Chapter 4: The Secret Beneath The Mansion
Roman did not sleep.
The photograph remained open on his phone until sunrise.
Every time he looked at it, he saw something different.
Fear.
Confusion.
Betrayal.
But most of all, questions.
Why was Isabella there?
Why had she disappeared?
And why had she tried to warn him now?
At seven in the morning, Marcus found Roman standing in the empty hallway outside Sophie’s room.
“She’s sleeping,” Marcus said.
Roman nodded.
“She asked me last night if I was going to disappear again.””
Marcus looked away.
Roman’s voice became quiet.
“I missed eighteen months of her life.””
Marcus said nothing.
Because there was nothing anyone could say.
Roman decided to find Isabella himself.
But before leaving, he needed one answer.
He entered the old underground archive beneath the mansion.
The place had been locked since his father died.
A room filled with family records, private contracts, and secrets nobody discussed.
Marcus followed.
“Are you sure about this?””
Roman inserted an old key.
“My father taught me one thing.””
The door opened.
“Never trust the story people tell you.””
Inside, dust covered shelves of documents.
Roman searched through old boxes.
Then he found a hidden compartment behind a wooden panel.
Inside was a black folder.
No name.
No label.
Only the same symbol.
The circle with the line.
Roman opened it.
The first page contained a photograph.
His father.
Helena.
And another person.
A younger Isabella.
Roman stared.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What?””
Roman pointed.
“My father knew Isabella before I met her.””
Inside the folder were letters.
Dozens of them.
Letters between Isabella and Roman’s father.
Roman read one.
His face became pale.
*If Roman discovers the truth, Helena will destroy everything. Keep him away from the estate until I can expose the accounts.*
Marcus looked confused.
“Your father was investigating Helena?””
Roman continued reading.
Another letter.
*The accident cannot happen. They are moving sooner than expected.*
Roman stopped.
The room went silent.
Because suddenly the accident did not look like an accident.
A sound came from above.
A door closing.
Roman and Marcus exchanged looks.
Someone was inside the mansion.
They quickly returned upstairs.
But when they reached the hallway, Sophie was standing there.
Holding a small envelope.
“Daddy?””
Roman rushed toward her.
“What happened?””
She held it out.
“This was on my pillow.””
Roman took it.
His hands tightened.
The envelope had no name.
Inside was a note.
Only four words.
*Ask your daughter about the night.*
Roman looked confused.
“Sophie?””
She looked frightened.
“What night?””
Roman knelt.
“Sweetheart, did someone give you this?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Did someone talk to you?””
A pause.
Then Sophie whispered:
“Someone came into my room.””
Roman’s heart stopped.
“Who?””
She looked toward the staircase.
“I don’t know.””
“Did you see their face?””
Sophie slowly nodded.
Then she said:
“It was a woman.””
Roman felt cold.
“What woman?””
Sophie’s eyes filled with fear.
“The woman in Daddy’s picture.””
Roman looked at Marcus.
“Get security footage.””
Marcus ran.
Roman held Sophie’s hand.
“Did she hurt you?””
“No.””
“What did she say?””
Sophie looked down.
“She said she was sorry.””
Roman’s expression changed.
“Sorry for what?””
Sophie whispered:
“She said she tried to save you.””
Ten minutes later, Marcus returned.
His face was different.
Roman immediately knew.
“What happened?””
Marcus handed him a tablet.
“The cameras were deleted.””
“By who?””
Marcus hesitated.
Then showed him the access log.
One name appeared.
The person who had entered Sophie’s room.
The person who erased the footage.
The person who had access to every security system in the mansion.
Roman stared at the screen.
May you like
Because the name was impossible.
*Isabella Vale.*
