Chapter 6: The Secret Sister

Elena couldn't move.

The photo quivered in the middle of her palms.

Her mother.

A hospital.

A baby.

And the words that had broken down everything she believed in.

SHE GIVEN HER LIFE FOR YOUR SISTER.

"Sophia?"

The name barely escaped Elena's lips.

Damien took the picture from her.

Remember to not guess.

"How can I not?"

“Since we don't know who this baby is.”

So why did they write Sophia's name?

"They didn't."

Elena stared at him.

"Exactly."

She took the photo away from him.

The message is from my sister.

"Your stepsister."

Elena's eyes narrowed.

"What difference does that make?"

"Everything."

Damien gestured to the picture.

If Sophia's not Lucia's real daughter, then the person who left her behind wants you to think she has something to do with your mother's death.

Elena's stomach twisted.

You're telling me Sophia isn't my sister?

I'm telling you, we don't know.

My father was her foster father.

"That doesn't make her your mother's daughter."

Elena went silent.

It never occurred to her.

Sophia had been with us all along.

They had lived together in the same home.

The same father.

A surname shared by the same family.

Their moms weren't like that.

Elena's mother died when she was 6 years old.

Her father had remarried a few years later to Sophia's mother.

So why would her mother have died to protect Sophia?

Unless...

Elena's breathing stopped.

"Damien."

He looked at her.

What if Sophia was a part of our family before my father and mother married?

His expression sharpened.

We will find out that.

He picked up his cell phone.

Then she grabbed his wrist.

"Wait."

Damien gazed at her hand.

Then at her face.

"What?"

When someone is watching we know we found this.

"Yes."

If so, then we can't forget the archive!

Damien's brows knitted into a frown.

"Why?"

“Whoever broke in left the photo because they didn't break in.”

He gazed at the table.

Elena pointed.

They took the papers, they left this.

Damien's gaze hardened.

"You're right."

"This isn't evidence."

"No."

"It's bait."

Damien eyed her.

"And we're supposed to follow it."

Elena nodded.

"Exactly."

They both remained silent for a few seconds.

Afterwards, Damien's mobile rang.

He answered.

"Blackwood."

There was a sound of voices, and Lucas spoke.

“Sir, we have a problem,”

Damien's face went cold.

"What?"

The security system has been recording a person entering the archives 6 minutes ago.

"Who?"

“Still in the process of identifying them.”

Damien's eyes narrowed.

"Send the footage."

He got a video on his cell phone.

Elena moved closer.

The entry to the archive appeared on the screen.

Someone in dark-colored clothes entered the room.

They were blind in their eyes.

They came to the security camera.

Then slowly raised one hand.

They held between their fingers a white rose.

Elena's stomach turned.

The number he put there is beneath the camera.

Then walked away.

Damien stopped the video.

"Zoom in."

Lucas did.

The picture was blurry.The picture was fuzzy.

There was something on the wrist of the person.

A tattoo.

A triangle with three small dots.

Elena stared.

"I've seen that."

Damien looked at her.

"Where?"

She went over the information in her mind.

"I don't know."

"Think."

Elena closed her eyes tight shut.

Then suddenly remembered.

"Your uncle."

Damien froze.

"What?"

"Richard."

"Why?"

“Once when I was a child I saw him.”

Elena's voice faltered.

I don't remember where, but he had something on his wrist.

Damien's eyes darkened.

"Three dots?"

"I think so."

"Think carefully."

"I was six."

"Elena."

She looked at him.

I don't recall all these things!

Damien immediately softened.

"Okay."

He stepped closer.

"Take your time."

Elena looked away.

The thing she didn't like was that he was able to make her feel safe when everything else in her life was falling apart.

She tried to think.

Her mother.

The funeral.

Her father's grief.

Male figure near house.

A black suit.

A silver watch.

A tattoo.

Three dots.

Elena's eyes widened.

"I remember."

