Amelia stared at the message on her phone.
You have three days to discover the truth.
After that, Amelia dies.
Her hands trembled.
Liam took the phone from her.
His expression was unreadable as he read the message again.
"Three days," Amelia whispered.
"Don't panic."
"How can you tell me not to panic when someone just threatened to kill me?"
Liam looked at her.
"Because that's exactly what they want."
He handed the phone back.
"They want you frightened. They want you to make mistakes."
Amelia looked at the photograph again.
The man standing beside Damian was the same man who had attacked Liam in the garden.
But Liam had said he was dead.
"Who is he?"
Liam stared at the photograph.
"His name was Marcus Vale."
"Was?"
"Marcus died seven years ago."
"How?"
"Car accident."
Amelia frowned.
"You saw his body?"
"No."
"Then how do you know he died?"
Liam's eyes darkened.
"Because Damian told me."
She went silent.
"That's not enough."
"I know."
Liam took out his phone.
"I'm going to make some calls."
"To who?"
"People who can help us investigate."
"Police?"
"Not yet."
Amelia frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know who I can trust."
That answer frightened her more than anything else.
Liam noticed.
"I'm going to keep you safe."
"You keep saying that."
"And I mean it."
He walked toward her.
"You aren't going anywhere alone."
Amelia folded her arms.
"You can't control me."
"I'm not trying to control you."
"It sounds like it."
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
She stared at him.
"And what happens after three days?"
Liam didn't answer.
"Exactly."
He looked away.
Amelia suddenly noticed something.
"Wait."
She took the photograph from him.
"Look at this."
She pointed at Marcus.
"His left hand."
Liam looked closely.
Marcus was wearing a silver ring.
A small black stone was set in the center.
Liam's eyes widened.
"I've seen that ring before."
"Where?"
"My father's study."
Amelia's heart pounded.
"Then we go there."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the study has been sealed for seven years."
"By who?"
"My mother."
"Then ask her to open it."
Liam hesitated.
"My mother doesn't know everything."
"Then maybe she knows enough."
He looked at her.
"You really aren't afraid."
"I am terrified."
She swallowed.
"But I'm tired of being afraid of things I don't understand."
For a moment, Liam simply looked at her.
Then he nodded.
"Let's go."
They left the house shortly afterward.
The Blackwood family mansion was on the other side of the city.
It was larger than Liam's current home, but unlike his house, it felt lived in.
When they entered, a woman was sitting in the living room.
She was elegant, graceful, and visibly older than Liam.
Her eyes immediately moved to Amelia.
She stood.
"Amelia."
Amelia stopped.
"Mrs. Blackwood."
The woman walked toward her.
"You've grown."
Amelia forced a smile.
"I was here years ago."
"I remember."
Her eyes became sad.
"You were always so kind to Liam."
Liam interrupted.
"Mother, we need to speak with you."
She looked at him.
"About what?"
"The study."
Her expression immediately changed.
"No."
"We need access."
"I said no."
"Mother."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"We found something."
"What?"
Liam placed the photograph on the table.
His mother's face lost its color.
"Where did you get this?"
Amelia answered.
"Someone sent it."
The older woman stared at Marcus.
Then she whispered:
"He's alive."
Liam froze.
"What did you say?"
She looked at him.
"Marcus Vale is alive."
Amelia felt a chill.
"You knew?"
His mother nodded slowly.
"I knew he survived the accident."
Liam stepped closer.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your father made me promise."
"Promise what?"
"That I would never tell you."
"Why?"
She looked toward the hallway.
"Because Marcus wasn't just your father's business partner."
"Then who was he?"
She hesitated.
"Your father's secret son."
Silence filled the room.
Liam stared at her.
"What?"
"Marcus was your father's son from another woman."
Amelia's heart raced.
"And Damian knew?"
His mother nodded.
"Damian knew everything."
Liam's face hardened.
"Where is Marcus now?"
"I don't know."
She looked at Amelia.
"But if he has contacted you, then he's coming back for something."
"What?"
The woman looked frightened.
"Revenge."
Before anyone could say another word, a loud noise came from upstairs.
Liam immediately turned.
"Stay here."
He ran up the stairs.
Amelia followed.
They reached the hallway.
A bedroom door was open.
Liam entered.
The room had been searched.
Drawers were open.
Clothes were scattered across the floor.
But nothing appeared to be missing.
Then Amelia noticed the wall.
A photograph had been pinned there.
It was a picture of her father.
Beneath it were four words.
He started this war.
Amelia stared at it.
"My father."
Liam walked closer.
"I think we're finally getting close."
Then they heard a car speeding away outside.
Liam ran to the window.
A black vehicle disappeared through the gates.
He turned back.
"Someone was listening."
Amelia looked at him.
"Who?"
Liam's expression hardened.
"I don't know."
But somewhere inside the house, his mother knew exactly who it was.
And she was terrified.