042: The Photograph

The following morning, Elena woke with a strange feeling she couldn't explain.

She had slept badly.

Not because of a nightmare.

Because of the memories.

The conversation with her grandfather from years ago kept replaying in her mind.

She remembered sitting in his study as a teenager, surrounded by documents bearing the Vale name.

She remembered understanding, for the first time, just how wealthy her family truly was.

And she remembered making her decision.

She didn't want the attention.

She didn't want strangers treating her differently.

She wanted a normal life.

At the time, her grandfather had been reluctant.

But he had eventually agreed.

Elena had smiled when he did.

She had thought that was the end of the matter.

Now she knew there were still things she didn't understand.

Especially about her parents.

She got out of bed and dressed before heading downstairs.

When she entered the dining room, her grandfather was already there.

He was reading the newspaper.

He looked up.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Grandpa."

He smiled.

But Elena noticed something immediately.

He looked tired.

"You didn't sleep well."

He lowered the newspaper.

"I'm fine."

Elena gave him a suspicious look.

"You sound like Damian."

He laughed softly.

"Then perhaps I'm learning from him."

She smiled and took a seat.

For a few minutes, they ate in silence.

Then Elena finally spoke.

"Grandpa?"

"Yes?"

"What happened to my parents?"

The smile disappeared from his face.

He slowly placed his cup on the table.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I keep remembering things."

Her grandfather stared at her.

"Things from when I was younger."

"About them."

He looked away.

"They loved you very much."

"I know."

"But that's not what I'm asking."

Her voice softened.

"I want to know what happened after they died."

Her grandfather remained silent.

Elena reached across the table and touched his hand.

"I'm old enough now."

He looked at her.

"I know."

"Then please don't protect me from the truth anymore."

His eyes became wet.

"There are things I should have told you years ago."

Elena's heart began beating faster.

"What things?"

Before he could answer, the sound of footsteps interrupted them.

Damian entered the dining room.

He stopped when he noticed the tension between them.

"Did I interrupt something?"

Elena looked at her grandfather.

"Not yet."

Damian glanced between them but didn't ask.

Mrs. Harper soon arrived with breakfast, and the conversation was forced to stop.

But Elena knew it wasn't over.

Not anymore.

Later that morning, Damian drove Elena to Blackwood Group.

She remained unusually quiet.

He noticed almost immediately.

"You want to tell me what's wrong?"

She looked out the window.

"I asked my grandfather about my parents."

Damian's hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"And?"

"He wouldn't answer."

Damian didn't say anything.

Elena turned toward him.

"Do you know something?"

He hesitated.

She immediately noticed.

"You do."

"Elena—"

"Damian."

She waited.

He finally sighed.

"I know there are things about your family that haven't been fully explained."

Her expression changed.

"What things?"

"I don't know everything."

"But you know something."

Damian glanced at her.

"Victor gave me some documents."

"About my family?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't think it was my place to tell your story for you."

Elena was silent.

Then she nodded slowly.

"Thank you."

Damian frowned.

"For what?"

"For not lying to me."

He smiled faintly.

"I've learned that you're terrible at accepting lies."

She laughed.

"Very funny."

For the first time that morning, the tension in her face disappeared.

Damian looked at her briefly.

He wanted to reach for her hand.

Instead, he kept his eyes on the road.

But Elena noticed.

And she smiled.

At Blackwood Group, Elena went directly to the charity department.

Damian headed toward his office.

His assistant followed him.

"Sir, Victor called again."

"What did he say?"

"He wants to meet tonight."

Damian stopped.

"Did he say why?"

"No."

Damian thought for a moment.

"Arrange it."

"Where?"

"Somewhere private."

His assistant nodded.

"And sir?"

Damian looked at him.

"Victor said he has something that belonged to Elena's father."

Damian's expression hardened.

"Find out what it is."

Across town, Adrian received a call from his investigator.

