Chapter 8 – Pieces of the Past
Adrian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair as Evelyn's words sank in.
"Tell me everything you remember about your father's death."
The truth was—he didn't remember much. Not because he had forgotten.
But because he had never questioned it.
For years, he had accepted what they told him. A car accident. Instant death. Nothing suspicious.
But now, knowing what he knew… was it really just an accident?
He looked at Evelyn, her blue eyes steady, waiting.
She deserved answers.
And for the first time, Adrian was ready to dig up the past.
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Buried Memories
"My dad was a lawyer," Adrian said, his voice quiet. "But not the kind that worked for rich corporations or handled business contracts."
Evelyn nodded, listening carefully.
"He took cases that no one else wanted," Adrian continued. "Whistleblowers, missing person reports… criminals who were trying to expose people more powerful than them."
Evelyn's fingers curled around the edge of the table.
That sounded… dangerous.
Adrian let out a humorless laugh. "I used to think he was just being stubborn. That he was taking those cases because he wanted to be the hero."
His expression darkened.
"But now, I think he got involved in something bigger than he could handle."
Evelyn swallowed hard. "Like what?"
Adrian shook his head. "I don't know. But a few weeks before he died, he started acting… different."
"Different how?"
Adrian frowned, searching his memory.
"He was tense. Distracted. He was always looking over his shoulder, like he thought someone was watching him."
A chill ran down Evelyn's spine.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Did he ever say anything to you?"
Adrian hesitated.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
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The Warning His Father Left Behind
It was a memory Adrian hadn't thought about in years.
It had been just a few days before the accident.
He had walked into his father's study late at night, expecting to see him buried in case files.
Instead, his father had been staring at a single envelope.
A thick, yellowed envelope, sealed shut.
When Adrian asked what it was, his father had looked up sharply, eyes filled with something he couldn't name.
"Listen to me, Adrian," his father had said, voice low and urgent.
"If anything ever happens to me, I need you to remember one thing."
Adrian had frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "Dad, what are you talking about?"
His father's grip tightened around the envelope.
"Don't trust anyone."
"Especially the people who say they're protecting you."
The words didn't make sense at the time.
But now?
Now they felt like a warning Adrian had been too blind to see.
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The Connection to Evelyn
Adrian pulled himself back to the present.
Evelyn was staring at him, her expression tense. "Did he say anything else?"
Adrian shook his head. "No. But a few days later, he was dead."
Evelyn swallowed hard. "And the envelope?"
Adrian exhaled.
"Gone."
Evelyn's fingers tightened around the table.
Someone had been watching his father. Following him. Making sure whatever he was investigating never saw the light of day.
And somehow—it had led to Adrian disappearing too.
But there was still one thing they didn't understand.
"How does this connect to me?" Evelyn asked quietly.
Adrian's jaw clenched.
"That's what we need to find out."
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Michael's Own Investigation
Across town, Michael sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
He had told himself he wouldn't get involved.
That he would let Evelyn figure things out on her own.
But the moment he saw her sitting across from Adrian, looking at him like she was still his—
Something inside him snapped.
So now, he was doing what he never thought he would.
He was looking into Adrian Hale.
Michael pulled out his phone, scrolling through the contacts until he found the name he needed.
Detective Carter.
Evelyn's uncle. A retired police officer.
Someone who had always disapproved of Adrian.
Michael hesitated for only a second before dialing the number.
It rang twice before a deep voice answered. "Carter."
Michael inhaled sharply.
"I need to ask you about Adrian Hale."
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