Damien's expression sharpened.

"What?"

"My mother was alive after the accident."

Silence.

"What?"

Elena looked at him.

I recall that I saw her.

"At the hospital?"

"No."

She put her hand to her forehead.

"At home."

Damien stared.

Elena, they told me that she died in a car accident.

“That's what dad said,” is the phrase that I saw on the bumper.

But why did you see her at home?

"I don't know!"

Her breathing quickened.

I didn't know that it was real, I was six.

Damien stepped closer.

"Tell me."

Elena closed her eyes.

"I remember waking up at night."

Her voice trembled.

In the hallway was my mum.

Damien listened.

"She was crying."

"Did she see you?"

"I think so."

"What happened?"

Elena swallowed.

There was a man who was with her.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

“What can you tell me about him?”

She shook her head.

"He was tall."

"Anything else?"

"A black suit."

"His face?"

"No."

Elena opened her eyes.

But I remember his wrist,"

Damien went still.

"The tattoo."

She nodded.

"Three dots."

The air in the room took on a colder hue.

Damien stepped away.

"My uncle."

Elena glared at him.

“Mom may have met Richard prior to her death.”

Damien's expression hardened.

If she does then she must have known what he was doing.

Elena studied the photo.

Which meant that she did not die from knowing the truth.

HIS EYE CONTACTED HERS.

They murdered her due to her plan to expose it.

Elena's heart broke.

For 25 years, she had thought that her mother had simply passed away.

Now she realized that someone had kidnapped her.

The reason had been concealed over the decades by someone.

There was a noise in the hall.

Both froze.

Elena was immediately met by Damien who placed himself in front of her.

"Stay behind me."

The door opened.

Lucas appeared.

"Mr. Blackwood."

Damien relaxed slightly.

"What?"

Elena's eyes were on Lucas.

Back at Damien then.

"We found something."

"What?"

Lucas extended a folder.

The mansion was searched from top to bottom by the security team.

Damien took it.

“There was a break-in in the east wing last night.”

Elena's stomach tightened.

"Someone was inside?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"We don't know."

Damien opened the folder.

There was a list of security logs inside.

He scanned his eyes across the crowd.

Then stopped.

"That's impossible."

Elena stepped closer.

"What?"

Damien presented to her the page.

A visitor had entered Blackwood Mansion at 11:42 p.m.

The visitor's name was listed as:

Sophia Hart.

Elena was chilled.

"No."

Lucas nodded.

She went in the east gate.

Why didn't I know?

Authorised your security personnel.

"From whom?"

Lucas hesitated.

Damien's voice hardened.

"Who authorized her?"

He consulted the log and so did Lucas.

Your own password to protect your personal safety.

Damien's face turned very cold.

Elena glared at him.

"Your code?"

"Yes."

If this is the case, she cannot get in if you don't allow her to.

Damien shook his head and replied.

I didn't say it was ok.

Elena read the record.Elena looked at the record and her eyes rolled back in her head.

“If someone has your security code,…

Damien's gaze was captivated by Lucas.

"Secure the home.

Lucas only took a couple of seconds to get hold of his phone!

Elena looked around.

"Where's Sophia now?"

"We don't know."

"Find her."

Damien took his coat off.

"I'm going."

She put her arm around him.

"Wait."

He turned.

Last night, Sophia may have arrived here and have something to know.

"Exactly."

If so, don't scare her away.

Damien's gaze hardened.

“If she's into it—“

Not that she isn't.

She was very quiet and said it softly.

I want her to tell me, I'm saying,

Damien studied her.

Then nodded.

"Fine."

20 minutes later, Sophia was found.

She wasn't at the family house.

She wasn't in the hotel.

She didn't pick up the phone call.

However, Elena knew where she would go.

"The coffee shop."

Damien stared at her.

"What coffee shop?"

The one that's near campus.

"Why?"

He explains that "that's where Sophia goes when she wants to think.

