LOGINLina spun around.The room was exactly as it had been seconds ago, but her father was gone.So was the voice.“Dad?”Nothing.She ran toward the hallway and looked in every direction.Empty.“Where did he go?” Anthony asked.“I don't know!”Fames was already checking the doors.“They couldn't have taken him without making a sound.”Lina looked around desperately.Then she noticed something.The back door was open.She rushed toward it.Outside, the night was silent.There was no car.No footsteps.Nothing.Her father had simply disappeared.Lina stood in the doorway, confused and frightened.Then she remembered the voice from the darkness.Your father told you only half the truth.She turned around slowly.“Who said that?”Nobody answered.Her mother was still standing in the room.She looked terrified.Lina walked toward her.“You know something.”Her mother shook her head.“I don't.”“Mom, please.”“I really don't.”“You knew my father was alive. You knew about The Circle. You knew
Lina could not move.The man standing in front of her had just said the words she had spent her entire life believing she would never hear.“I am your father.”Her eyes remained fixed on him.“No,” she whispered.The man did not move.“I know this is difficult to believe.”Lina shook her head.“No. It cannot be true.”Her mother stood behind him, completely silent.Lina turned toward her.“Mom?”Her mother looked away.That was enough.Lina's heart sank.“You knew?”Her mother slowly nodded.Lina took a step backward.“You knew he was alive?”Another nod.“And you let me believe he was dead?”Her mother's eyes filled with tears.“I was trying to protect you.”“Protect me from what?”“The truth.”Lina laughed bitterly.“The truth? Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone keeps telling me they lied to protect me, but nobody tells me what they were protecting me from.”Her father finally spoke.“The Circle.”Lina looked at him.“What does The Circle have to do with you?”He took a slow breat
Lina stared at the stranger.Then she looked at Fames.“What does he mean?”Fames said nothing.The silence was enough.Lina's stomach dropped.“You know something.”Fames looked at her, his face unreadable.“I know who your father is.”The room became completely silent.Lina took a step toward him.“Then why didn't you tell me?”“Because I wasn't sure.”“You knew enough to keep it from me.”“I was trying to protect you.”Lina shook her head.“Everyone says that. My mother said it. Elias said it. My grandfather said it. And now you.”The stranger smiled.“You see? She is finally beginning to understand.”Fames turned sharply toward him.“Leave.”The man laughed.“You still think you can protect her?”Fames stepped forward.“You've said enough.”The man's expression changed.“Tell her.”Fames remained silent.“Tell her what you discovered years ago.”Lina looked at Fames.“What did you discover?”Fames finally spoke.“I found an old record connected to your family.”“What record?”“You
Lina stared at Fames.For a moment, she could not breathe.The message was still glowing on her phone.YOUR REAL FATHER IS ALREADY WITH YOU.Her mind raced through everything that had happened.Anthony.Daniel.Elias.Her mother.Every person who had claimed to know the truth about her family.And now this.Fames noticed the way she was looking at him.“What is it?” he asked.Lina slowly showed him the message.Fames read it once.Then again.His expression hardened.“This could be another lie.”“Maybe,” Lina whispered. “But how many lies have I been told already?”Elias stepped closer.“Don't believe anything that message says.”Lina turned toward him.“Then tell me the truth.”Elias stayed silent.“Who is my father?”He looked away.That was enough to make Lina's heart sink.“You know,” she said.Elias finally nodded.“Yes.”“Then tell me.”Before he could answer, Fames's phone rang.He looked at the screen.His face changed.“It's an unknown number.”“Answer it,” Elias said.Fames
Lina stared at Elias.For several seconds, nobody spoke.The words he had just said kept repeating in her mind.They’re coming for you.Fames stepped closer to Lina, his eyes fixed on Elias.“Who?” he asked.Elias looked at him.“The Circle.”Lina swallowed. “Why me?”Elias hesitated.“That is the question I was trying to keep you from asking.”Lina shook her head. “No. I am done being protected by lies. Everyone keeps telling me they are doing things for my safety, but all it has done is leave me confused.”Her mother lowered her eyes.Lina noticed.“Mom,” she said quietly. “You knew.”Her mother looked at her.“I knew there were things I couldn't tell you.”“Things about my father?”Her mother said nothing.Lina felt her chest tighten.Fames reached for her hand, but Lina barely noticed.Elias walked toward the table and placed the file in front of her.“This is everything I managed to keep from The Circle.”Lina opened it.The first pages contained old photographs, documents, and n
Lina couldn't move.Elias sat calmly in the chair, looking at her as if they had seen each other only yesterday.“Dad?”Her voice was barely a whisper.Elias smiled.“I knew you'd come.”Daniel stepped forward.“How are you alive?”Elias looked at him.“That is the first question you ask?”Daniel's face hardened.“You were declared dead.”“I know.”“We buried you.”“No.”Elias stood slowly.“You buried an empty coffin.”Lina stared at him.“Why?”Elias looked at her.“Because it was the only way to keep you safe.”Lina felt anger rising inside her.“Everyone keeps saying that.”“I know.”“You let me believe you were dead.”“Yes.”“You watched me grow up from somewhere?”Elias nodded.“And you never came back?”“I couldn't.”“Why?”Elias looked toward Lucas.“Because of him.”Lucas stepped forward.“You're the reason I was hidden?”Elias nodded.“Yes.”Lucas's face tightened.“You knew where I was?”“Yes.”“Then why didn't you come for me?”“Because your grandfather would have killed y







