Chapter 6: The Name Hidden In The Records
Elena sat in the empty wedding hall surrounded by flowers that no longer felt beautiful.
A few hours earlier, this room was supposed to be where I started my future.
Now it was where I was uncovering my past.
I sat across from Elena.
Victoria stayed standing near the wall.
She looked like she wanted to say something.
But she didn’t.
Not this time.
Elena noticed.
“She always does that.””
I looked at her.
“Does what?””
“Waits until everyone else speaks first.””
Victoria looked hurt.
“Elena…”
“No.””
Elena’s voice softened.
“But he deserves the truth.””
I leaned forward.
“Then tell me.””
Elena looked down at her hands.
For a moment, she looked less like a mystery and more like someone who had spent years surviving.
“Seven years ago, I discovered your family wasn’t just moving money.””
She looked at Richard.
“They were hiding names.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“What names?””
Elena laughed quietly.
“The same names you pretended not to recognize.””
She reached into her bag.
Then she placed an old notebook on the table.
The cover was damaged.
The pages inside were filled with handwritten notes.
“I kept records.””
I opened the notebook.
Names.
Dates.
Locations.
Everything connected.
But one name appeared repeatedly.
A name I recognized.
My own family name.
Sterling.
I looked up.
“What does my family have to do with this?””
Nobody answered immediately.
That scared me more than the answer itself.
Elena looked at me.
“Your father knew Victoria’s father.””
I frowned.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
I stood.
“No.””
Elena didn’t react.
“I know this is difficult.””
“My father died five years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you bringing him into this?””
“Because he was the reason I survived.””
The words stopped me.
I sat down again.
“What?””
Elena opened another page.
“Your father discovered what was happening.””
Richard looked away.
Victoria looked at him.
“You knew?””
Richard remained silent.
I looked between them.
“You all knew my family was involved?””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Adrian, listen—”
“No.””
My voice echoed through the hall.
“No more half-truths.””
Everyone went quiet.
Elena nodded.
“You’re right.””
She pointed at the notebook.
“Your father found evidence that could destroy both families.””
I looked at the pages.
“What evidence?””
Elena reached for the notebook.
“Something that proves why I disappeared.””
She flipped to the final page.
There was a photograph attached.
A photograph of a building.
I recognized it immediately.
The same building from the picture I received.
My hands tightened.
“That’s where you were?””
Elena nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Her eyes moved toward Victoria.
“Because someone wanted me hidden.””
Victoria’s face changed.
“Who?””
Elena looked at her.
“You still don’t know?””
Victoria went silent.
Elena slowly turned toward me.
“The person who arranged everything was someone inside your family.””
My chest tightened.
“My family?””
She nodded.
“Someone who had access to your father’s company.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Impossible.””
Elena looked at him.
“You said that seven years ago too.””
The tension became unbearable.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
Nobody spoke at first.
Only silence.
Then a voice.
A voice I knew.
A voice that belonged to someone I thought I would never hear again.
“Adrian.””
My blood ran cold.
Because the voice said my name like they had been waiting years to say it.
“Don’t trust Elena.””
I stood frozen.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“You need to ask Victoria what happened the night your father died.””
The call ended.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Everyone was watching me.
Victoria’s face had turned completely pale.
Because she knew exactly who had called.
I looked at her.
“Who was that?””
She didn’t answer.
And this time, Elena did.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It was your father’s business partner.””
I felt the room disappear around me.
Because my father’s business partner had died years ago.
May you like
At least…
that was what everyone had told me.
