Ten Minutes To The Truth

A knock came at the door.

Katherina opened it slowly and froze.

Standing there was Aunt Jessica , elegant but weary, a small suitcase in her hand and rain on her coat. Her soft Spanish accent filled the room.

“Querida…” she said gently, pulling Katherina into a hug. “You look so thin. What happened to my proud niece?”

Katherina tried to smile, but her lips trembled. “It’s been… a rough year.”

Behind her, Altricia rose from the couch, arms crossed tightly. “You came all the way from Madrid, Jessica? That’s a long trip for someone who barely calls.”

Jessica shot her sister a warning look. “Don’t start, Altricia. I came because Katherina sounded desperate on the phone.”

Then Jessica’s eyes softened as she spotted the two babies in their cradle. She gasped. “Oh my! They’re beautiful, mi amor. You gave birth to the most beautiful twins I’ve ever seen!”

She bent down, picking one up carefully. “What are their names?”

Katherina smiled faintly. “Mira and Isa.”

Jessica beamed. “Beautiful names. I brought them chocolates and some little toys from Spain.”

Katherina’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you, Aunt Jess… but I can’t keep them here. It’s not safe. The police are watching us and I’ve lost everything.”

Jessica’s eyes softened with pity. “Oh, niña… you’ve made mistakes, but giving up your children? That will haunt you forever.”

Katherina’s voice cracked. “I’d rather they grow up far from this chaos. They deserve a normal life… a safe life.”

Jessica sighed and sank onto the couch. “You’re lucky I love those girls like my own. But before we decide anything, there’s something you need to know.”

Altricia frowned. “What now?”

Jessica looked between them, calm but firm. “I’m not going back to Spain.”

Katherina blinked, confused. “What? Why?”

“Luciano is divorcing me,” Jessica said quietly. “I haven’t been able to have children for five years, and now… it’s time to start over. I’m moving here to New York. I’ve already accepted a job at St. Helena’s Hospital.”

Altricia stiffened, her arms crossing tighter. “So you plan to stay here… with us? In this cheap motel, when we can barely feed ourselves?”

Jessica shook her head. “No, Altricia. I’m not staying with you. But I will be close to the girls. I’ll raise them in my own apartment.”

Katherina’s eyes widened. “You’d really do that for me?”

Jessica gave a sad smile. “For them… and maybe for you too. I can’t let history repeat itself.”

Altricia’s voice sharpened. “Oh, so now you flaunt your wealth while we’re stuck here? A new apartment you think you’re better than us because you ran off to Spain?”

Jessica’s glare was icy. “I wasn’t better. I was lucky to escape this family’s poison before it destroyed me. But I won’t let it touch the twins.”

Her expression softened as she looked at Katherina. “I’ll take care of them like they’re my own. You… just focus on getting your life back together, niña.”

BLACKWOOD MANSION

“I’m so happy everyone could make it to dinner,” Vivian said brightly, motioning for the maids to bring in the dishes. “It’s such a tragedy what happened to Miguel, but I’m sure you’ll be fine, Amelia. Right?”

Amelia forced a small smile. “Yeah… I’ll be fine,” she said quietly. Then, her tone hardened. “But I’m not done. I’m planning my revenge.”

“Amelia!” Ariana exclaimed, nearly choking on her roasted chicken. “Don’t say that in front of Leo! You don’t want him growing up sad, thinking about his father’s death.”

Amelia’s hand shook as she slammed her fork down. Her eyes flashed with anger and pain.

“Sad?” she said, her voice rising. “Ariana, he was-there ! Leo saw it happen he saw the sniper! He watched his father die right in front of him!”

Her voice cracked, and tears filled her eyes. “I just… I don’t know if he’ll ever forget that.”

The room fell silent. Amelia covered her face, crying softly.

Vivian sighed, rubbing her temples. “Let’s just eat,” she said quietly. “Please, for tonight, let’s have some peace.”

The maids hesitated before serving the next course roasted duck with wine sauce but no one touched it. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

Then—

Footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Everyone turned toward the doorway.

A tall, dark figure appeared Damien Blackwood.