"Mr. Sterling, I found something."

Adrian immediately stood.

"What?"

"I found an old photograph."

"Of Elena?"

"No."

"Her parents."

Adrian frowned.

"Send it to me."

A few seconds later, the photograph appeared on his phone.

Adrian stared at it.

It showed Elena's parents standing outside what appeared to be an old estate.

But there was something strange.

A third person stood several feet behind them.

The photograph was old and slightly damaged, but the man's face was visible.

Adrian zoomed in.

He recognized him.

Victor Carter.

Adrian's expression changed.

"Where did you get this?"

"It was hidden inside an old Vale company archive."

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

The investigator paused.

"There was a document with it."

Adrian waited.

"It mentions a meeting that took place three days before Elena's parents died."

His stomach tightened.

"Send me everything."

That afternoon, Elena was working in the charity department when her phone rang.

Her grandfather.

She answered immediately.

"Hello?"

His voice was unusually quiet.

"Elena, I need you to come home."

She frowned.

"Why?"

"I found something."

"What?"

"I can't explain over the phone."

She stood immediately.

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

He paused.

"But I think it's time."

"Time for what?"

"Time for you to know what really happened to your parents."

Elena froze.

For years, she had wanted those answers.

Now that they were finally within reach, fear suddenly replaced excitement.

"I'll come home."

That evening, Elena returned to Blackwood Mansion.

Her grandfather was waiting in the library.

On the table sat an old wooden box.

Elena slowly approached it.

"What is that?"

"Something your father left behind."

She stared at the box.

"My father?"

Her grandfather nodded.

"I kept it because I wasn't ready to give it to you."

Elena swallowed.

"What's inside?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he pushed the box toward her.

"Open it."

Her hands trembled as she lifted the lid.

Inside were several old photographs.

Letters.

A gold watch.

And a small key.

Elena picked up the first photograph.

Her parents stood together, smiling.

She smiled sadly.

"I remember this."

Her grandfather looked at her.

"You do?"

"Not the picture."

She touched her forehead.

"The place."

Her grandfather's expression changed.

"You remember?"

"Just a little."

She closed her eyes.

A garden appeared in her mind.

Her father's hand.

Her mother's laughter.

A large white house.

Then a voice.

A man's voice.

"You need to take Elena and leave."

Elena's eyes snapped open.

Her breathing became uneven.

"Grandpa..."

He reached for her hand.

"What did you remember?"

She looked at him.

"There was a man."

Her grandfather went completely still.

"What man?"

"I don't know."

She stared at the photograph.

"But he was talking to Dad."

"What did he say?"

Elena swallowed.

"He told him to take me and leave."

Silence filled the room.

Her grandfather slowly closed his eyes.

Because he knew exactly who Elena was remembering.

And he knew there was one part of that night he had never told her.

Later that evening, Damian met Victor at a quiet private restaurant.

Victor placed another envelope on the table.

"This belonged to Elena's father."

Damian looked at it.

"What is it?"

"A letter."

"To whom?"

Victor's expression darkened.

"Your question is wrong."

Damian frowned.

"What should I ask?"

Victor leaned forward.

"You should ask why Elena's father wrote it."

Damian stared at him.

Victor slowly pushed the envelope across the table.

"Because whatever happened that night..."

He paused.

"Her father knew he might not survive it."

Damian's eyes hardened.

"What happened?"

Victor looked toward the restaurant entrance before lowering his voice.

"That's what Elena's grandfather has been trying to protect her from remembering."

Damian reached for the envelope.

But before he could open it, his phone rang.

It was Elena.

He answered immediately.

"Elena?"

Her voice was trembling.

"Damian..."

"What's wrong?"

"I remembered something about my father."

Damian went silent.

"What did you remember?"

"I think..."

She took a shaky breath.

"I think he was afraid."

Damian looked at Victor.

Victor's face had gone pale.

Elena continued.

"And I think someone was there that night."