Damien stared.

You're familiar with her.

Elena peered out of the car window.

I've been around her a long time.

You still wonder if she's a sister of yours, though.

Elena's chest tightened.

I don't know what she's like these days.

The SUV stopped.

Sophia was sitting by herself in the corner of the café.

The very moment, Elena emerged.

Damien followed.

Sophia looked up.

She blanched at the sight of them.

"Elena."

"Get up."

Sophia frowned.

"What?"

"Come with me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

Elena set the picture on the table.

Sophia looked down.

All the color disappeared from her face.

Elena saw it.

At that sudden moment she knew.

"You recognize it."

Sophia swallowed.

"No."

"Don't lie."

I don't know what this is.

"Then why are you scared?"

Sophia shoved the picture off her hands.

"Because you're crazy."

Damien stepped forward.

"Careful."

Sophia eyed him.

"You."

Damien's expression hardened.

"What about me?"

You don't like my family at all.

Your family provided me with reason.

Sophia laughed bitterly.

“Now you're going to marry Elena”.

Aside from that, it is none of your concern.

When he destroys your company, it's when it happens.

Elena blocked their way.

Why had you been at Blackwood Mansion last night?

Sophia froze.

Elena watched her as she watched her.

You have walked in from the east gate.

"I didn't."

According to the police records, "you did.

But the records are incorrect," he said.

They are named after you.

"I wasn't there."

Damien set his cell phone on the table.

A Private Security Code was used by someone else.

Sophia's expression changed.

Elena noticed.

"You know something."

"No."

Who is able to have access to Damien's code?

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

Sophia stood.

“You're lying!

The cafe was silent.

Sophia's eyes filled with anger.

“It feels like it's all about you.”

Elena fixed her gaze on him.

What do you mean?

“You always get what you want.”

"Everything?"

Father's attention, Father's money, and Father's protection.

Sophia's voice shook.

"Even Damien."

Elena's eyes narrowed.

I don't want to be Damien.

Damien looked at her.

Elena ignored him.

"I want answers."

Sophia laughed.

You have no idea of what you're asking for.

"Then tell me."

Sophia went silent.

Elena stepped closer.

“Was there any involvement my mother had with the Blackwoods?”

Sophia's face changed.

Elena's heart stopped.

"Answer me."

"I don't know."

"Was she?"

Sophia looked away.

"Tell me!"

Sophia's eyes were filled with tears.

I didn't expect you to know.

Elena froze.

"Tell me what?"

Sophia whispered,

"Your mother didn't die in a car accident."

It was as if the world stood still.

Damien's eyes hardened.

Elena couldn't breathe.

"What did you say?"

Sophia was staring at her.

“Mommy, mommy, mommy, mama, your mommie was murdered.”

Elena's voice cracked.

"How do you know?"

Sophia shook her head.

"I can't."

"You just told me!"

"I shouldn't have."

Elena took his arm.Elena grabbed his arm.

"Who killed her?"

Sophia's eyes darted towards Damien.

Then, towards the entrance of the café.

She looked frightened.

Real fear.

"Not here."

Elena released her.

"Then where?"

Sophia leaned closer.

“There's something left behind by your mother.”

"What?"

"A letter."

Elena's heart raced.

"Where is it?"

Sophia swallowed.

"With your father."

Elena's eyes widened.

"My father has it?"

"Yes."

Why didn't he tell me?

“Your mother said, 'Don't.“Your mother said, ‘don't'”

"Why?"

Sophia gazed at Damien.

For the letter names the person responsible.

Elena experienced a cold shiver run down her spine.

"Who?"

Sophia's lips parted.

The window in the café blew out before she could respond.

Everyone screamed.

Elena was caught by Damien and he pulled her down.

Shards of glass on the floor.

Sophia went under the table.

"Stay down!" Damien shouted.

Security rushed inside.

Elena's heart hammered.

