Chapter 5 - The Voice Behind The Impossible Phone Call
Adrian Vale held the phone against his ear.
His hand did not shake.
His face did not change.
But inside, everything collapsed.
Because the voice speaking to him belonged to the woman he had buried.
"Elena..."
A quiet breath came from the other side.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then the voice answered.
"Adrian."
The sound of his name almost broke him.
Not because he missed hearing it.
Because he had spent six years convincing himself he would never hear it again.
Marcus stood behind him, watching carefully.
He had seen Adrian face enemies.
He had seen him negotiate with men who controlled entire cities.
He had seen him survive situations nobody else could.
But he had never seen him look afraid.
"Where are you?" Adrian whispered.
Silence.
Then:
"I can't tell you."
His jaw tightened.
"Why?"
"Because if I tell you, they will know."
Adrian looked around the room.
The old bedroom.
The broken lock.
The photograph.
The hidden phone.
Everything about this house suddenly felt different.
"You let me believe you were dead."
The voice became softer.
"I know."
"You let me bury you."
"I had no choice."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"No choice?"
His voice became colder.
"You left me alone with our daughter."
A pause.
Then Elena whispered:
"I was trying to save her."
Adrian looked toward the hallway.
"Save her from who?"
The line went silent.
Too long.
Then Elena answered.
"The people closest to us."
Adrian's expression changed.
He looked at Marcus.
Marcus understood immediately.
Someone inside their circle.
Someone trusted.
Someone who had access to everything.
"Tell me who."
"I can't."
"You called me."
"Because Clara started walking."
Adrian froze.
The words felt impossible.
Elena continued.
"I knew the moment she moved, they would become afraid."
"Who are they?"
"Adrian..."
Her voice trembled.
For the first time, he heard fear from the woman who had always been stronger than anyone.
"Do not trust Doctor Ward."
"I already know."
"And do not trust the person who claims they are helping Clara."
Adrian frowned.
"Selene?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
"Selene is the reason Clara has a chance."
Adrian looked confused.
"Then who?"
Before Elena could answer, the call became distorted.
Static filled the room.
"Elena?"
A few seconds passed.
Then her voice returned.
Barely audible.
"Your brother..."
The line cut.
Adrian stared at the phone.
Your brother.
Two words.
Two words that changed everything.
Because Adrian Vale had no brother.
At least...
Not one he knew about.
Marcus stepped forward.
"What did she say?"
Adrian looked at him.
"She said my brother."
Marcus's face changed.
A reaction.
Small.
But enough.
Adrian noticed.
"You know something."
Marcus looked away.
"Marcus."
The security chief remained silent.
Adrian walked closer.
"Tell me."
Marcus took a breath.
"There was someone."
"Who?"
"Before you became the head of the Vale family."
Adrian waited.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"Your father had another child."
The room went silent.
Adrian stared.
"My father?"
Marcus nodded.
"But everyone believed he died."
"When?"
"Shortly after birth."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Everyone believed?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Adrian understood.
Another secret.
Another lie.
Another piece of his family history hidden from him.
"Find the records."
"I already tried."
Adrian looked at him.
"And?"
Marcus hesitated.
"They were erased."
Adrian walked back toward Elena's old room.
Everything connected.
The accident.
Clara's medical records.
The hidden messages.
The person who wanted his daughter silent.
Someone had been controlling the Vale family from the shadows.
And now he finally knew where to look.
Upstairs, Clara was still awake.
Selene sat beside her bed.
The maid looked exhausted.
But she refused to leave.
"You should sleep," Clara whispered.
Selene smiled gently.
"You should too."
Clara looked down.
"Am I going to walk?"
Selene didn't answer immediately.
She reached for Clara's hand.
"I think you will."
Clara looked at her.
"How do you know?"
Selene smiled sadly.
"Because you already tried."
The little girl looked at her legs.
"I was scared."
"I know."
"What if I fall?"
Selene squeezed her hand.
"Then someone will help you stand again."
Clara smiled.
A small smile.
The first real smile Selene had seen.
But then Clara's expression changed.
"What?"
Selene asked.
Clara looked toward the doorway.
"I know that man."
Selene turned.
Nobody was there.
"What man?"
"The one who came before you."
Selene became still.
"What did he look like?"
Clara thought.
"He looked like daddy."
Selene's heart stopped.
"But older."
The words were barely spoken.
Then Clara whispered:
"He told me he was my uncle."
Selene immediately stood.
"Clara."
The little girl looked scared.
"He said mommy wanted him to take me somewhere safe."
Selene grabbed her phone.
But before she could call Adrian...
The lights went out.
The entire mansion fell into darkness.
Security alarms started.
Footsteps echoed downstairs.
Selene moved in front of Clara.
"Stay behind me."
A shadow appeared outside the bedroom door.
Slow.
Calm.
Not afraid.
The handle moved.
Selene grabbed the nearest object.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
He looked older than Adrian.
Same dark eyes.
Same sharp features.
Same cold expression.
He looked directly at Clara.
Then smiled.
"I finally found you."
Selene stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The man ignored her.
His eyes stayed on Clara.
"My name is Gabriel Vale."
Clara froze.
Because she recognized the name.
The name her mother had whispered in her dreams.
The name she was told never to repeat.
Gabriel walked closer.
"I am your uncle."
Selene's phone suddenly received a message.
From Adrian.
She opened it.
Only five words appeared:
"Do not let him touch Clara."
Then another message arrived.
A photo.
A photo of Gabriel standing inside the mansion six years earlier.
Holding Clara's hospital records.
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And underneath it was one sentence:
"He was there the night Elena died."
