Chapter 10: My Mother’s Secret

Ava couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes remained fixed on the framed photograph resting on the wooden desk.

“No…”

Her voice cracked.

“That’s impossible.”

She picked up the frame with trembling hands.

The woman standing beside Richard Cross looked exactly like her mother.

The same warm smile.

The same gentle eyes.

Even the tiny birthmark near her left eyebrow.

It was impossible to mistake her.

“My mother died fifteen years ago,” Ava whispered.

Damien slowly stepped beside her.

“I know.”

“Then why is she in your family picture?”

“I don’t know.”

Victoria took the frame from Ava and turned it over.

“There must be a date.”

On the back, written in faded black ink, were four words.

Cross Family Retreat.

Below them was a date.

May 12, 2004.

Ava’s knees nearly gave out.

“My mother died in 2011.”

Victoria looked confused.

“Then this picture was taken seven years before her death.”

Ava nodded.

“But she never told me she knew the Cross family.”

Damien frowned.

“My father never mentioned her either.”

The room fell silent.

If their parents had known each other…

Why had they hidden it?

Lucas slowly lowered himself into a chair.

His breathing had become shallow.

“Ava…”

She rushed to his side.

“What is it?”

He pointed weakly toward the far corner of the vault.

“There.”

She followed his finger.

A large steel cabinet stood against the wall.

Unlike the others, it had no lock.

Only a brass nameplate.

Project Phoenix

Damien’s expression darkened.

“I’ve heard that name before.”

“Where?” Ava asked.

“My father banned anyone from mentioning it.”

Victoria frowned.

“What was it?”

“I never found out.”

Ava walked toward the cabinet.

As soon as she touched the handle, it opened effortlessly.

Inside were dozens of neatly arranged folders.

Each carried a person’s name.

Some belonged to politicians.

Others to judges.

Business executives.

Foreign investors.

Every file contained photographs, contracts, bank transfers and handwritten notes.

Victoria picked one up.

“Oh my God…”

“What?”

“These aren’t business records.”

“What are they?”

“They’re blackmail files.”

Ava stared at her.

“What?”

“Every person in these folders has been paying someone.”

Damien grabbed another file.

His face hardened.

“My father’s signature.”

The room became eerily quiet.

“So the Black Ledger…” Ava whispered.

“…isn’t just a ledger.”

Damien nodded slowly.

“It’s an entire criminal network.”

Lucas forced himself to stand.

“Ethan found this six months ago.”

Ava looked at him.

“He wanted to expose everyone.”

“Why didn’t he go to the police?”

Lucas laughed bitterly.

“Because half the police are in those folders.”

Victoria’s face went pale.

“So who could he trust?”

“No one.

Ava continued searching the cabinet.

Near the bottom sat a single black envelope.

Unlike the others, it carried no name.

Only one word.

Ava.

Her heart skipped.

She carefully opened it.

Inside was a handwritten letter.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

Ethan’s.

Her vision blurred as she unfolded the paper.

My Dearest Ava,

If you’re reading this, then everything has gone wrong.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She continued.

I wanted to tell you the truth many times, but every time I tried, another innocent person died.

The safest place for you was beside me… and the most dangerous place was also beside me.

Ava’s hands trembled.

You probably hate me now.

You have every reason to.

But there is one thing you must never doubt.

Every moment I spent with you was real.

Her tears fell onto the page.

Victoria quietly looked away, giving her space.

Damien stood silently by the door.

Ava read the final lines.

Whatever happens next…

Don’t let my father find the second key.

Trust your heart.

Not your memories.

I will always find my way back to you.

Ethan.

Ava lowered the letter.

She could barely see through her tears.

“He knew…”

“What?” Victoria asked softly.

“He knew this would happen.”

Before anyone could respond, Lucas suddenly staggered backward.

His face drained of color.

Blood spread rapidly across the front of his shirt.

Ava rushed to him.

“Lucas!”

He looked down in confusion.

“I…”

Another drop of blood hit the floor.

Then another.

A small red dot appeared on his chest.

Damien’s eyes widened.

“Get down!”

A gunshot shattered the silence.

The bullet punched through the vault window high above them.

Lucas collapsed into Ava’s arms.

Victoria screamed.

Another shot followed.

The lights exploded overhead, plunging half the room into darkness.

“They found us!” Damien shouted.

More bullets tore through the glass.

Ava shielded Lucas as shelves crashed around them.

Damien fired twice toward the broken window.

The gunfire stopped for a moment.

Then a voice echoed through the vault.

Calm.

Confident.

Familiar.

“You’ve made this far more difficult than it needed to be.”

Ava froze.

She knew that voice.

Slow footsteps echoed through the vault.

An older man stepped through the smoke, flanked by armed men dressed in black.

Richard Cross.

Ethan’s father.

He smiled as though he were greeting old friends.

His gaze settled on Ava.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

Ava slowly stood, Ethan’s letter still clutched in her hand.

Richard noticed it immediately.

His smile disappeared.

“So…”

“You found my son’s farewell letter.”

He took another step forward.

“Now give me the key.”

Ava instinctively closed her fist around the tiny silver key in her pocket.

Richard’s eyes narrowed.

“That key was never meant for you.”

Ava lifted her chin despite the fear coursing through her veins.

“It was Ethan’s choice.”

Richard smiled again.

“No.”

His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.

“It was his biggest mistake.”