The door handle stopped moving.
My mother stood beside me, clutching the old photograph against her chest.
I could hear my father's breathing on the other side.
"Open the door."
My mother looked at me.
"Don't say anything."
Before I could respond, the door opened.
My father stood there.
His eyes moved from my mother to me.
Then to the photograph in her hand.
Everything changed.
His face became expressionless.
"Give me that."
My mother didn't move.
"Now."
She slowly handed it to him.
He stared at the photograph.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he looked at me.
"Where did you get this?"
"Mom gave it to me."
He turned toward her.
"Why?"
My mother lowered her eyes.
"She was asking questions."
"I told you not to discuss this."
"I know."
My father folded the photograph and placed it inside his pocket.
I stepped forward.
"What happened that night?"
He looked at me.
"You don't need to know."
"Daniel told me about the fire."
His jaw tightened.
"And now you're investigating?"
"I deserve to know the truth."
"You deserve to trust your father."
"I trusted you."
The words came out shakily.
"That's why I lied for you. That's why I hid Adrian. That's why I agreed to marry Daniel."
My father stared at me.
"But now I don't know what to believe."
His expression hardened.
"Then perhaps you should stop asking questions."
I shook my head.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"You are becoming disrespectful."
"And you're hiding something."
Silence.
My father looked at my mother.
"Leave us."
She hesitated.
"Go."
My mother walked out.
The door closed.
I was alone with him.
"What happened ten years ago?" I asked again.
He walked toward the window.
"There was a fire."
"I know."
"People died."
"I know."
"Then what more do you want?"
"The truth."
He turned around.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he said quietly, "Richard Blackwood betrayed us."
"How?"
"He made a deal with the Morgans behind my back."
I frowned.
"But the photograph shows all three of you together."
"That was before the betrayal."
"And Samuel Morgan?"
My father looked away.
"Samuel knew too much."
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Did you kill him?"
His eyes snapped toward me.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
But there was something in his face.
Something I couldn't read.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?"
He listened.
His expression changed.
"Are you sure?"
Another pause.
"Find him."
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
"Who?"
He looked at me.
"Adrian."
My heart stopped.
"You found him?"
"He's been seen."
"Where?"
My father walked past me.
"That's none of your concern."
I grabbed his arm.
"Please."
He looked down at my hand.
I released him.
"Please tell me he's safe."
My father's face remained cold.
"That depends on what he does next."
He walked out.
I stood there, trembling.
Adrian was alive.
And my father knew where he was.
I rushed to my room and grabbed my phone.
Before I could call him, a message appeared from an unknown number.
Don't believe your father.
My heart raced.
Another message followed.
Adrian didn't disappear. He was hiding.
Then the final message arrived.
And he knows who started the fire.
I stared at the screen.
For the first time, I realized Adrian might have known the truth all along.
And if he did…
Why had he never told me?