Chapter 4: The Stranger Who Knew Her

Amelia pushed her chair back so quickly that it scraped against the floor. Her eyes remained fixed on the man outside the café, but by the time she reached the entrance, he had disappeared into the crowd.

She stepped onto the pavement and looked in both directions.

Nothing.

“Amelia!”

Alexander's voice came from behind her. He had ended his phone call and was now approaching with a worried expression.

“What happened?”

“The man outside. Did you see him?”

“What man?”

“The one wearing a grey coat. He was standing near the window, watching me.”

Alexander looked towards the street. His expression changed when she showed him the photograph from the envelope.

“Where did you get this?”

“Someone delivered it to my apartment last night.”

He studied the picture carefully. “I know him.”

Amelia turned towards him. “You do?”

“I believe his name is Marcus Reed. He used to work for my company.”

“Used to?”

“He resigned shortly before you disappeared.”

“Why?”

Alexander returned the photograph to her. “I don't know. But I remember seeing him at our wedding. He wasn't invited.”

Amelia felt a strange uneasiness.

“Why was he standing outside a church where you were getting married?”

“That's exactly what I intend to find out.”

She folded the photograph and placed it inside her handbag.

“I think we should go to the police.”

Alexander nodded. “We can do that. But first, I want to show you something.”

“I'm not going anywhere private with you.”

“I understand. We can take my driver, and you can call someone you trust to accompany us. I won't force you to do anything.”

His response surprised her. She had expected him to become angry or insist that she follow him. Instead, he seemed genuinely concerned about making her comfortable.

After a moment, Amelia agreed to visit the house they had supposedly shared, but only because she wanted to see whether anything there could help her understand the missing years.

---

The Hayes residence was larger than Amelia expected. A tall iron gate opened as their car approached, revealing a beautiful mansion surrounded by carefully maintained gardens.

A woman in her late fifties stood near the entrance.

Alexander stepped out first.

“Mother.”

Victoria Hayes looked at him before turning towards Amelia. For a brief moment, her face became completely still.

Then she smiled.

“Amelia. What a surprise.”

Amelia noticed the way Victoria said her name. It wasn't the greeting of someone meeting an old acquaintance. It sounded like someone who had been expecting her return.

“Do I know you?” Amelia asked.

Victoria's smile weakened.

“Of course you do, dear. You used to spend so much time here.”

“Apparently, I used to do many things I can't remember.”

Alexander stepped between them.

“Mother, we need to talk about what happened three years ago.”

Victoria sighed. “I don't see why we need to reopen old matters.”

“Because Amelia is here, and she deserves the truth.”

Victoria glanced at Amelia's handbag.

“What exactly have you told her?”

“Enough to make her understand that something happened.”

“Alexander, you should be careful. Not everything needs to be discussed.”

Amelia folded her arms. “Why does everyone keep saying that? If there's nothing to hide, why can't anyone answer a simple question?”

Victoria's expression hardened.

“Perhaps because some answers can cause more damage than you imagine.”

Before Amelia could respond, Alexander led her inside.

He took her upstairs to a bedroom at the end of the hallway.

“This was your room,” he explained.

Amelia walked in slowly.

The room was beautifully decorated, with cream curtains, a large wardrobe and a dressing table beside the window. Everything looked expensive, but what caught her attention was a framed photograph on the bedside table.

It showed her and Alexander standing together in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

She picked it up.

“I really lived here?”

“For almost a year before you disappeared.”

Amelia placed the photograph down and approached the wardrobe. Several dresses hung neatly inside, but she couldn't recognise any of them.

Then she noticed a small wooden box tucked behind a row of shoes.

She pulled it out.

Inside were several photographs, a bracelet and a folded piece of paper.

The bracelet was familiar.

It was the same silver bracelet she wore in the church photograph.

Amelia picked up the paper.

There were only a few handwritten words.

If anything happens to me, don't let Victoria find the original document.

Her breathing changed.

“Alexander?”

He approached immediately.

“What's wrong?”

She handed him the note.

He read it once, then again, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

“Where did you find this?”

“Inside the box.”

He turned the paper over, but there was nothing else written on it.

“What original document?” Amelia asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Could it be connected to the hospital?”

Alexander didn't answer.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Victoria entered without waiting for permission.

Her eyes went straight to the wooden box.

“Where did you find that?”

Amelia held the note tightly.

“Why? Is it important?”

Victoria walked towards her, but Alexander stepped forward.

“Mother, don't.”

For the first time, Victoria looked genuinely angry.

“You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Amelia.”

Amelia stared at her.

“Then tell me.”

Victoria's lips parted, but before she could speak, a phone rang downstairs.

A housekeeper appeared at the doorway.

“Mrs Hayes, there's a package for you. The delivery man said it must be opened personally.”

Victoria looked irritated.

“Leave it in my study.”

“He said it's urgent.”

A few minutes later, Alexander returned carrying a large envelope.

There was no name on it, only a short message written across the front.

The truth about Amelia's disappearance is inside. But before you read it, ask your mother what happened to the hospital records.

Alexander slowly turned towards Victoria.

His mother had gone pale.

And for the first time, Amelia saw fear in the older woman's eyes.