The morning air was crisp as Elena stepped out of the house, pulling her jacket tighter around her. The sun barely peeked over the horizon, casting long shadows across the yard. She glanced at Liam, who stood near his car, waiting, his hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets.
"Where does Jacob live?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of questions swirling inside her.
Liam hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "On the outskirts of town. In a cabin, near Miller's Creek. But—"
"No buts," Elena cut in. "You said if I wanted answers, I needed to talk to him. So take me there."
Liam looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he gave a resigned sigh. "All right. But don't expect him to welcome you with open arms. He… he's not exactly fond of your family."
Elena's jaw tightened. "I just want the truth."
The drive to Miller's Creek was quiet, the air thick with unspoken tension. The town faded into winding roads lined with tall pines. Elena watched as the trees blurred past, her mind replaying the journal entry over and over. Keep her away from Jacob. Why? What was her grandmother so desperate to protect her from?
Finally, Liam pulled the car to a stop on a narrow dirt road. Ahead, tucked between the trees, stood a small wooden cabin. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and a stack of chopped firewood sat neatly by the porch.
"That's his place," Liam said, shutting off the engine.
Elena opened the door before he could say anything else.
"Wait," Liam said, catching her arm gently. "Elena, be careful with what you ask. Jacob… he's lived with the weight of this secret for years. And once you hear it, you can't unhear it."
Elena met his gaze. "I need to know."
With that, she walked up the path to the cabin. The wood creaked under her boots as she climbed the porch steps. She knocked firmly.
There was no response at first. Then, after a few seconds, the door opened slightly.
Jacob Reed stood in the doorway.
He was exactly as she remembered from fleeting glimpses as a child—though older now, his dark brown hair streaked with gray, his rugged face weathered, and his piercing blue eyes sharp, almost guarded. He looked at her for a long moment, as if measuring who she had become.
"Elena Hart," he said finally, his voice deep and rough, like gravel.
"You know who I am," Elena replied, straightening her shoulders.
"Of course I do. You look just like your mother." There was a bitterness in his tone, but also something softer, almost regretful.
"I need to talk to you," Elena said. "About my family."
Jacob's gaze flickered toward Liam, who stood a few steps behind her. "Of course he brought you here."
"She made me," Liam said with a shrug.
Jacob studied Elena for a long moment before finally stepping aside. "Fine. Come in."
The inside of the cabin was simple but cozy—wooden walls lined with old photographs, a stone fireplace crackling quietly, and shelves cluttered with books and tools.
Jacob gestured to a chair near the fireplace. "Sit."
Elena sat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Liam remained standing near the door, watching silently.
Jacob took a seat across from her, leaning back slightly. His blue eyes studied her with an intensity that made her uneasy.
"You came here for the truth," he said finally.
"Yes," Elena replied. "I found my grandmother's journal. She wrote about keeping me away from you. I need to know why."
Jacob let out a humorless laugh, rubbing his jaw. "Of course she would say that. Margaret Hart spent her whole life controlling everyone, didn't she?"
Elena frowned. "What does that mean?"
Jacob's expression hardened. "It means she lied to protect her precious family name. She lied about me. And she lied to you."
Elena's heart pounded. "About what?"
Jacob hesitated, his gaze shifting to the fire. For a moment, he looked almost vulnerable, like a man weighed down by years of silence. Finally, he spoke.
"I loved your mother," he said, his voice low. "We were young, stupid, and we thought we could build a life together. But Margaret didn't approve. She thought I wasn't good enough for Evelyn. She told everyone I was trouble. And when Evelyn… when she found out she was pregnant, Margaret forced her to end things with me."
Elena froze, her mind spinning. "Pregnant? You mean—"
Jacob's eyes met hers, steady and unflinching. "Yes. I'm your father, Elena."
The words hit her like a physical blow. Her breath caught, and for a moment, the room seemed to tilt.
"My… father?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jacob nodded. "Evelyn married someone else to keep up appearances. Margaret made sure everyone believed he was your real father. And I… I stayed away because that's what they wanted. Because Margaret threatened to ruin Evelyn's life if I tried to claim you."
Elena's chest tightened, her heart racing. She had imagined many possibilities, but this—this changed everything.
"She lied to me," Elena whispered, anger creeping into her voice. "All these years… she lied."
Jacob's expression softened. "She thought she was protecting you. But yes, she lied."
Elena sat back in the chair, her hands trembling slightly. She wanted to scream, to cry, to demand answers from her mother, but the words caught in her throat.
Liam moved closer, resting a hand gently on her shoulder. "Elena…"
She shook her head, swallowing hard. "I need to hear it all," she said firmly, looking back at Jacob. "Everything."
Jacob nodded slowly. "All right. But you need to be ready, because the truth doesn't end there. There's more—things your grandmother never wanted anyone to know. Things that could change how you see her forever."
Elena's pulse quickened. "Tell me."
Jacob leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Margaret didn't just force Evelyn to keep you away from me. She… she manipulated everything. There was a reason she wanted to protect you, Elena. And it wasn't just about reputation. It was about something she did."
Elena's heart pounded. "What did she do?"
Jacob hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Your grandmother wasn't the person you think she was. And if you're going to hear this, you have to be prepared to hate her for it."
The fire crackled in the silence that followed, and Elena's grip tightened on the edge of her chair.
"I need to know," she said finally, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her chest.
Jacob met her gaze, his eyes filled with years of regret.
"Then you'd better be ready," he said, leaning closer, his voice grave. "Because the truth will change everything."