

Her sister closed her eyes.

"I didn't want you to find out this way."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"What did you do?"

Elena opened her eyes.

"I didn't do anything."

"Then why does the photograph say that?"

Elena looked at Amara.

"Because there is something I've never told you."

Amara's heart sank.

"What?"

Elena took a slow breath.

"The night your mother died..."

She paused.

"...I was with her."

Amara froze.

"You said you weren't."

"I lied."

"Why?"

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"Because she gave me something."

"What?"

Elena looked toward the blue file downstairs.

"Something that could bring Victor Hale down."

Silence filled the room.

Amara stared at her sister.

"What did she give you?"

Elena whispered:

"The original evidence."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Where is it?"

Elena looked at Amara.

"Your mother hid it somewhere only you could find."

Amara's heart began pounding.

"Where?"

Elena shook her head.

"I don't know."

Then a loud sound came from downstairs.

Everyone froze.

The blue file was gone.

And this time, whoever had taken it hadn't come through the windows.

They had been inside the mansion all along.