His black suit was crisp, his expression unreadable. But his piercing blue eyes went straight to Amelia.

“Vivian,” he said coolly, his voice smooth and deep. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Vivian’s polite smile wavered. “Of course not, Damien. We just didn’t expect you.”

He stepped inside, the air growing heavier with every stride.

“Wasn’t planning to come,” he said evenly. “But I heard there was a family dinner. I thought… maybe I should join.”

Amelia’s jaw tightened. “Family?” she said coldly. “You’ve got an interesting definition of that word.”

Damien’s lips twitched somewhere between a smirk and a warning. “Still sharp as ever.”

Vivian gestured toward an empty chair beside Ariana. “Sit, please. Let’s not make this harder.”

Damien took his seat. The moment he did, the room seemed smaller, tenser.

Ariana leaned closer to Amelia and whispered, “Maybe we should talk later—”

But before she could finish, another voice came from the doorway.

“Well,” said Daniel, leaning against the frame with his hands in his pockets, “seems like I missed the toast.”

Ariana froze. Her fork slipped from her hand. “Daniel?” she breathed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Daniel gave her a crooked smile. “You seem to have forgotten this is my father’s house. I’m invited anywhere I want.” He walked over and sat beside her, his tone softening. “I know you don’t want me anymore, Ariana. I’ve made peace with that.”

Ariana looked away, her face stiff.

Across the table, Damien pulled out the chair beside Amelia and sat down. His voice dropped low, almost gentle.

“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly. “If you need anything… just tell me.”

Amelia didn’t look at him. Her voice was cold and firm.

“The only thing I need,” she said, “is for you to stay out of my life.”

Ariana coughed, trying to ease the tension. “Okay, I think this is getting too heated. Damien just wants to help, Amelia.”

Amelia turned sharply, glaring at her. “Help? Are you hearing yourself, Ariana? He doesn’t want to help he just wants to get in my bed, For God’s sake, is everyone blind?”

Damien clenched his jaw, silent.

Amelia’s voice shook with anger. “He divorced Katherina, and now he wants me? No, Damien hell will freeze over before I ever take you back after what you did to me! I don’t want you, and I’m definitely not getting trapped in your bed again!”

“Can you just calm the fuck down, Amelia?” Ariana said. “Damien can’t have you. even If he wants you… you’re married.”

“Oh please! You weren’t supposed to say that!” Amelia snapped.

“Sorry to say this… she’s a widow,” Damien said. “How can she be married?”

“No, she isn’t!” Ariana cut in. “Since Miguel is dead, in the Favino family, she automatically belongs to the younger brother Miguel Favino’s brother. By the way… he’s insanely handsome, full of tattoos, and very dangerous.”

“WTF? Why didn’t anyone tell me this?” Damien muttered.

“Why are you getting worked up?” Ariana asked sharply. “Amelia isn’t yours!”

“She is mine. Always has been. That’s exactly why I won’t let anyone have her,” Damien said, his voice low and dangerous.

Before anyone could answer… ring! ring! ring!

Ariana groaned. “Ugh, whose phone is that? Amelia… I think it’s yours.”

Amelia nodded, her hand trembling slightly. “Yes… it’s mine. I should take this somewhere private.” She slipped into a guest room down the hall and closed the door behind her.

Holding the phone to her ear, she whispered, “Hello?”

A few seconds of silence passed. Then a deep, calm voice said,

“Amelia Stone.”

Her blood ran cold. “Who… who is this?” she whispered.

“This is Kaspar Dietrich. Retired assassin,” the voice said, steady and low. “I used to work for your husband.”

Amelia’s hand trembled around the phone. “What? Why are you telling me this? Who sent you?”

Kaspar’s voice was firm. “Stop asking questions. Meet me outside. I’m in front of a black car opposite the mansion. Ten minutes. No excuses.”

Amelia’s heart raced. “You want me to meet a stranger in ten minutes? What if it’s a trap? What if you’re trying to kidnap me?”

There was a hint of impatience in his tone. “You don’t know me, I get that. But listen you should come. I have something you want.”

Her stomach dropped. “What… what do you have?”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “Proof. Real proof about Miguel’s death. Come if you want answers.”