I couldn't move.
The photograph trembled between my fingers.
YOU KNOW THIS PERSON.
I stared at the black mark covering the stranger's face.
Who was he?
My mind began searching through memories I had buried long ago.
The night of the fire.
My father.
Richard Blackwood.
Samuel Morgan.
And someone else.
Someone whose face I had seen before.
I turned the photograph over again.
Nothing.
I looked around the garden.
Nobody was there.
I quickly slipped the photograph into my pocket and returned to the house.
I needed answers.
But I couldn't ask my father.
Not yet.
Instead, I went to my mother's room.
She was sitting beside the window, folding clothes.
"Mom."
She looked up.
"What happened?"
I closed the door.
"I need you to tell me the truth."
Her hands stopped moving.
"About what?"
I pulled out the photograph.
The moment she saw it, the color drained from her face.
"Where did you get that?"
"Someone left it for me."
She stood.
"Give it to me."
I held it away.
"Who is the fourth person?"
She stared at the photograph.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Please."
"Mom, who is he?"
She sat down slowly.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Your father's brother."
I froze.
"My uncle?"
She nodded.
"But he died."
"That's what everyone was told."
My heart began pounding.
"What do you mean?"
She looked toward the door.
"He didn't die in the fire."
I stared at her.
"Then where is he?"
"I don't know."
"But you've seen him?"
She shook her head.
"Not since that night."
I sat beside her.
"What happened?"
She took a shaky breath.
"Your father's brother was involved in the business conflict between the families. He knew about the agreement between your father, Richard, and Samuel."
"What agreement?"
"I don't know everything."
"Mom."
She looked at me.
"But I know it involved money."
"How much?"
"A fortune."
Silence settled between us.
Then she said something that made my stomach turn.
"Your father believed Samuel had stolen it."
"Did he?"
"I don't know."
"And the fire?"
She looked down.
"That night, everyone thought Samuel had died."
"But he didn't?"
"I don't know."
I stared at her.
"Then who died?"
She didn't answer.
A knock came at the door.
We both froze.
My mother quickly hid the photograph beneath a pillow.
"Who is it?"
Daniel's voice came from outside.
"It's me."
My mother looked at me.
I quickly stepped away from the bed.
Daniel entered.
His eyes moved between us.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No," my mother said.
Daniel looked at me.
"Your father wants you downstairs."
"Why?"
"He's received news."
My heart tightened.
"What news?"
Daniel hesitated.
"About Adrian."
Everything inside me went still.
"Is he alive?"
Daniel looked directly into my eyes.
"Yes."
I nearly collapsed with relief.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Then what news did my father receive?"
Daniel stepped closer.
"Your father knows Adrian is coming back."
My blood ran cold.
"When?"
Daniel shook his head.
"He didn't say."
I looked toward my mother.
She was staring at Daniel strangely.
As though she knew something about him that I didn't.
Daniel turned toward the door.
"Come downstairs."
I followed him.
But before I left, I glanced back at my mother.
She silently mouthed two words.
Don't trust him.
My heart sank.
Because now everyone was warning me about everyone.
My father.
Daniel.
The Blackwoods.
Even the people inside my own family.
And somewhere out there, Adrian was coming back.
I just didn't know whether he was returning to save me…
Or to reveal a truth that would destroy us all.