Chapter Two — The Blue Room

The family gathered in the study at eight o'clock.

Lena sat beside the lawyer.

Evelyn sat opposite her.

Victoria kept checking her phone.

Damian Romano stood near the window.

He hadn't left.

Lena wasn't sure why that bothered her so much.

Perhaps because every time she looked at him, she felt as though he knew something about her that she didn't know herself.

The lawyer opened a large folder.

"Before we begin, I must remind everyone that Mr. Carter's will contains several unusual conditions."

Victoria rolled her eyes.

"My father always loved drama."

Lena glanced at her.

"Not tonight."

The lawyer cleared his throat.

"The first portion of the estate will be distributed according to Mr. Carter's wishes."

He began reading.

Several properties went to Evelyn.

Others went to Victoria.

A few charitable organizations received large donations.

Lena listened quietly.

Then the lawyer reached the final section.

"To my daughter, Lena Carter..."

Lena straightened.

"I leave Carter Manor, my personal accounts, and fifty-one percent controlling ownership of Carter Holdings."

The room exploded.

"What?"

Victoria stood.

"That's impossible!"

Evelyn's face hardened.

The lawyer continued.

"The transfer is conditional."

Lena's stomach dropped.

"Conditional on what?"

The lawyer looked at her.

"Your marriage to Damian Romano."

Silence.

Lena slowly turned toward Damian.

He wasn't surprised.

Of course he wasn't.

He had known.

Victoria's face turned red.

"You knew about this?"

Damian didn't answer.

Lena stood.

"I never agreed to this."

The lawyer nodded.

"You are not legally required to marry him."

Lena exhaled.

"Good."

"But if you refuse, the controlling shares will be transferred to a third party named in your father's documents."

"Who?"

The lawyer hesitated.

"Adrian Romano."

Damian's expression changed.

For the first time, Lena saw genuine anger.

"Absolutely not."

Victoria looked confused.

"Who is Adrian?"

Damian answered.

"My cousin."

The lawyer closed the folder.

"Your father believed Adrian would eventually attempt to take control of both companies."

Lena looked at Damian.

"And you?"

"I don't want your company."

"Then why marry me?"

Damian didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he said:

"Because your father asked me to protect you."

Lena's heart skipped.

"What?"

He looked away.

"He knew someone was coming for you."

The words sent a cold shiver through her.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

Damian's eyes returned to hers.

"Probably."

She hated how calmly he admitted it.

She grabbed her bag.

"I'm leaving."

Evelyn stood.

"Lena—"

"I'm done."

She walked out.

Nobody followed.

At least, she thought nobody did.

She reached the second floor and entered her father's office.

The room smelled like his cologne.

For a moment, the memories almost broke her.

Then she remembered his final words.

Find the blue room.

She searched the walls.

Nothing.

She checked the shelves.

Nothing.

The desk.

Nothing.

Then she noticed something strange.

A blue book.

She pulled it from the shelf.

A hidden compartment opened behind it.

Inside was a key.

And a note.

Her father's handwriting.

Lena,

If you're reading this, then I'm already gone.

Her hands began to shake.

There is a room in this house nobody knows about.

Not Evelyn.

Not Victoria.

Not even Damian.

She stopped.

Damian.

Why had her father specifically mentioned him?

She continued reading.

The room is behind the old library.

The key will open it.

Don't trust anyone until you know the truth.

Lena folded the note.

She grabbed the key.

The old library was on the opposite side of the mansion.

She walked there quietly.

The house was almost empty now.

She pushed open the library door.

Rows of books covered the walls.

She searched behind the shelves.

Nothing.

Then she noticed a small blue mark on the floor.

She moved the nearest bookshelf.

It didn't move.

She tried again.

Nothing.

Then she noticed a metal slot.

She inserted the key.

Click.

The entire bookshelf shifted.

Lena gasped.

A narrow doorway appeared.

Beyond it was a dark corridor.

She stepped inside.

The door closed behind her.

Her heart raced.

At the end of the corridor was another door.

Blue.

She inserted the key.

The lock clicked.

The door opened.

Lena stepped inside.

The room was small.

There were boxes everywhere.

Photographs.

Documents.

Old newspapers.

And one large envelope on the desk.

Her name was written across it.

She opened it.

The first photograph showed her father standing beside a much younger Damian Romano.

Lena frowned.

The photograph was dated nineteen years ago.

She turned it over.

There was a message.

He promised to keep you safe.

Lena's breathing stopped.

Another photograph.

Her father.

Damian.

And a woman Lena had never seen before.

The woman was holding a baby.

On the back:

The night everything changed.

Lena dropped the photograph.

Then she heard a sound behind her.

A footstep.

She spun around.

Nobody.

Another footstep.

Closer.

Lena backed toward the desk.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

Then the door slammed shut.

She rushed toward it.

Locked.

Her phone had no signal.

She tried the handle again.

Nothing.

Then her phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

You should never have opened the blue room.

Lena stared at the screen.

Another message appeared.

Now they know you're looking.

Her blood ran cold.

She typed:

Who are you?

The response came instantly.

Ask Damian why he was there the night you were born.

Lena stared at the message.

Then footsteps echoed outside the room.

Someone was coming.

And this time...

they had a key.