The name hung in the air.
Adrian.
Raven stared at the letter in her hands.
For years, she had searched for the person who had betrayed Ellen.
Now the answer was standing right in front of them.
Or at least, the first piece of it was.
Vanessa took the letter from Raven.
Her eyes moved over the final line again.
Her face became unreadable.
"He was there."
Raven looked at her.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"You suspected Adrian?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because suspicion isn't proof."
Raven's jaw tightened.
"You have proof now."
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes."
Jeff stepped closer.
"What did Adrian do?"
Vanessa looked at him.
"He was one of William's most trusted advisers."
Raven frowned.
"And he worked with Andrew."
"Yes."
"Mark too?"
"Yes."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"So Mark and Adrian were both involved."
"Mark was involved in the business."
Vanessa paused.
"Adrian was involved in something much darker."
Eleanor looked at the letter.
"What exactly?"
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"He was the person who convinced Ellen that I had betrayed her."
Raven froze.
"What?"
Vanessa nodded.
"He fed her lies."
"About you?"
"Yes."
"He made her believe you were dangerous."
"Yes."
Raven's breathing became shallow.
"So the reason my mother left you…"
"Was Adrian."
Silence.
Raven slowly closed her eyes.
All those years.
All that pain.
All the memories Ellen had carried.
All the years Vanessa had spent protecting Raven from the shadows.
One man's lies had changed everything.
"He destroyed your family," Eleanor whispered.
Vanessa looked at her.
"He didn't just destroy mine."
Her gaze shifted to Raven.
"He destroyed Ellen's too."
---
Raven walked toward the table.
"Tell me everything."
Vanessa nodded.
"Adrian was close to William. He knew about the Hale family's wealth, their connections and their enemies."
She placed several documents on the table.
"He discovered that Ellen and I were mates."
Raven looked at the documents.
"He wanted you separated."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because together, Ellen and I were difficult to control."
Vanessa's voice became bitter.
"He knew that if we stayed together, the Hale empire would eventually become connected to my organization."
Raven frowned.
"And that threatened him."
"Exactly."
Jeff looked at the documents.
"So he manipulated Ellen."
"Yes."
"Then Andrew married her."
Vanessa nodded.
"Adrian helped arrange it."
Raven's eyes hardened.
"He created the marriage."
"He created the circumstances that made Ellen believe she had no choice."
"And Andrew took advantage of it."
"Yes."
Eleanor looked at Raven.
"And when Ellen discovered the truth?"
Vanessa's expression darkened.
"She tried to expose Adrian."
Raven's heart sank.
"But he stopped her."
"Yes."
"How?"
Vanessa looked down.
"He arranged the attack that killed her."
Silence.
Raven's hands trembled.
"You're sure?"
Vanessa nodded.
"I found evidence six months ago."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know where Adrian was."
Raven looked at her.
"And now?"
Vanessa's phone rang.
She answered.
"What?"
A voice spoke rapidly.
Vanessa's face changed.
"Where?"
She listened.
"Do not lose him."
She ended the call.
Raven immediately asked,
"What happened?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"We found Adrian."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"Where?"
"Blackwood Heights."
Jeff stepped forward.
"Then let's go."
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
Raven frowned.
"Why?"
"Because he wants us to find him."
---
Blackwood Heights
Adrian stood inside an abandoned warehouse.
Mark was beside him.
Andrew sat across from them.
A map of Blackwood Heights covered the table.
Adrian looked at his phone.
"She found the letter."
Mark nodded.
"Then she knows."
"She knows enough."
Andrew looked irritated.
"You said this wouldn't happen."
Adrian glanced at him.
"You're beginning to sound nervous."
"I am nervous."
Adrian smiled.
"Good."
Andrew frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Raven is finally asking the right questions."
Mark looked toward the door.
"And Eleanor?"
Adrian's expression changed.
"She is the key."
Andrew stared at him.
"You're not going to hurt her."
Adrian laughed.
"I don't need to."
He placed his phone on the table.
"Raven will come for her."
Mark looked uneasy.
"And Vanessa?"
"She'll come too."
Adrian smiled.
"Exactly where I want them."
---
The Hale Villa
Eleanor was alone.
Raven had gone downstairs to speak with Vanessa.
Eleanor stood by the window, looking at the dark garden.
Her phone vibrated.
She checked it.
Unknown number.
Come outside.
She frowned.
Another message appeared.
You want to know what happened to Ellen.
Eleanor's expression changed.
She immediately called Raven.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
Then she heard something behind her.
Eleanor turned.
A figure stood in the doorway.
Masked.
She stepped backward.
"Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer.
Eleanor reached for her weapon.
Too late.
A cloth was pressed over her mouth.
She struggled.
The room spun.
The last thing she heard was a man's voice.
"Tell Raven nothing."
Then everything went black.
