Chapter 3 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE MERCER NAME
Adrian Mercer knew exactly how dangerous people worked.
They didn't attack when you were prepared.
They waited until you cared.
And Adrian had started caring.
That was unacceptable.
He stood inside a private meeting room downtown, looking at three men sitting across from him.
Business partners.
Investors.
People who thought they knew him.
They didn't.
"Someone is watching my house."
Nobody spoke.
Adrian placed the photograph on the table.
Claire and Lily.
One of the men looked uncomfortable.
"Do you know who?"
"No."
"Then why are you worried?"
Adrian looked at him.
The man immediately regretted asking.
"Because whoever it is..."
A pause.
"They are close."
The room became silent.
Everyone knew what that meant.
The Mercer estate had security.
The best security.
Nobody got near that property without permission.
Unless someone inside helped them.
After the meeting ended, Adrian returned home.
But something felt different.
Wrong.
Too quiet.
He entered the mansion.
"Mr. Mercer."
One of the staff members approached.
"Yes?"
"Miss Bennett is upstairs with Lily."
Adrian nodded.
Then stopped.
"Was there anything unusual today?"
The employee hesitated.
"Unusual?"
"Anything."
The hesitation was enough.
"What?"
The staff member looked nervous.
"A package arrived."
Adrian's expression changed.
"Where is it?"
"Security has it."
"Who sent it?"
"We don't know."
Adrian immediately walked toward the security room.
Inside, Marcus was examining a small black box.
"Don't touch it."
Adrian looked at him.
"Wasn't planning to."
Marcus opened the scanner.
"No fingerprints."
"No return address."
"Of course."
Adrian stared at the box.
"What is it?"
Marcus looked serious.
"Open it and find out."
Inside was something unexpected.
A small music box.
Adrian froze.
Because he knew it.
Rebecca's music box.
The one she kept beside Lily's bed.
The one that disappeared after she died.
His fingers tightened.
"No."
Marcus looked at him.
"You know it?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Because memories were attacking him.
Rebecca laughing.
Lily as a baby.
A life before everything fell apart.
Then a small piece of paper fell from inside.
One sentence.
She knows the truth.
Adrian stared.
Marcus frowned.
"Who?"
Adrian looked toward the stairs.
Claire.
His first thought was Claire.
And he hated himself for it.
Because a part of him wondered.
Could she know something?
Could she be connected?
Then he immediately rejected it.
No.
Claire wasn't like that.
But the fact that he even considered it...
angered him.
---
Later that night, Adrian found Claire sitting beside Lily's bed.
Reading a story.
Lily was asleep.
Again.
Peacefully.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
Watching.
This scene felt impossible.
A few months ago, his daughter couldn't sleep without nightmares.
Now she slept because someone stayed.
Claire looked up.
"You need something?"
Adrian stepped inside.
"Did anyone contact you today?"
Claire frowned.
"No."
"Did anything unusual happen?"
She thought.
"No."
A pause.
"Why?"
Adrian looked at her.
Because he wanted to trust her.
But trust had always been dangerous.
"Someone sent something to the house."
Claire became serious.
"What?"
"A message."
"What did it say?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Because he didn't want to see fear in her eyes.
But she noticed.
"Adrian."
The use of his first name surprised both of them.
She didn't correct herself.
Neither did he.
Finally, he said:
"They know about Lily."
Claire's face changed.
Fear.
Not for herself.
For the child sleeping beside her.
"What do we do?"
Adrian looked at her.
Most people would ask:
How do we protect ourselves?
Claire asked:
What do we do?
For Lily.
"I'll handle it."
Claire shook her head.
"No."
Adrian frowned.
"No?"
"You always say that."
"What?"
"That you'll handle everything."
A pause.
"But you don't have to."
He stared at her.
Claire lowered her voice.
"You're not the only person who loves her."
The words stopped him.
Because they were true.
Before he could answer...
Lily moved.
Her eyes opened slightly.
"Daddy?"
Adrian immediately walked over.
"I'm here."
She looked at Claire.
Then at him.
"Are you leaving again?"
The question was quiet.
But it destroyed him.
Because it wasn't about tonight.
It was about every time he wasn't there before.
"No."
Adrian sat beside her.
"I'm not leaving."
Lily reached for his hand.
Then she reached for Claire's.
Taking both.
Holding them together.
Claire and Adrian looked at each other.
Neither spoke.
But both felt it.
Something was changing.
Something dangerous.
Something neither of them could control.
Then Adrian's phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
One picture.
His blood turned cold.
The photo was taken inside Lily's bedroom.
Taken minutes ago.
While they were standing there.
The message below contained only five words.
I can see you, Adrian.
Adrian looked toward the dark window.
Someone was watching.
Someone was close.
May you like
And this time...
they weren't hiding anymore.
