Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE FULL OF SECRETS
The Kingston estate looked less like a home and more like a fortress.
Tall gates.
Security cameras.
Private guards.
A massive mansion hidden behind acres of land.
Emily sat silently in the back seat as the car drove through the property.
She still couldn’t believe any of this was real.
A few hours ago, she had been serving dinner.
Now she was sitting in the car of one of the richest men in America because a stranger knew her brother’s name.
“This is insane,” she whispered.
Alexander, sitting across from her, heard.
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“You admit that?”
“I’m aware my life is complicated.”
Emily almost smiled.
“Complicated?”
Alexander looked out the window.
“You have no idea.”
When they entered the mansion, Alexander’s mother immediately took Emily’s hand.
She led her inside.
Emily laughed softly.
“She likes me.”
Alexander removed his coat.
“She doesn’t like many people.”
“Really?”
“She fired three assistants last year.”
Emily raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“She said they smiled at her but never listened.”
Emily looked at his mother.
Then smiled.
“I understand her.”
Alexander noticed.
That was the second time she had said something that surprised him.
“You always defend people who are ignored?”
Emily looked down.
“No.”
A pause.
“Only when I know what it feels like.”
Alexander studied her.
“What happened to Noah?”
Emily’s expression changed.
The question was gentle.
Not curious.
Personal.
“My brother was born Deaf.”
She looked toward the window.
“When he was little, people treated him like he was broken.”
Alexander listened.
“They weren’t cruel all the time.”
She smiled sadly.
“Sometimes that was worse.”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“People would act nice because they felt sorry for him.”
Silence.
“But Noah didn’t need pity.”
Emily’s voice became stronger.
“He needed people to understand him.”
Alexander looked at her.
For the first time, he saw beyond the shy waitress.
She wasn’t weak.
She was someone who had spent years fighting quiet battles.
Before he could respond, a security alarm sounded.
The entire house changed.
Guards appeared instantly.
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“What happened?”
A guard approached.
“Sir, someone entered the west wing.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“Nobody entered.”
The guard looked uncomfortable.
“That’s why we’re concerned.”
Alexander moved quickly.
Emily followed.
“Wait.”
He turned.
“You shouldn’t come.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“You already know I won’t listen.”
For a second, he almost smiled.
Then they entered the west wing.
The hallway was dark.
Old family portraits covered the walls.
At the end of the corridor was a locked room.
Alexander stopped.
Emily noticed.
“What is that?”
His face became unreadable.
“My father’s office.”
“The one who died?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Nobody has entered it in ten years.”
The door was open.
Slowly.
Alexander stepped inside.
Emily followed behind him.
The room was untouched.
Old books.
A desk.
Photographs.
Then Emily saw something.
A picture sitting on the desk.
A young boy.
A little girl.
And standing beside them…
Her brother Noah.
Emily stopped breathing.
“What?”
Alexander turned.
Emily pointed.
“That’s Noah.”
The room went silent.
Alexander picked up the photograph.
His hands shook.
Because there was something written on the back.
A message.
One sentence.
May you like
A sentence that changed everything.
“Protect Emily Carter. She is the last person who knows the truth.”
