The Impossible Offer

Episode 6: The Father She Thought Was Dead

The Impossible Offer

Episode 6: The Father She Thought Was Dead

Amelia couldn't move.

The name echoed inside her head.

Richard Hart.

Her father.

Dead for six years.

She stared at Adrian as though waiting for him to tell her that he'd made a mistake.

"Say it again."

Adrian's gaze remained fixed on her.

"Richard Hart."

"No."

Her voice trembled.

"That's impossible."

"I checked the records."

"My father died six years ago."

"I know."

"Then someone is using his name."

"That's what I thought."

Amelia looked at the photograph lying on the table.

Her father's face stared back at her.

He looked younger in the picture, perhaps a few years before his death. She recognized the watch on his wrist and the dark jacket he used to wear whenever he attended important meetings.

She picked up the photograph.

"Where did you find the number?"

"It was connected to a company registered under your father's name."

Amelia's brows drew together.

"My father never owned a company."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"He may have kept it from you."

Amelia shook her head.

"My father didn't have secrets like that."

Adrian said nothing.

She looked at him.

"You don't believe me."

"I believe you believe that."

The answer angered her.

"You think my entire life is a lie."

"I think someone has spent a lot of time making sure you know very little."

Amelia turned away.

Her hands were shaking.

She remembered her childhood.

Her father leaving early every morning.

His late-night phone calls.

The arguments he sometimes had with her mother behind closed doors.

And the one subject he never allowed anyone to discuss.

The Black family.

Could it really be connected?

"Take me to my mother."

Adrian nodded.

---

The hospital room was quiet when they arrived.

Amelia's mother was awake.

The moment she saw Adrian, her expression changed.

Then she looked at Amelia.

"What happened?"

Amelia sat beside her.

"Mum, I need to ask you something."

Her mother studied her face.

"About your father?"

Amelia froze.

"How did you know?"

Her mother's eyes filled with fear.

"You found something."

Amelia pulled the photograph from her bag.

She placed it on the bed.

Her mother stared at it.

Her fingers began trembling.

"Where did you get this?"

"Someone left it in my apartment."

Her mother looked at Adrian.

"Why is he here?"

"He's my husband."

"I know who he is."

The words came out sharply.

Amelia's heart began pounding.

"You know Adrian?"

Her mother looked away.

"Not personally."

"But you know his family."

Silence.

Adrian stepped closer.

"Mrs. Hart, we need the truth."

Her mother closed her eyes.

"Some truths should remain buried."

Amelia's voice broke.

"Not anymore."

Her mother looked at her daughter.

"I wanted to protect you."

"From what?"

"From your father's past."

Amelia's breath caught.

"What past?"

Her mother swallowed.

"Your father worked for the Black family."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Doing what?"

"Business."

"That's not all."

Her mother looked at him.

"No."

Adrian waited.

"Richard was Adrian's father's closest adviser."

Amelia stared at her.

"What?"

"Your father was involved in the Black family's business for years."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."

"Of them?"

Her mother nodded.

"After your father died, I thought it was finally over."

Amelia's eyes filled with tears.

"You knew there was something dangerous."

"I knew enough."

"What happened to Dad?"

Her mother looked down.

"He didn't die in an accident."

The room went silent.

Amelia stopped breathing.

"What?"

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

"The official report said your father lost control of his car."

"But?"

"He was being followed."

Adrian's expression became cold.

"By whom?"

"I don't know."

"You must know something."

Her mother shook her head.

"Richard told me he had discovered something about the Black family."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"What?"

"I don't know."

"You never asked?"

"He wouldn't tell me. He said the less I knew, the safer I would be."

Amelia covered her mouth.

All her life, she had believed her father had died because of an unfortunate accident.

Now she was discovering that his death might have been murder.

Her mother reached for her hand.

"Amelia, promise me something."

"What?"

"Stay away from the Black family."

Amelia looked toward Adrian.

"It's too late."

Her mother's eyes widened.

