I didn’t tell Adrian about the message.
Not immediately.
I wasn’t sure why.
Maybe because I wanted to know whether he would tell me the truth without being forced.
Maybe because I wanted to see how far his lies went.
Or maybe I was beginning to understand something dangerous about him.
I wanted to trust him.
That thought scared me more than the message.
The next morning, Adrian left before breakfast.
I waited until his car disappeared through the gates.
Then I went back to the library.
The old photograph was still on the table.
I turned it over.
Some things should stay buried.
I searched through the drawers around the room.
Nothing.
Then I noticed the photograph frame.
There was a small scratch on the back.
I pressed it.
The frame opened.
A folded piece of paper fell out.
I unfolded it.
One sentence.
If she ever finds out, everything falls apart.
No name.
No date.
But the handwriting looked familiar.
I took a photograph.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then the call ended.
I looked toward the hallway.
Someone was watching me.
I could feel it.
I walked quickly upstairs.
My bedroom door was open.
I was certain I had closed it.
I stepped inside.
Nothing appeared missing.
Except the bracelet.
I touched my wrist.
Still there.
Then I saw the drawer.
It was slightly open.
I walked toward it.
Inside was a photograph.
Not the one from the library.
A different one.
Adrian and me.
Ten years ago.
But this time, we weren’t standing with our parents.
We were alone.
I stared at it.
I didn’t remember this moment.
On the back was another note.
She doesn’t know who she is.
My hands went cold. Get faster updates on g.com.
Who I am?
What did that mean?
I grabbed my phone.
There was only one person I wanted to call.
Adrian.
But before I could press his name, another notification appeared.
A message from Ethan.
Don’t panic.
I frowned.
I hadn’t told him anything.
Another message arrived.
He knows.
My heart started pounding.
I typed:
Knows what?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
Ask him about the night your family lost everything.
I stared at the screen.
Something was very wrong.
I left my room.
Adrian’s study was locked.
I tried the handle.
Nothing.
I knocked.
No answer.
I turned around.
Ethan was standing at the end of the hallway.
My heart jumped.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.”
“You sent me a message.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He walked toward me.
“Because you deserve to know that not everyone in this house is telling you the truth.”
“Does Adrian know you contacted me?”
Ethan hesitated.
“No.”
I stared at him.
“Then why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
That answer surprised me.
He stopped a few feet away.
“Trust no one until you know the whole story.”
“Do you know the whole story?”
His expression darkened.
“No.”
For the first time, Ethan looked afraid.
Not nervous.
Afraid.
“What are you afraid of?”
He looked toward the stairs.
“I’m afraid we’re running out of time.”
Then he walked away.
I stood alone in the hallway.
A few minutes later, Adrian returned.
He found me waiting outside his study.
His eyes narrowed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Who is this?”
His expression changed.
He took the photograph.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
“Where did you get it?”
“My room.”
He looked at me.
“You shouldn’t have found this.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
“Who took it?”
He looked away.
“I did.”
My heart skipped.
“You took this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
“Adrian.”
He finally looked at me.
“Because I knew one day you’d ask.”
“And what happened that night?”
His jaw tightened.
“I can’t tell you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“Another lie.”
His eyes hardened.
“I didn’t lie.”
“You’ve been lying by omission since the moment I met you.”
Silence.
Then he said something I wasn’t expecting.
“You’re right.”
I stared at him.
He stepped closer.
“I’ve lied to you.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth puts you in danger.”
“And your lies don’t?”
He had no answer.
I turned away.
But before I could leave, he said:
“Elena.”
I stopped.
“I knew you before the wedding.”
“I know.”
“I knew your family.”
“I know.”
“I knew about the bracelet.”
I turned.
His eyes met mine.
“And I knew your mother.”
My breath caught.
He continued quietly.
“But there is one thing you don’t know.”
“What?”
He looked at the photograph.
“I wasn’t the only person there that night.”