Alya read Rania's message over and over.
“Don't come to my house. Someone is watching me.”
Her hands began to grow cold.
“Arga…”
“I read it.”
Arga took a deep breath.
“She’s scared.”
Dimas immediately stood up.
“You two can't go anywhere alone.”
Alya looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because if someone really is watching Rania, that means they know the document has been found.”
Arga closed the brown folder.
“Where can we meet Rania?”
Alya thought for a moment.
“The campus library.”
“Why there?”
“Rania always studies there whenever she’s dealing with a problem.”
Arga nodded.
“I’ll come with you.”
An hour later, Alya and Arga arrived at campus.
The place was already starting to empty out.
Only a few students were still visible around the buildings.
They entered the library.
Alya immediately spotted Rania sitting alone in the corner.
She looked pale.
As soon as she saw Arga, Rania stood up.
“You came.”
Arga walked over.
“Explain.”
Rania looked at Alya.
“I knew you must have seen that document.”
“Your name was in it,” Arga said.
Rania fell silent.
“I can explain.”
“Now.”
Rania drew a breath.
“Twenty years ago, my father worked for Alya’s father’s company.”
Alya was stunned.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
Rania lowered her head.
“He handled most of the financial documents.”
Arga began to understand.
“So you know what happened?”
“I only found out a few months ago.”
“Then why is your name on that document?”
Rania didn’t answer right away.
Tears began to fall from her eyes.
“Because my father left something behind before he died.”
“What?”
“A letter.”
Rania pulled a white envelope from her bag.
“I found it after the funeral.”
Alya took the envelope.
Written across the front were the words:
For Rania, if the truth about that company ever comes to light.
Alya looked at Arga.
“May I?”
Rania nodded.
Alya opened the letter.
The handwriting inside looked old.
She read slowly.
«Rania, if you’re reading this letter, it means I can no longer explain everything myself.
The biggest mistake of my life was trusting the wrong person.
It’s true that I helped alter some of the company’s documents. But I didn’t do it to steal money.
I did it because someone forced me to.
That person was—»
The writing was cut off at the end.
Alya froze.
“The letter’s unfinished?”
Rania shook her head.
“The last part was torn off.”
Arga took the letter.
“Who forced your father?”
“I don’t know.”
“No other clues?”
Rania looked at Arga.
“There’s one.”
“What?”
“Before he died, my father once mentioned someone’s name.”
“Who?”
Rania was about to answer.
But suddenly, the library lights went out.
Everything went dark.
“Alya?” Arga’s voice rang out.
“I’m here!”
The sound of something falling from the table echoed through the darkness.
Then came the sound of running footsteps.
“Who’s there?” Arga shouted.
He chased after the sound.
A few seconds later, the emergency lights came on.
Rania stood near the door, her face pale.
The brown folder that had been lying on the table was gone.
“The documents!”
Alya panicked.
“They’re gone!”
Arga looked toward the door.
Someone had just run outside.
He chased after them.
But by the time he reached the courtyard, the person had disappeared.
Arga returned to the library, breathing hard.
Rania was clutching her phone.
“There’s a message.”
Alya moved closer.
The message came from an unknown number.
“Stop digging into the past. Otherwise, the person you love will be the next victim.”
Alya’s face went pale.
“Arga…”
Arga read the message.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he took Alya’s hand.
“We’re done running.”
Alya looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“We’re going to find out who it is.”
“But they threatened you.”
Arga gave her a faint smile.
“That’s exactly why.”
Rania suddenly spoke.
“I know who might be behind all of this.”
Arga turned toward her.
“Who?”
Rania looked at Alya.
“The person your family has trusted most all this time.”
Alya furrowed her brow.
“Who?”
Rania opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, a man’s voice came from behind them.
“Don’t.”
The three of them turned around.
Dimas stood in the doorway.
His expression was extremely serious.
“Don’t say their name here.”
Arga stared at him.
“Why?”
Dimas walked closer.
“Because if your suspicions are right…”
He paused for a moment.
“That person may already know you’re looking for them.”
At that moment, Arga’s phone rang.
A message came in from his father.
“Arga, come home now. There’s something about Alya’s family I need to tell you before it’s too late.”