---
Raven returned upstairs five minutes later.
"Eleanor?"
No answer.
She checked the bedroom.
Empty.
Bathroom.
Empty.
Balcony.
Empty.
Raven's heart began pounding.
"Eleanor?"
Vanessa rushed upstairs.
"What happened?"
"She was here."
Vanessa looked around.
"Find her."
Jeff entered behind them.
"What happened?"
Raven turned.
"She disappeared."
Jeff's expression changed.
"Kidnapped?"
Raven didn't answer.
She saw something on the floor.
Eleanor's phone.
The screen was cracked.
Raven picked it up.
There was one unread message.
She opened it.
If you want Eleanor alive, come to the old Blackwood warehouse.
Another message appeared immediately.
Come alone.
Vanessa looked at the screen.
"No."
Raven's eyes hardened.
"I'm going."
"Absolutely not."
"They have Eleanor."
"They want you."
"I know."
"Then that's exactly why you don't go."
Raven turned toward Vanessa.
"I've spent my whole life being protected."
She held up the phone.
"I'm done."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Raven."
Raven's voice cracked.
"They took her."
Vanessa immediately softened.
"I know."
"She could be scared."
"I know."
"She could be hurt."
"I know."
Raven's eyes filled with tears.
"I can't lose her."
Vanessa pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You won't."
Raven held onto her.
For the first time, she allowed herself to cry.
Vanessa whispered,
"I promise."
---
The Warehouse
Eleanor woke slowly.
Her wrists were tied.
She looked around.
Dark.
Cold.
Empty.
Then footsteps approached.
Adrian stepped into the light.
Eleanor stared at him.
"You."
He smiled.
"You finally remember me."
"I know what you did."
Adrian's smile faded.
"Do you?"
"You destroyed Ellen's life."
"No."
He crouched in front of her.
"I simply gave her the truth she was too blind to see."
"You lied to her."
"I showed her evidence."
"You manipulated her."
Adrian laughed.
"She was already afraid."
Eleanor glared at him.
"You killed her."
His expression became cold.
"Yes."
Eleanor's eyes widened.
"You admit it?"
"I don't need to lie anymore."
He stood.
"I wanted Vanessa gone."
"And Raven?"
Adrian looked toward her.
"Raven was never supposed to survive."
Eleanor's blood ran cold.
"Then why is she alive?"
"Because Vanessa got there first."
He smiled.
"And because Ellen hid her better than I expected."
Eleanor stared at him.
"What do you want?"
"Raven."
"Why?"
"Because she has something I need."
"What?"
Adrian leaned closer.
"The Hale inheritance."
Eleanor shook her head.
"You'll never get it."
Adrian smiled.
"Maybe not."
He turned toward the door.
"But Raven will come."
Eleanor watched him leave.
Then she noticed something on the table.
A phone.
Adrian had left it there.
Eleanor slowly stretched toward it.
Her fingers touched the device.
She grabbed it.
There was one number already dialed.
Raven.
Eleanor pressed call.
---
Raven's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered immediately.
"Eleanor?"
Silence.
Then a faint whisper.
"Raven…"
Raven's heart stopped.
"Eleanor!"
Vanessa moved closer.
"Where are you?"
Eleanor whispered,
"I don't know."
"Look around."
"I can't."
A sound came from behind her.
Eleanor quickly whispered,
"Raven…"
"Yes?"
"It's Adrian."
Raven's face hardened.
"I know."
"No."
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"You don't understand."
"What?"
"He isn't working alone."
Raven froze.
"Who is with him?"
The line went silent.
Then Adrian's voice replaced Eleanor's.
"Hello, Raven."
Raven's eyes became cold.
"Let her go."
"You know who I am now."
"Yes."
"Good."
Raven's voice dropped.
"You're going to regret touching her."
Adrian laughed.
"You sound exactly like Vanessa."
"That's because she's my mother."
"I know."
A pause.
Then Adrian said quietly,
"And that's precisely why I took Eleanor."
Raven's expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because Vanessa has spent years protecting you."
His voice became colder.
"So I decided to give her something she couldn't protect."
The call ended.
Raven stared at the phone.
Vanessa looked at her.
"What did he say?"
Raven slowly raised her eyes.
"He wants us to come."
Vanessa nodded.
"Then we'll go."
Raven shook her head.
"No."
Vanessa frowned.
"We're going together."
Raven looked at her.
"Not this time."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You are not going alone."
Raven looked toward the dark window.
"I won't."
She turned back.
"I'll take the entire organization."
Vanessa smiled.
"That's my daughter."
Raven picked up her weapon.
Tonight wasn't about revenge.
It wasn't about the Hale inheritance.
It wasn't even about the truth anymore.
It was about Eleanor.
And Raven would burn Blackwood Heights to the ground before she let Adrian keep her.
To be continued…