MasukThe smell of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread filled the house. Laughter came from the dining room, followed by David's loud complaint. “Lily, that's my plate!” “You weren't eating it.” “I was going to!” “Then you should have eaten faster.” Everyone burst into laughter. I stood in the doorway, watching them. My mother was carrying another bowl toward the table while Grandma arranged the plates. Dad was helping her, pretending he wasn't stealing pieces of food whenever she turned away. Sarah and Victoria were sitting together, talking about what good thing tomorrow might bring. Ethan and Chloe were arguing playfully about which movie we should watch after dinner. David and Lily were still fighting over food. And Jake was standing beside me. His fingers were intertwined with mine. I smiled. A few months ago, I couldn't have imagined this. A full house. My family together. My friends around us. No fear. No secrets. No one missing. No one
The first morning back at school felt strangely different.I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting my uniform while staring at my reflection.For the first time in weeks, I wasn't worried about being followed.I wasn't hiding anything.I wasn't pretending.And most importantly, I wasn't wondering whether the people I loved were safe.Jake was waiting outside.I grabbed my bag and walked downstairs.Mom was already in the kitchen with Grandma.“Eat something,” Mom said.“I will.”Dad looked up from his coffee.“Your first day back.”I smiled.“It's strange.”He smiled back.“You've earned a normal day.”Grandma laughed.“Go before you're late.”I kissed Mom's cheek and hugged Grandma.Dad pulled me into a quick hug.“Be careful.”“I'll be fine.”When I stepped outside, Jake was leaning against his car.The moment he saw me, his face lit up.“Ready?”I smiled.“ I am Ready.”He opened the passenger door for me.“You look beautiful.”“I'm wearing a school uniform.”“And you're still bea
Alexander Blackwood stood behind the large desk, completely calm despite the people surrounding him.For a moment, I couldn't move.This was the face from my childhood.The face I had carried in my memories without a name.Now I knew exactly who he was.“You remember me,” he said.“Yes.”He smiled faintly.“I wondered how long it would take.”My father stepped forward.“You're finished, Alexander.”Alexander laughed.“You've been saying that for years, Michael.”My mother moved beside my father.“You took enough from us.”Alexander looked at her.“You made your choice.”My mother’s expression hardened.“I chose my daughter.”“And you paid for it.”“No,” she said quietly. “You did.”His smile disappeared.Jake moved closer to me.“You're not getting away with this.”Alexander looked at him.“You're Peter Parker's son.”Jake's jaw tightened.“You knew my father.”“I knew him very well.”“You destroyed him.”“He destroyed himself.”Jake took a step forward.My father stopped him.“Don't
The room remained quiet after we discovered the name.Alexander Blackwood.For years, he had existed only as a face buried inside my memories. Now he had a name, and somehow that made everything feel more real.My father gathered the documents from the table.“We need to move before he makes his next move.”My mother looked at him.“You think he knows?”“He probably does.”Sarah folded her arms.“Then where do we go?”My father looked at Jake.“The old Blackwood estate.”Jake frowned.“His house?”“Yes.”My grandmother's expression changed.“That place is heavily guarded.”My father nodded.“That is exactly why we need to go there.”Everyone stared at him.“What are you talking about?” Ethan asked.“The Circle's main records aren't in the facilities we've searched. Blackwood kept the most important information close to him.”Victoria understood.“His estate.”“Yes.”I looked at my father.“And you think the evidence is there?”“I know it is.”My mother stepped forward.“Michael, that'
I stared at the photograph in my trembling hands. My mother stood beside the man whose face had haunted the edges of my memories for years. The Chairman. The same dark hair. The same scar above his eyebrow. The same cold eyes. But there was something else in the photograph that I couldn't ignore. My mother's expression. She wasn't smiling. She looked frightened. “Mom,” I whispered. She looked at the photograph, then slowly lowered her eyes. “Emma…” “Why were you with him?” The room became painfully quiet. My father stared at my mother, his expression filled with confusion. “I thought you said you never knew who he was,” he said. “I didn't say that.” “You said you didn't know his identity.” “I didn't.” My mother wiped the tears gathering in her eyes. “I knew him by another name.” My heart pounded. “What name?” She shook her head. “I wasn't supposed to tell anyone.” “Mom, please.” She looked at me. “I was afraid.” Grandmother stepped closer. “Afraid of him?
A quiet laugh came from outside.“You've always been protective of her, Jake. Your father was the same.”Jake's expression hardened.“You knew my father?”“I knew everyone who mattered.”My father stepped forward.“Don't listen to him.”The voice became colder.“Michael, you have spent years running from me.”My father's face tightened.“You took everything from my family.”“No. You did that yourself when you refused to cooperate.”My grandmother moved closer to my father.“You're still hiding behind other people.”The man laughed.“I'm not hiding.”The door suddenly shook.Everyone stepped back.“Emma,” Jake whispered, “we need to move.”“But the photograph…”“Take it.”I slipped the photograph into the folder.David pointed toward the opposite wall.“There!”A narrow opening had appeared behind one of the shelves.“How did you find that?” Lily asked.“I remember it.”My father looked at David.“Then lead us.”David pushed the shelf aside.We rushed through the opening.Victoria pull







