Chapter 3: The Woman at the Gate

Chapter 3: The Woman at the Gate

Amelia barely slept that night.

Alexander's words kept repeating in her mind.

"Your father and my father shared a secret."

What secret could connect two families that had nothing in common?

The next morning, Amelia arrived at Blackwood Enterprises earlier than usual. She wanted answers, and she wasn't leaving without at least one.

As she approached the entrance, a woman wearing a long beige coat stepped in front of her.

"Amelia Laurent?"

Amelia stopped.

"Yes. Do I know you?"

The woman glanced toward the security cameras before answering.

"My name is Eleanor Blackwood."

Amelia's eyes widened.

Blackwood.

Was she related to Alexander?

"I'm sorry, but who are you?"

Eleanor gave a nervous smile.

"I'm Alexander's aunt. And there's something you need to know about your family."

Amelia looked around.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because your father was not the man everyone believed him to be."

Before Amelia could ask another question, Eleanor slipped a small envelope into her hand.

"Don't open it here. Read it somewhere private."

"Wait! What is this about?"

Eleanor stepped backward.

"Your mother knows the truth. Ask her what happened twenty years ago."

Then she walked away.

Amelia stood frozen, staring at the envelope.

Twenty years ago?

What had happened?

Inside the building, Alexander was waiting near the elevator.

"You're late," he said.

Amelia checked her watch.

"I'm actually early."

He ignored her response.

"Come to my office."

Once the door closed, Amelia placed the envelope on his desk.

"Your aunt gave me this."

Alexander's expression changed immediately.

"Eleanor?"

"Yes. She said my mother knows what happened twenty years ago."

He picked up the envelope but didn't open it.

"Stay away from my aunt."

"Why? What are you hiding from me?"

Alexander looked directly at her.

"Not everything you discover will make you happy."

Amelia crossed her arms.

"That's not an answer."

For the first time, Alexander seemed unsure of what to say.

Then he placed the envelope back on the desk.

"Go home and speak to your mother."

Amelia took the envelope.

"I was planning to."

That evening, Amelia returned home and found her mother in the kitchen.

"Mom, we need to talk."

Her mother looked up.

"What's wrong?"

Amelia placed the envelope on the table.

"Eleanor Blackwood gave me this. She said you know what happened twenty years ago."

Her mother's face lost its color.

"Where did you meet her?"

"Outside my workplace."

Her mother slowly sat down.

"Amelia, I was hoping you would never find out."

Amelia's voice trembled.

"Find out what?"

Her mother opened the envelope.

Inside was an old document and a photograph of two men standing outside a hospital.

One was Amelia's father.

The other was Alexander's father.

Her mother closed her eyes.

"Your father didn't just work for the Blackwood family," she whispered. "He helped build their empire."

Amelia stared at the photograph.

"Then why did we lose everything?"

Her mother looked at her.

"Because someone betrayed him."

Before Amelia could respond, her phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

One message appeared on the screen.

Stop asking questions about the Blackwood family. You don't know what you're getting yourself into.

Amelia looked up at her mother.

For the first time, she understood that this wasn't just an old family disagreement.

Someone was still protecting the secret.

And that person knew exactly who she was.

End of Chapter 3.