Chapter 1 : The Girl They Buried
The rain had been falling for three hours when Elena Hart received the phone call that changed her life.
She almost ignored it.
It was nearly midnight, and she sat alone in her tiny apartment, staring at the unpaid bills scattered across the table. Her phone had been vibrating for several seconds before she finally reached for it.
Unknown number.
Elena frowned.
Who would call her at this hour?
She answered cautiously.
Hello?
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then an old man's trembling voice came through.
Are you Elena Hart?
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Yes. Who is this?
The man took a shaky breath.
You need to leave your apartment immediately.
Elena slowly stood.
What?
They know you're alive.
Her heart stopped.
Who knows?
Before the man could answer, the call ended.
Elena stared at the screen.
A strange chill traveled down her spine.
Alive?
The word echoed inside her head.
Why would a stranger say something like that?
She immediately tried calling back.
The number was unavailable.
Elena lowered the phone slowly.
For twenty-six years, she had lived with one certainty.
Her parents were dead.
At least, that was what she had always been told.
She had been raised by a woman named Margaret, who claimed Elena's mother had died shortly after giving birth to her. Her father, Margaret had said, disappeared before Elena was born.
There had never been photographs.
There had never been relatives.
There had never been stories about where Elena came from.
Whenever Elena asked questions, Margaret became angry.
Stop digging into the past.
Some things are better left forgotten.
Elena had accepted those words for years.
Until tonight.
A loud sound suddenly came from the hallway.
Elena froze.
Someone was outside her apartment.
She held her breath.
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
They stopped directly outside her door.
Elena's heart pounded violently against her chest.
Three knocks followed.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
She didn't move.
Another knock came.
Elena quietly reached for the small kitchen knife beside the sink.
Who is it?
No answer.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
She looked down.
A message from the same unknown number.
Do not open the door.
Elena's blood ran cold.
Before she could process the message, another one appeared.
They came for you.
Her eyes widened.
The doorknob moved.
Someone was trying to get inside.
Elena backed away from the door, gripping the knife with trembling fingers.
Then she noticed something on the table.
A small brown envelope.
Her name was written across it.
ELENA.
She was certain it hadn't been there moments ago.
With shaking hands, she picked it up.
Inside was an old photograph.
Elena stared at it.
A young woman stood in front of a magnificent mansion, holding a newborn baby in her arms.
The woman's face made Elena's breath catch.
She looked familiar.
Too familiar.
The same dark eyes.
The same lips.
The same delicate shape of the face.
Elena brought the photograph closer.
It was like looking at herself.
She turned it over.
A handwritten message covered the back.
Your mother did not die.
Elena's knees weakened.
She read the next line.
And neither did your father.
A deafening crash came from the front door.
Elena screamed.
The door burst open.
Two men dressed in black stormed into the apartment.
Catch her!
Elena didn't think.
She ran.
She rushed toward the bedroom, but the men were already coming after her.
Her eyes darted around the room.
Then she saw the window.
There was no time to hesitate.
Elena threw it open.
Cold rain slapped against her face.
She looked down.
Three floors.
The fire escape was the only option.
She climbed through the window and grabbed the metal railing.
Behind her, one of the men reached the window.
Get her!
Elena ran down the fire escape.
Her bare feet slipped against the wet metal, but she didn't stop.
She had no idea who these men were.
She didn't know who had sent them.
She didn't know why anyone would want her dead.
Most importantly, she didn't know why someone had spent twenty-six years convincing her that she was an orphan.
But tonight, the past had found her.
And it wasn't going to let her go.
Across the city, inside a luxurious penthouse overlooking the sleeping streets, Damian Blackwood stood before a wall of glass.
His phone rang.
He answered without turning around.
She's alive.
Silence filled the room.
Damian's expression hardened.
Are you certain?
The voice on the other end answered immediately.
We've confirmed it. There's no mistake.
Damian slowly closed his eyes.
After twenty-six years, the missing heiress had finally resurfaced.
Elena Hart was alive.
And if the truth came out, the Blackwood family would lose everything.
Find her.
The man hesitated.
And if she refuses to come with us?
Damian opened his eyes.
His voice became colder.
Then I'll bring her myself.
He ended the call.
For the first time in years, something resembling fear crossed his face.
Because there was one thing Elena didn't know.
Damian had been searching for her too.
And when she discovered why, she wouldn't just hate him.
She would hate him more than anyone else.
