Chapter 3 - The Photograph Behind the Portrait
The door opened slowly.
Adrien stood between Lily and the entrance.
His entire body became still.
A man stepped into the room.
He was one of the estate's senior household employees.
Mr. Collins.
He had worked for Adrien's father for more than twenty years.
Adrien had known him since childhood.
"Sir," Collins said.
Adrien didn't answer.
Collins looked at Elena.
Then Lily.
Then the open file in Adrien's hand.
His face changed.
"You shouldn't have opened this room."
Adrien stared at him.
"Why?"
Collins swallowed.
"Your father ordered it sealed."
"My father is dead."
"Some orders remain."
Adrien stepped closer.
"Who told you to come here?"
Collins hesitated.
"Answer me."
"No one."
Adrien looked at him for several seconds.
Then he noticed something.
Collins was holding an old photograph.
Adrien extended his hand.
"Give it to me."
Collins didn't move.
"Sir..."
"Give it to me."
Slowly, Collins handed it over.
Adrien turned the photograph.
His mother stood beside Sophia.
But there was someone else in the frame.
A little boy.
Adrien.
He was perhaps thirteen.
Sophia had one hand resting on his shoulder.
Adrien stared.
He had no memory of the photograph.
Then he saw something else.
Sophia was holding a baby.
A newborn.
Adrien's face went pale.
He looked at Lily.
No.
Impossible.
He looked back at the photograph.
On the back was a date.
Twenty years ago.
Lily was three.
Adrien's mother had disappeared eighteen years ago.
The timing didn't make sense.
Unless someone had lied.
He turned toward Collins.
"Who is the baby?"
Collins looked away.
Adrien's voice hardened.
"Who is the baby?"
"I don't know."
"You've worked here for twenty years."
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Collins lowered his eyes.
Adrien stepped closer.
"Look at me."
Collins did.
His eyes were full of fear.
"Your father told us never to speak about Sophia."
"Why?"
"Because she knew too much."
"About what?"
Collins shook his head.
"I can't."
Adrien took a breath.
He could feel anger building.
But Lily was watching him.
He forced himself to remain calm.
He looked at the child.
She was still holding the corner of her pink dress.
Adrien crouched beside her.
"Lily."
She smiled.
"Yes?"
"Do you know this man?"
She looked at Collins.
Then nodded.
"Grandpa."
Adrien looked at Collins.
"What?"
Lily pointed.
"Grandpa's friend."
Collins closed his eyes.
Adrien stood.
"How does a three-year-old know you?"
Collins whispered:
"Sophia taught her."
Adrien stared.
"She taught her your face?"
Collins nodded.
"Why?"
"Because she was afraid."
"Afraid of whom?"
Collins looked at Adrien.
"Your father."
Adrien felt the room become colder.
His father had always been strict.
Demanding.
Emotionally distant.
But Adrien had never imagined him capable of the secrets now unfolding.
"Why would Sophia fear him?"
Collins looked toward Lily.
"Because she knew Lily wasn't supposed to exist."
Adrien stared.
"Explain."
Collins shook his head.
"I can't."
"Then leave."
Collins turned.
Adrien stopped him.
"One more thing."
Collins looked back.
"Where is Sophia now?"
Collins hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Did she die?"
"I don't know."
"Did my father kill her?"
Collins's face went white.
"I never saw anything."
Adrien understood the wording.
"You never saw anything."
Collins said nothing.
Adrien walked toward the portrait in the hallway.
He remembered something.
The silver key.
He looked behind the portrait.
The frame was mounted unusually thick.
He pulled it away from the wall.
A small metal box had been hidden behind it.
The key fit.
Adrien opened it.
Inside was a folded letter.
His hands shook slightly.
He unfolded it.
The handwriting belonged to his mother.
Adrien knew it immediately.
The letter began:
"Adrien, if you are reading this, then someone finally brought Lily home."
His breath caught.
Lily.
He read further.
"I wanted to tell you everything, but your father made sure I couldn't."
Adrien looked up.
Elena was crying silently.
Collins had turned away.
Adrien continued reading.
"Lily is innocent. She must never be blamed for what happened between the adults."
He swallowed.
Then came the sentence that made his heart stop.
"She is your sister."
Adrien lowered the letter.
The room disappeared around him.
Lily was his sister.
Not a stranger.
Not an orphan brought into his house by coincidence.
His sister.
Adrien looked at the little girl.
She was playing with a ribbon from her dress.
She had no idea her entire life had just changed.
Adrien knelt beside her.
"Lily."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
He didn't know what to say.
He couldn't tell a three-year-old that the man she had been taught to fear was actually her brother.
He couldn't explain why everyone had lied.
He couldn't explain why their father had hidden her existence.
He only knew one thing.
He would protect her.
No matter what.
Then Elena suddenly screamed.
Adrien turned.
A phone was ringing.
It was sitting inside the old leather folder.
Nobody had seen it before.
The screen displayed one word.
MOTHER.
Adrien stared.
May you like
His mother had been missing for eighteen years.
And the phone was ringing in his hand.
