I was still standing in the family room, holding the photograph. Five years ago. The number kept spinning through my head. Five years ago, I hadn't even known Adrian yet.
Then how could he have been standing beside Daddy in an old photograph? And who was the man standing next to them? I turned the photograph over again.
On the back, there was a date and a location. Blackwood Charity Gala. The name made me think of Daniel Blackwood again.
Why did every road seem to lead me back to that family? I tightened my grip on the photograph. I had to find out.
Without thinking much, I walked toward Daddy's study. The door was closed. I glanced down the hallway to make sure no one was around before slowly opening it.
I felt a little guilty. I had never entered Daddy's study without permission. But this time was different. I needed answers.
I walked toward the large cabinet in the corner of the room. Several folders were neatly arranged inside. I opened them one by one. Old documents. Company reports. Business agreements.
Nothing caught my attention. Until I found a small black box. My hand stopped. The box looked exactly like the one I had found on the desk earlier.
I opened it. Inside were several yellowed documents. I picked one up. My eyes immediately went to the name printed at the top.
Blackwood Corporation. I read the first page. There were several company names and figures I didn't fully understand. But one sentence made me stop.
Strategic partnership agreement. I turned to the next page. At the bottom were two signatures.
I recognized Daddy's signature.
But the other signature...
I had seen it before.
On a document Daniel had given me. Daniel Blackwood. My heart pounded. Why had Daddy and Daniel made an agreement? I kept reading. But some of the pages were missing. “Why?” I whispered.
Why had this document been kept such a secret? I picked up another folder. Inside were several letters. One of them was dated five years ago.
I opened the letter. But after reading only a few lines, I heard the front door. I froze.
Daddy. I hurriedly put the letter back. But because I was moving too quickly, a sheet of paper fell to the floor. I bent down to pick it up...
And that's when I saw something that stopped my breath. A name. Adrian. I read the date. Five years ago.
I hadn't even known Adrian back then. How could his name already be on a family document? I was still rooted to the spot when the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
“What you're looking for is in your hand?” I jumped. Daddy stood in the doorway. His gaze immediately fell on the document in my hand. His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
I didn't answer. Instead, I raised the photograph still in my hand.
“Daddy.” My own voice sounded strange to my ears.
“Why did you know Adrian five years ago?” Daddy fell silent.
He didn't argue. He didn't deny it. He simply stayed silent. And his silence only made my chest feel tighter.
“Answer me, Dad.” Daddy walked in and closed the door behind him.
“Elena, listen to Daddy.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Now I'm the one who wants Daddy to listen.” Daddy looked at me.
“All this time, I thought I knew everything about my family. I thought Daddy was always honest with me.”
“You have to trust Daddy.”
“How can I trust anyone when everyone is hiding something from me?” Daddy let out a long sigh.
“This isn't that simple.”
“Then explain it!” I raised the photograph.
“Who is this man?” Daddy looked at the photograph. His expression grew even more serious.
“He has nothing to do with you.”
“If he has nothing to do with me, then why is Adrian there?” Daddy fell silent again.
“Why did Adrian already know Daddy before I knew him?”
“Because of business.” I let out a small laugh.
“Business?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of business?” Daddy didn't answer. I felt frustrated.
“Why does everyone always say the same thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Daniel said I wasn't ready to know.”
I looked at Daddy. “Adrian is hiding something.”
“And now Daddy is telling me to trust him without giving me any explanation.” Daddy walked closer.
“Elena, Daddy did everything to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” Daddy fell silent. I could see the hesitation in his eyes. And for the first time, I realized... Daddy really was hiding something.
“Five years ago,” Daddy said slowly, “our family company was in serious trouble.” I froze.
“Trouble?” Daddy nodded.
“If we hadn't received help back then, we might have lost most of the family's assets.” I stared at him.
“And Daniel?”
“He helped us.” I fell silent.
“How?”
“Through a business deal.” I looked at the document I had found earlier.
“This deal?” Daddy nodded. I read the document again.
“Then what does Adrian have to do with it?” Daddy didn't answer immediately.
“Dad.”
“Adrian worked with one of the parties involved in that deal.” I frowned. “So Daddy already knew him?”
“Yes.”
I swallowed. “And Daddy still let me get close to him?” Daddy's expression changed.
“Daddy didn't know you two would become that close.”
“But Daddy knew him!”
“Daddy never expected—”
“Why didn't Daddy ever tell me?”
“Because Daddy wanted you to live your life without being burdened by the family's business problems.” I shook my head.
“Then why is everything coming back now?” Daddy was silent. I stared sharply at him.
“What really happened five years ago?” Daddy sighed.
“You aren't ready to hear it.” I almost laughed in frustration.
“Again.” Daddy looked at me.
“I'm not ready yet?” I wiped away the tears beginning to fall.
“I'm tired of hearing that.” Daddy looked sad.
“Elena...”
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Dad.” I looked at him.
“I’m old enough to know why the man I love already knew my family five years ago.” Daddy closed his eyes for a moment. Then he said quietly,
“Adrian isn't the main reason Daddy kept everything from you.”
I frowned. “Then what is?”
Daddy looked at me. “Daniel.” My heart immediately began pounding.
“Why Daniel?”
“Because five years ago, Daniel was the one who made the deal with Daddy to save our family.” I fell silent. Daddy continued.
“And Adrian...” Daddy stopped. I waited.
“Adrian was part of that deal.” It felt as though my blood stopped flowing.
“Part of the deal?” “Yes.”
“What does that mean?” Daddy didn't answer. I stepped closer.
“Dad, what do you mean, Adrian was part of the deal?” Daddy turned his face away.
“Daddy can't explain everything tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because there are things you need to hear directly from someone involved.” I froze.
“Who?” Daddy looked at me.
“Daniel.” I immediately fell silent.
“Why does it have to be Daniel?” Daddy sighed.
“Because he's the only one who knows everything that was in that deal.” I stared at Daddy in disbelief. All this time, I had thought Daniel was a stranger who had suddenly entered my life.
But... he had already been part of my family's story long before I knew him. I picked up my phone. Without realizing it, my fingers opened my conversation with Daniel. I was about to type something. But a message came in first.
From Daniel. I froze.
Daniel: You found the photo, didn't you? I stared at the screen. My chest felt tight. How did he know? I typed quickly.
Elena: How did you know? Three dots appeared. Then his reply came in.
Daniel: Because I was the one who sent it. I stared at the screen without blinking. I immediately turned to Daddy.
“Dad...” Daddy looked startled.
“What is it?”
I showed him my phone screen. Daddy read the message. His face immediately went pale. And before I could ask anything else, a second message from Daniel came in.
Daniel: Tomorrow, I’ll explain everything. Including why your name was listed in the agreement five years ago.
I froze. My name? I looked at Daddy.
“Dad...” The word came out barely above a whisper.
“Why is my name in the agreement from five years ago?” Daddy didn't answer.
And for the first time in my life... I saw fear in my own father's eyes.