Chapter 2 - The Secret Passenger
The hospital hallway went silent when I saw the person standing at the end of the corridor.
I stopped walking.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
Because the person in the picture wasn't supposed to exist.
Her name was Emma Vale.
And three years ago, everyone believed she had died.
I had known Emma before that night.
She was one of Clara's closest friends.
She was also the person who introduced me to Adrian Cole.
Back then, Adrian wasn't the untouchable businessman everyone feared.
He was just a man trying to rebuild his life after losing someone important.
Emma was supposed to be part of that new beginning.
Until the accident.
At least, that's what everyone was told.
A boating accident.
A missing body.
A closed investigation.
A tragic story that people stopped talking about.
But now she was standing twenty feet away from me.
Alive.
Watching me.
I couldn't move.
Then she turned and disappeared behind a corner.
"Wait!"
I ran after her.
My shoes hit the hospital floor as nurses and visitors looked at me strangely.
I turned the corner.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
Only a security door slowly closing.
I pushed it open.
The room beyond was dark.
Empty.
Except for one thing.
A small envelope sitting on a chair.
My name was written on it.
Olivia.
My hands started shaking.
I looked around before opening it.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Four words.
"Clara knows the truth."
I stared at the message.
That wasn't a warning.
It was a threat.
Someone wanted me to know Clara had been hiding something.
I folded the paper and put it in my pocket.
Then my phone vibrated.
Another unknown number.
This time, it wasn't a picture.
It was a video.
I pressed play.
The screen showed the yacht.
The same night.
The same party.
But the angle was different.
Someone had recorded everything from a hidden camera.
I watched Clara walking toward the champagne table.
I watched Adrian speaking with her.
Then I saw something that made my stomach turn.
Adrian wasn't angry.
He wasn't threatening her.
He was giving her something.
A small black envelope.
I paused the video.
Zoomed in.
The quality was poor.
But I could clearly see Clara's expression.
She looked terrified.
Not because of Adrian.
Because of what was inside that envelope.
The video continued.
Clara opened it.
She pulled out a document.
Then she looked directly at the camera.
Like she knew someone was watching.
The video suddenly ended.
My hands went cold.
Someone had been recording Clara before she collapsed.
Someone had planned this.
I immediately went to Clara's hospital room.
A nurse stopped me.
"Are you family?"
I hesitated.
"No. I'm her friend."
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
"She already has a visitor."
My heart dropped.
"Who?"
The nurse glanced toward the room.
"I don't know. A woman."
A woman.
I opened the door slowly.
Clara was lying on the bed.
Her face was pale.
But she was awake.
And sitting beside her was Vanessa Cole.
Adrian's sister.
The same woman who watched me on the yacht.
The same woman who looked like she knew something.
She stood up when she saw me.
"Olivia."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"What are you doing here?"
She smiled slightly.
"I came to check on Clara."
I looked at Clara.
She immediately looked away.
That hurt more than I expected.
Because Clara had always told me everything.
At least, I thought she did.
"Clara," I said softly.
"Tell me what happened."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You should leave."
I looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you don't understand what you're involved in."
I laughed quietly.
"Someone tried to poison my best friend."
My voice became colder.
"I think I understand enough."
Vanessa looked at Clara.
Then back at me.
"Ask her why she invited Emma Vale onto the yacht."
My entire body froze.
Emma.
Again.
I looked at Clara.
Her expression changed.
That was all I needed to see.
She knew.
"You knew Emma was alive?"
Clara didn't answer.
"Clara?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Olivia..."
"No."
I stepped back.
"Don't do that."
My voice cracked.
"Don't look at me like you're sorry."
Clara closed her eyes.
"I was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
She looked toward Vanessa.
Then whispered:
"From Adrian."
I stared at her.
"But Adrian was arrested."
Clara shook her head.
"You still don't understand."
The machines beside her started beeping faster.
Her breathing changed.
She grabbed my hand.
"Adrian wasn't the person who brought danger onto that yacht."
"Then who was?"
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, the hospital lights suddenly flickered.
Everyone looked up.
The room went dark for three seconds.
Then emergency lights turned on.
A nurse rushed into the hallway.
"Security! Someone entered the restricted floor!"
Vanessa immediately looked toward the door.
Not surprised.
Afraid.
I noticed something in her hand.
A small object.
A key card.
Not a hospital key card.
A yacht access card.
The same symbol from Adrian's company logo was printed on it.
My heart started racing.
"Vanessa..."
She looked at me.
For the first time, she looked genuinely scared.
"Where did you get that?"
She didn't answer.
Then Clara whispered from the bed:
"Because she wasn't supposed to bring it here."
The door handle suddenly moved.
Someone was trying to enter.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Clara grabbed my arm.
"Olivia, don't let them see the envelope."
I looked down.
The envelope I found in the dark room was still inside my pocket.
The handle turned again.
Slowly.
Someone was outside.
Waiting.
May you like
Then the door opened halfway.
And a familiar voice whispered my name.
