Chapter 7 - The Enemy Hidden in the Past
Emma stared at the photograph for almost an hour.
She could not move.
She could not think.
She could barely breathe.
The old picture sat on the table between her and Victoria.
Two men stood side by side.
Her grandfather.
Richard Carter.
And Andrew’s father.
Charles Weston.
Both smiling.
Both looking like powerful men who controlled the world around them.
But the message written behind the photograph changed everything.
YOUR FAMILY KILLED MINE.
Emma slowly looked up.
“Who sent this?”
Victoria did not answer immediately.
That silence bothered Emma more than the photograph.
“Victoria.”
The attorney finally looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
Emma’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re lying.”
Victoria remained calm.
But Emma saw it.
A small change.
A moment of fear.
The first time Victoria Hale looked afraid.
“You know something.”
Victoria sighed.
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Victoria walked toward the window.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
“Your grandfather and Andrew’s father were not always enemies.”
Emma waited.
“They were partners.”
Emma frowned.
“Partners?”
“Yes.”
“They built businesses together.”
Victoria turned around.
“They built an empire together.”
Emma looked at the photograph again.
“Then what happened?”
Victoria’s expression became darker.
“A betrayal.”
The word hung in the air.
“Charles Weston believed Richard Carter stole something from him.”
“What?”
“A financial project.”
Emma shook her head.
“That doesn’t explain murder.”
Victoria looked away.
“No.”
“It doesn’t.”
Emma stood.
“Someone killed my parents.”
Victoria did not deny it.
“And now someone is blaming my family.”
“Yes.”
Emma felt anger rising.
“So my entire life has been a lie.”
Victoria nodded slowly.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Emma walked away.
She felt trapped.
First Andrew.
Then her family.
Then the truth.
Every door she opened led to another secret.
Her phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Emma answered.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice appeared.
Low.
Distorted.
“Emma Carter.”
Her body froze.
Almost nobody called her that anymore.
“Who is this?”
“You finally found the truth.”
“Who are you?”
“You should have stayed away from New York.”
Emma tightened her grip.
“Are you threatening me?”
The man laughed softly.
“No.”
A pause.
“I’m warning you.”
“About what?”
“About the people protecting you.”
Emma looked toward Victoria.
The man continued.
“Your enemies are not only the Westons.”
The call ended.
Emma stared at the phone.
Victoria noticed.
“What did they say?”
Emma looked at her.
“They said I shouldn’t trust the people protecting me.”
Victoria’s face changed.
Because she knew exactly who could have said that.
---
Meanwhile, Andrew Weston was losing control.
The board meeting lasted less than twenty minutes.
And it ended with one sentence.
“We need you to step aside temporarily.”
Andrew looked around the room.
“You’re removing me?”
The chairman avoided his eyes.
“Only until the scandal passes.”
Andrew laughed.
A cold, humorless laugh.
“You think this is about the scandal?”
Nobody answered.
Andrew stood.
“This is about fear.”
He walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he stopped.
“You should all remember something.”
Everyone looked at him.
“I built this company.”
Then he smiled.
“And I know exactly how to destroy anyone who tries to take it from me.”
---
That night…
Lila Summers arrived at Andrew’s apartment.
She looked nervous.
Andrew barely looked at her.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know something.”
Andrew continued pouring a drink.
“I’m not interested.”
“You should be.”
He finally looked at her.
“What?”
Lila stepped closer.
“The person helping Emma.”
Andrew’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Lila swallowed.
“Victoria Hale.”
Silence.
Andrew slowly placed the glass down.
“What about her?”
“She was not just your grandfather’s lawyer.”
Andrew stared.
“What are you saying?”
Lila whispered:
“She was there the night Emma’s parents died.”
The room became completely silent.
Andrew looked at her.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I was.”
Andrew’s eyes darkened.
Because if Lila was telling the truth…
May you like
The person protecting Emma might be connected to the biggest secret of all.
---