"Where's Sophia?"

Damien looked around.

She was gone.

"What?"

Elena stood.

“She was standing right next to me.”

Damien took her hand in his.

"Stay with me."

They rushed outside.

Sophia was nowhere.

However, there was a black SUV that was driving off the curb at that time.

Damien's security team chased after it.

Elena was gazing at them.

"She knew."

"Maybe."

"No."

Elena shook her head again.

"She was afraid."

Damien glanced at her.

"Afraid of what?"

Elena looked at him.

Whoever did my mommy.

His phone rang.

Damien answered.

"Blackwood."

A security guard's voice came out.

Damien listened.

But now his face took a different expression.

"What?"

Elena immediately noticed.

"Where?"

He hung up.

"That was Lucas."

"What happened?"

“Your dad isn't here.

Elena's heart stopped.

"What?"

He was being “escorted” to a safe place.

"Where?"

The vehicle was lost to Blackwood security 10 minutes ago.

Damien's jacket was snatched by Elena.

"Find him."

"We will."

"Damien!"

Grabbed her shoulders.

"Elena."

"Find my father!"

"We will."

Her eyes fixed upon his.

However, there's something else.

"What?"

Damien presented her with his mobile phone.

There had been a message just received.

No number.

No name.

Just a photograph.

Elena stared at it.

Her father was sitting in a dark room.

Alive.

Terrified.

There was standing behind him a man, whose face was covered.

However, his wrist showed.

Three black dots.

Elena grew very cold.

One sentence was written below the picture.

YOU WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR MOTHER?

Another message came out.

Only come to the OLD BLACKWOOD CHAPEL.

Elena glared at Damien.

"We're going."

"No."

Her eyes widened.

“My father, he is there.”

"Exactly."

"I have to go."

"Not alone."

The message “the one who speaks alone.”

"I don't care."

"Damien—"

“A man has your dad.”

His voice was cold.

"And they're using him to lure you."

Elena stared at him.

“So what do we now do?”

Damien scanned the photo a second time.

His face hardened.

“They make them think that you're going solo.”

Elena understood.

A dangerous idea.

One that could get them killed.

It may be their sole opportunity, however.

She nodded.

"Okay."

Damien's eyes roved her.

"You're sure?"

"No."

She took a breath.

But 'I'm over the fear.

Damien's expression changed.

Pride.

Concern.

And something much more sinister.

He took her hand in his.

This time, Elena didn't pull away.

Then we'll get your father back,'' said the boys.

3 hours later, Elena was outside the deserted Blackwood chapel.

Alone.

Well, that's what the one who was watching thought.

The old building was just like out of a nightmare.

Broken windows.

Cracked stone.

Dead vines are draped on the walls.

It was a long time since the place had been inhabited.

Elena's phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

ENTER.

She gazed at the gloomy entrance to the door.

Her heart pounded.

She stepped inside.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Elena spun around.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

Next, a light went on.

At the front of the chapel was a chair in which her dad was sitting.

He was bound and his hands were bound.

"Dad!"

Elena came running towards him.

"Don't!"

Her father screamed.

Elena stopped.

A person walked behind the altar.

Tall.

Black suit.

Silver watch.

And on his wrist...

Three black dots.

Elena's blood froze.

She recognized that one tattoo.

She had a recollection from her childhood.

It was in the security footage that she had seen.

She had been exposed to the man next to her mother.

The figure carefully took off his gloves.

Then turned his gaze right at Elena.

"Hello, sweetheart."

Elena stopped breathing.

She knew that voice.

It was impossible.

Her father began struggling against the ropes.

"No!"

Elena stared at the man.

"You're dead."

The man smiled.

"No, Elena."

He stepped into the light.

"Your mother is."

Elena's world shattered.

Because standing before her was Richard Blackwood.

Damien's supposedly dead uncle.

And he was holding the letter Elena's mother had written before she died.