Chapter 7

Rihanna POV

I stared at the address on my phone for several seconds. The old Sterling guest house stood less than twenty minutes away. I knew every room inside that place. I had cleaned it, decorated it, and once believed it might become mine. That was before Valerie walked through its doors and turned my life upside down. Now someone wanted me there again, alone. Whoever planned this clearly knew exactly where to press.

“Sarah,” I said, handing her my phone. “Cancel everything tonight.” She read the message, then looked at me sharply. “You are not seriously going there alone.” I picked up my coat. “I didn't say I was going alone.” Sarah sighed. “You literally said the message told you to come alone.” I smiled. “And I also said I wasn't stupid.” She almost laughed. “Good, because for a second, I was worried.”

I called Sylas before leaving the building. He answered immediately. “Tell me you didn't receive another threat.” “I received an invitation.” There was silence. “That sounds worse.” “It probably is.” I gave him the address and the details. He told me he would have eyes around the property. I didn't ask where he would hide them. Sylas preferred secrets, and honestly, so did I. “Nobody enters until I give the word,” I warned. “Understood,” he replied.

The drive felt longer than usual. New York traffic crawled beneath the evening lights. I watched buildings pass through the tinted windows. Every few minutes, I checked my phone. Nothing was there, no new messages, no calls. That silence bothered me more than another threat would have. Whoever contacted me wanted me to be nervous. They wanted me thinking about Ted. They wanted me remembering the night I lost everything. Well, congratulations. It worked.

When the guest house appeared, my stomach tightened. The building looked smaller than I remembered. The garden had grown wild around the stone pathway. One window upstairs remained broken. I remembered that window from years ago. Valerie had thrown a glass against it during an argument. She had cried afterward, then blamed me. Edrian believed her without asking questions. Shocking, right? I stepped out of the car and stared at the front door.

My phone vibrated, “come inside”.

I looked around the empty street. No movement, no parked cars nearby. “Sylas,” I whispered. “I'm here.” His voice came through my earpiece. “I have eyes on the property.” “Good.” I walked toward the entrance, the door opened before I touched it. I stopped immediately. “That's not creepy at all,” I muttered. Then I stepped inside.

The lights were off. I reached for the switch, but someone turned them on first. The living room appeared exactly as I remembered. Same fireplace, Same dark curtains, Same expensive furniture. A small table stood near the sofa. Something rested on it. I walked closer and froze. It was Ted's old blue toy car. I had bought it when he turned three. He carried it everywhere back then.

My fingers tightened around the car. “How did you get this?” Nobody answered. I looked toward the staircase. “You wanted me here.” My voice echoed through the room. “So stop hiding.” Footsteps sounded upstairs. Slow footsteps. Then another sound followed. A child's voice.

“Mommy?”

My heart stopped.

I moved toward the stairs before thinking. “Ted?”

The voice came again. “Mommy, is that you?”

I climbed the first step. Sylas immediately spoke through my earpiece. “Rihanna, stop.” I froze. “Why?” “Thermal cameras show one person upstairs.” My eyes narrowed. “A child?” “No.” My heart dropped, Someone had recorded Ted's voice. They were using it to lure me upstairs. I stepped back slowly.

A man appeared at the top of the staircase.

He wore a dark coat and kept his face hidden. “You came,” he said. I stared at him. “Who are you?” He walked down two steps. “Someone who knows what really happened two years ago.” “Then stop playing games.” He laughed quietly. “Still impatient.” I reached inside my coat and touched the emergency device Sylas had given me. “Tell me where my son is.”

The man's posture changed.

“He is safe.”

I stared at him. “Where?” “You'll see him soon.” “That's not an answer.”

“It is the only answer you're getting tonight.”

I took another step forward. “If you hurt Ted, I will find you.” He laughed again. “You still don't understand.” His voice became colder. “Your son isn't the reason I brought you here.” I frowned. “Then what do you want?”

He slowly removed something from his pocket, it was a photograph. He dropped it onto the floor. I looked down at the photograph. My breath caught instantly.

It showed Arthur Sterling meeting a man outside a private hospital two years ago. I recognized the hospital immediately. It was the same hospital where Alistair's people had taken me after my collapse. I looked back at the stranger.

“Where did you get this?” “From someone who wanted you dead.” My face hardened. “Arthur?”

He didn't answer. “Valerie?” Still nothing. “Edrian?”

The stranger smiled. “That is the question you should be asking.” I stared at the photograph again. Arthur had been standing beside a black vehicle. The man beside him looked unfamiliar. But something about him felt familiar. I studied his face carefully. Then I noticed the hospital entrance behind them.

There was another person in the photograph.

A woman who stood near the doors, partially hidden. My eyes widened. I knew her.

Sarah. I looked at the stranger. “Why was my assistant there?” For the first time, his confidence disappeared. “You know her?” Of course I know her, he quickly said without hesitation. He stepped backward.

I immediately reached for my phone. “Sarah,” I said.

No answer. I called again but still nothing. The stranger suddenly turned toward the back door. “Wait!” He ran.

I followed him into the hallway, but he disappeared through the kitchen. I heard the back door slam. Sylas shouted through my earpiece. “Don't chase him.” I stopped. Seconds later, two of Sylas's men entered from outside. The stranger was already gone.

I returned to the living room and looked at the photograph again.

My hands were shaking. Sarah had worked beside me for two years.

She knew everything.

My identity, companies, plans, even son, everything.

Could she have betrayed me? The thought made my chest tighten.I refused to believe it then my phone rang, it's sarah calling.

I answered immediately. “Where are you?

“Sarah?”

Her voice finally came through. “Rihanna, listen carefully.” I stood straighter. “What happened?” “You cannot trust anyone around you.”

I frowned. “Who are you talking about?” Her breathing sounded uneven. “Everyone.”

“Sarah, stop being vague.” “I tried to protect you.” “From whom?” Another silence followed.

Then she whispered, “From your grandfather.” My heart dropped. “Alistair?” “Yes.” I shook my head slowly. “That makes no sense.” “I know.” “Then explain it.” “I can't.” “Sarah!” The call suddenly disconnected. I stared at my phone.

For several seconds, I couldn't move a muscle. Just then Sylas entered the room. “What happened?” I looked at him. “Find Sarah.”

He immediately understood. “Anything else?” I handed him the photograph. His expression changed. “Where did you get this?” “Someone left it for me.” He studied the image carefully. “That's Alistair's security vehicle.”

I felt my stomach twist. “What?” Sylas zoomed into the photograph. “There.”

A small symbol was visible on the vehicle door. The Taylor family crest. I stepped backward. “No.” Sylas looked at me.

“Rihanna.” I shook my head. “No. Alistair saved me.” “Maybe.” I looked at him sharply. “What do you mean, maybe?” Sylas remained silent, that silence told me enough.

Two years ago, I thought my grandfather rescued me from the Sterlings. I thought he gave me a second chance. I thought Victoria Taylor was the identity that finally made me powerful. But now I was staring at proof that someone from my own family had been watching me from the beginning. My phone vibrated again. A message appeared it reads, ask your grandfather why he really saved you.

I stared at the screen. For the first time since my return, I felt something stronger than anger. I felt doubtful.

And if Alistair had lied to me about the one thing that changed my life, then what else had he hidden?