Chapter 4 - The Secret Inside The Christmas AngelElena's Hidden KeyAdrien lifted the brass key between two fingers.
"What does this open?"
Marco looked at it.
His expression changed.
"I've seen this before."
Adrien turned.
"Where?"
"In your mother's records."
Clara's heart beat faster.
"Your mother knew about this?"
Adrien's eyes remained fixed on the key.
"My mother hid something."
"What?"
"I don't know."
He looked toward the hallway.
"Not yet."
Security searched every corner of the mansion.
Nobody was allowed near the ballroom.
The guests were informed that the shooting had been an attempted robbery and were escorted to a secure wing while private cars were called.
Outside, the storm grew worse.
Snow buried the estate gates.
The world beyond the mansion disappeared.
Adrien carried the key to the study.
There he opened an old cabinet belonging to his mother.
Inside were handwritten Christmas cards, photographs, letters, and financial records.
Clara expected to find a keyhole immediately.
There wasn't one.
She looked at the shelves.
"Maybe the key doesn't open a lock."
Adrien turned.
"What?"
"The angel was sentimental. Your mother may have used the key to open something hidden inside another object."
He stared at her.
Then he walked toward a large oil painting of Elena Valente.
The frame looked ordinary.
Clara examined it.
"There."
A tiny metal slot sat beneath the bottom edge.
Adrien inserted the key.
Click.
The painting shifted.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a single envelope.
Adrien removed it.
The handwriting on the front read:
FOR ADRIEN, WHEN THE HOUSE STOPS FEELING SAFE.
His breathing changed.
Clara looked away, giving him privacy.
He opened it.
One page.
He read silently.
Then his face became completely still.
"What does it say?"
He handed it to her.
Clara read.
My son,
If you are reading this, then the betrayal I feared has begun.
There is someone inside the family who believes the empire belongs to him.
He will use money first.
Then fear.
When those fail, he will use blood.
Do not trust the person who tells you the truth too quickly.
Trust the person who keeps asking why.
And never let them find the ledger.
Elena.
Clara looked up.
"The ledger."
Adrien nodded.
"There was one?"
"My mother mentioned it once when I was young."
"What's in it?"
"Everything."
She waited.
"Every payment. Every deal. Every name."
Clara's pulse quickened.
"Then whoever is doing this wants the ledger."
Adrien folded the letter.
"There is more."
He showed her the final line.
THE KEY LEADS TO THE LEDGER, BUT ONLY A PERSON OUTSIDE THE FAMILY CAN FIND IT.
Clara stared.
"Outside the family."
Adrien stared back.
"You're outside the family."
The room suddenly felt too small.
"You think my father—"
"I think your father may have known where it is."
Clara shook her head.
"My father died when I was fourteen."
Adrien stepped closer.
"How?"
"Car accident."
"Who investigated it?"
"I don't know."
"Your mother?"
"She died three years later."
"Did she ever talk about Valente?"
"No."
Clara's voice trembled.
"Why are you asking me these things?"
"Because someone photographed you before you came here."
"And?"
"And somebody knew about your father before you did."
The words settled heavily between them.
Adrien's gaze softened.
"For the first time in years, my mother left me something I don't understand."
He looked at Clara.
"And I think she left it because of you."
Before Clara could answer, the study window shattered.
A bullet struck the wall inches from Adrien's head.
He grabbed Clara and pulled her to the floor.
Three more shots.
Security rushed in.
Adrien covered her with his body.
When the shooting stopped, Clara felt something wet on her hand.
She looked down.
Blood.
Adrien's blood.
"Adrien."
He pressed a hand to his shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"You've been shot."
"Not badly."
He tried to stand.
Clara grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Their faces were inches apart.
For one dangerous second, the gunfire, the snow, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Adrien looked at her.
May you like
Then he whispered,
"Now they know we found the key."
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