Charles Vale

 

“Finally.”

Charles Vale's voice was calm, almost polite.

That frightened Elena more than if he had shouted.

She stood frozen in the middle of the room, one hand instinctively resting against her stomach.

Adrian moved immediately, placing himself between Elena and the stranger.

“Who are you?”

Charles smiled faintly.

“You already know my name.”

“I asked who you are.”

Charles looked past Adrian and fixed his eyes on Elena.

“I’m the man your family should have told you about years ago.”

Elena's heart tightened.

She turned toward her father.

“Dad?”

Daniel didn't answer.

That silence was enough.

Elena stared at him in disbelief.

“You know him?”

Daniel finally looked at Charles.

“I know exactly who he is.”

Charles gave a humorless laugh.

“And yet you never told your daughter.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“What does my family have to do with you?”

Charles slowly walked toward the table and placed a thick brown folder on it.

“Your family has everything to do with me.”

Adrian didn't move.

“Then explain.”

Charles opened the folder.

Inside were old photographs, business documents, newspaper clippings, and several yellowed pieces of paper.

Elena stepped closer.

One photograph caught her attention immediately.

It showed a much younger Alexander Blackwood standing beside Daniel Bennett.

Her father.

Elena's breath caught.

“You said you barely knew the Blackwoods.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“I said there were things you didn't need to know.”

“You lied to me.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

Charles shook his head.

“That's what everyone keeps saying.”

His eyes moved toward Adrian.

“Your mother said she was protecting you. Your father said he was protecting his family. Daniel said he was protecting his daughter.”

He looked back at Elena.

“And all that protection created this.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“What happened between our families?”

Charles pulled out another photograph.

This one showed three men standing outside what looked like an old company building.

Alexander Blackwood stood in the center.

Daniel was beside him.

And the third man was Charles.

Elena stared at the photograph.

“What is this?”

“The beginning of everything.”

Charles placed it on the table.

“Thirty years ago, the Blackwoods and Bennetts entered into a business agreement with my family. We were supposed to build something together.”

Adrian glanced at his father-in-law-to-be.

“What happened?”

Charles's expression changed.

“Your grandfather happened.”

The room became silent.

Adrian stepped forward.

“Be careful.”

Charles didn't flinch.

“Alexander Blackwood took control of the company. He promised my family that we would remain partners.”

He opened another document.

“But when the company became valuable, the agreement suddenly disappeared.”

Elena looked at Daniel.

“Is this true?”

Daniel's face was pale.

“I was young.”

“That doesn't answer me.”

“I know.”

Charles's voice became colder.

“Your father knew what they did.”

Elena looked between the two men.

“You knew?”

Daniel swallowed.

“I knew something was wrong.”

“Something?”

“You don't understand what that family was capable of.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“You're talking about my family.”

“I am.”

Charles turned toward him.

“And you need to understand something, Adrian. I don't hate you.”

Adrian looked surprised.

“I hate what your family did.”

Charles pushed another document across the table.

Adrian picked it up.

His eyes moved across the page.

Then stopped.

“What is this?”

“A transfer agreement.”

Adrian read it again.

“This can't be real.”

“What does it say?” Elena asked.

Adrian didn't answer.

Charles did.

“It says that years ago, Alexander Blackwood transferred ownership of a significant part of the company to another party.”

Elena frowned.

“Who?”

Charles looked directly at her.

“Your father.”

Elena stared at Daniel.

“What?”

Daniel's shoulders dropped.

“It was never supposed to happen.”

Adrian's voice was low.

“You owned part of Blackwood Corporation?”

“Not anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because your grandfather took it back.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“And you let him?”

Daniel looked at Elena.

“I had no choice.”

Charles laughed bitterly.

“Everyone always says they had no choice.”

Elena suddenly felt dizzy.

She grabbed the edge of the table.

Adrian noticed.

“Elena?”

“I’m fine.”

But she wasn't.

Too many secrets.

Too many lies.

And somehow, her family had been connected to the Blackwoods long before she ever met Adrian.

Charles watched her carefully.

“There is one more thing you need to know.”

Elena looked at him.

“What?”

Charles reached into the folder and removed a small envelope.

He placed it in front of her.

“This was found among your father's old documents.”

Daniel suddenly stood.

“Charles, don't.”

Elena looked at her father.

“Why?”

Daniel's face had gone completely pale.

“Because you don't know what that letter contains.”

Charles smiled.

“Perhaps she deserves to know.”

Elena slowly picked up the envelope.

Her fingers trembled.

There was no name on it.

Only one date.

A date from years before she had ever met Adrian.

She opened it.

Her eyes moved over the first line.

Then her face went completely still.

Adrian stepped closer.

“What does it say?”

Elena looked up at Charles.

“You knew about me?”

Charles said nothing.

She looked back at the letter.

The final sentence made her blood run cold.

If Elena ever discovers the truth, the Blackwoods will come looking for her.

Elena slowly lowered the letter.

“Why would they be looking for me?”

Charles's expression became deadly serious.

“Because, Elena…”

He paused.

“Your family isn't the only family that has been keeping secrets.”

Behind them, the lights suddenly went out.

And somewhere outside the house, a car engine roared to life.