Amelia sat in her office, staring at the folder in front of her. The report it contained was not just shocking it was devastating. Her trembling hands hesitated as she flipped through the pages. Each line revealed information she never expected to encounter. This wasn't just a mistake or a minor betrayal it was a ticking bomb that could destroy everything Lucas and she had been trying to build.
She needed to tell Lucas immediately, but she also needed to figure out how to soften the blow. The weight of this secret was crushing her, and time was running out. She had to act before it was too late.
Meanwhile, Lucas was at a secluded location, meeting with his trusted confidants. The new alliance they'd formed was fragile, but necessary. He knew they had to act quickly to protect their interests. Amelia's earlier words about trusting others echoed in his mind. He wanted to believe in his team, but the nagging thought that someone might be feeding information to Victoria made him cautious.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a message from Amelia:
"We need to talk. It's urgent."
Lucas frowned. Amelia wasn't the type to overreact, which made him worry about what she might have discovered. He immediately called her, but she didn't pick up. His heart raced.
Amelia didn't answer Lucas's call because she was already on the move. After piecing together the information in the folder, she realized she had to dig deeper to uncover the truth. There was someone she needed to confront, someone who might hold the key to the puzzle.
She drove to an old address she hadn't visited in years. It was a dusty building with peeling paint and creaky stairs. She entered cautiously, her footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. Knocking on the door, she braced herself for what was to come.
The door opened, and an older woman looked at her with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"You shouldn't be here," the woman muttered.
"I need answers," Amelia replied firmly. "This can't wait any longer."
The woman hesitated but eventually stepped aside, letting Amelia enter. The room smelled of old wood and forgotten memories. As they sat down, Amelia placed the folder on the table and opened it.
"I found this," she began. "And I think you know what it means."
The woman's face paled as she scanned the documents. "Where did you get this?"
"That doesn't matter," Amelia said. "What matters is that you tell me the truth. Who is behind this?"
The woman hesitated, then leaned in closer. "You're digging into dangerous territory, child. But if you really want to know, there's a name you should look for: Alexander Graves."
While Amelia was uncovering these secrets, Lucas was growing more anxious. He'd called her several times, but each call went unanswered. His instincts told him something was wrong. He called Daniel instead, hoping for some clarity.
"Have you heard from Amelia?" Lucas asked.
"No," Daniel replied. "But I can look into it. Do you think something's happened?"
"I don't know," Lucas admitted. "But I need you to find her."
As Lucas hung up, his mind raced. If Amelia was in trouble, it was because of him—because of the enemies he'd made and the battles he was fighting. He couldn't let anything happen to her.
Back at the old building, Amelia was stunned. "Alexander Graves? I've never heard of him."
"You wouldn't have," the woman said grimly. "He operates in the shadows. If he's involved, then you're dealing with a mastermind. He's the kind of man who can destroy lives without ever stepping into the light."
Amelia's heart sank. This was bigger than she'd imagined. She thanked the woman and left, clutching the folder tightly. She needed to share this with Lucas, but she also needed to be careful. If Alexander Graves was as dangerous as the woman claimed, then she had to tread lightly.
As she walked to her car, she noticed a black SUV parked across the street. It wasn't there when she arrived. Her stomach twisted in fear. Was someone watching her? She quickened her pace, her mind racing with possibilities.
Amelia clutched the folder tightly to her chest as her heart raced. The SUV across the street had its windows tinted so dark she couldn't see inside. It looked completely ordinary, yet its presence felt sinister.
She glanced over her shoulder, pretending to check her phone, and saw the vehicle's engine hum to life. The headlights flickered on, sending a jolt of fear through her. Her instincts screamed at her to leave immediately.
Her trembling hands fumbled with her car keys as she approached her vehicle. Each step felt heavier, like she was walking through quicksand. She unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat, locking the doors as fast as she could.
She forced herself to breathe deeply as she started the engine. Maybe I'm just imagining things, she thought, trying to calm her nerves. It could be a coincidence. But when she glanced in her rearview mirror, the SUV pulled out and started following her.
Amelia kept her eyes on the road, her mind racing for a plan. She didn't want to lead them to Lucas or anyone else who could be put in danger. She turned left, then right, then another right, testing to see if the SUV would continue following her.
It did.
Her palms grew sweaty as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. The streets were mostly empty, and the eerie quiet only heightened her fear. She spotted a gas station up ahead, its bright lights a beacon of hope in the darkness. She decided to pull in, hoping the SUV would drive past her.
But instead of continuing on, the SUV parked at the edge of the lot, its headlights trained on her car. Amelia's chest tightened. Whoever was inside wasn't going anywhere.
She pretended to check her tires, using the moment to think. She couldn't call Lucas—she didn't want to drag him into this until she had more information. But she couldn't stay here either.
Amelia got back into her car and took a deep breath. She remembered an old road that led to a secluded area by the river. It wasn't a smart choice, but it was the only place she could go to lose them.
She sped out of the gas station, turning onto the narrow, winding road. The SUV followed closely, its headlights glaring in her mirrors. She pushed her car to its limits, navigating the sharp curves with precision.
But then, in the darkness, her headlights caught something on the road ahead—a fallen tree blocking her path. She slammed on the brakes, her car screeching to a halt just in time.
She quickly looked behind her. The SUV had stopped as well, its lights off now. The world around her was completely silent, except for her ragged breathing.
Amelia grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed Lucas's number. The line rang once, twice, then went dead. Her signal was gone.
Before she could think of her next move, she heard the faint sound of a car door opening behind her. Then, footsteps.
She looked into her rearview mirror, her blood running cold. A figure was approaching her car, slowly, deliberately, holding something in their hand.