"You married him?"

Amelia nodded.

Her mother closed her eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart."

"What?"

"You don't understand what you've done."

---

Outside the hospital, Amelia walked quickly toward the parking area.

Adrian followed.

"Amelia."

She turned.

"Don't."

He stopped.

"You knew."

"I knew your father had connections to my family. I didn't know about his death."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't know."

"You always have an answer."

"And you always assume I'm hiding something."

"Because you are!"

Her voice echoed through the parking area.

Adrian stared at her.

"You're right."

Amelia's anger faded.

"What?"

"There are things I haven't told you."

She waited.

"My father and your father had a falling-out before Richard left the company."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I've been trying to find out."

Amelia studied his face.

"Since when?"

"Before I met you."

Her eyes widened.

"You were investigating my father before you chose me?"

Adrian didn't answer.

That was enough.

Amelia took a step back.

"You did choose me because of him."

Adrian's expression tightened.

"Not entirely."

"Then explain."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know who I can trust."

Amelia laughed bitterly.

"Apparently not even me."

Adrian stepped toward her.

"Amelia."

She backed away.

"No."

He stopped.

She wiped the tears from her face.

"I need to know something."

"What?"

"Did you marry me because of my father?"

Adrian's silence lasted too long.

Amelia's heart broke a little.

"You should have told me."

"I was trying to protect you."

"By lying?"

"By keeping you alive."

She stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Adrian looked around the parking lot.

"Get in the car."

"Why?"

"Because we're being watched."

Amelia froze.

"What?"

He moved beside her and opened the car door.

"Get in."

She looked across the street.

A black vehicle was parked near the entrance.

Its windows were tinted.

She couldn't see who was inside.

"Adrian..."

"Now."

She got into the car.

He followed and locked the doors.

The vehicle across the street remained still.

Adrian started the engine.

They drove away.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

Finally, Amelia broke the silence.

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

"I don't want to go there."

"You can't stay at the hospital."

"Why?"

"Because whoever threatened you knows about your mother."

Amelia looked down.

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

Adrian glanced at her.

"Stay with me."

She turned toward him.

"We're already married."

"I know."

"That's not what I meant."

His eyes returned to the road.

"You don't have anywhere safer."

She didn't argue.

Because he was right.

---

When they reached the mansion, Adrian led Amelia upstairs.

She expected him to leave her alone.

Instead, he stopped outside her bedroom.

"Lock the door tonight."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know who is behind this."

Amelia looked at him.

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you someone I should be afraid of?"

Adrian went still.

"No."

"How do I know?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You don't."

Then he walked away.

Amelia entered her room and closed the door.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

Her father's secrets had changed everything.

The man she had trusted was no longer simply the father she remembered.

And Adrian wasn't simply the cold businessman she'd married for money.

Both men were connected.

Somehow.

Her phone vibrated.

Amelia looked down.

An unknown number.

A message appeared.

Your father didn't die six years ago.

Her blood turned cold.

Another message arrived.

And Adrian knows where he is.

Amelia stared at the screen.

Her hands began to tremble.

She immediately left the room.

"Adrian!"

No answer.

She hurried down the hallway.

Then she heard voices coming from his study.

She stopped outside the door.

Adrian was speaking to someone.

"I told you she can't know yet."

A man's voice answered.

"She already knows too much."

Amelia's heart pounded.

She slowly moved closer.

Then Adrian spoke again.

"If she discovers the truth about Richard Hart, everything will fall apart."

Amelia covered her mouth.

Richard Hart.

Her father.

Alive?

She stepped backward.

The floor creaked.

The voices inside stopped.

The study door opened.

Adrian stood there.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

Amelia held up her phone.

"Tell me it's a lie."

Adrian's face went pale.

"What did you hear?"

She stared at him through tear-filled eyes.

"Is my father alive?"

For the first time since Amelia had met him, Adrian looked completely shaken.

And that was all the answer she needed.

To be continued...