Chapter 6: The Room Full of Lies
Celeste didn’t speak.
For several seconds, she didn’t even blink.
The words on the paper seemed to have trapped her.
*She knows where I hid the truth.*
Amara held the note carefully.
“My mom believed you.””
Celeste looked at her.
That hurt more than anger would have.
Because Amara wasn’t accusing her.
She was asking her not to disappoint her mother again.
Darius watched Celeste closely.
“Where is it?””
Celeste looked at him.
“Where is what?””
“The truth Naomi hid.””
Celeste shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You do.””
“Stop saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
Celeste stood.
Her voice suddenly stronger.
“You disappeared for nine years, Marcus. You don’t get to walk in here and act like you know everything.””
Marcus didn’t react.
“You’re right.””
The answer surprised her.
“I wasn’t there.””
A pause.
“But I remember the last thing Naomi said to me.””
Everyone became still.
“What did she say?””
Marcus looked at Amara.
“She told me if she couldn’t protect you, someone else had to.””
Amara’s eyes filled.
“Did she say she loved me?””
Marcus looked at her.
“She said your name every single day.””
That broke something inside the little girl.
She covered her face.
Darius crouched beside her.
“Hey.””
Amara wiped her tears.
“I just wanted to know her.””
The sentence was simple.
But it destroyed everyone.
Celeste looked away.
Because she knew exactly what Naomi would have wanted.
Not revenge.
Not secrets.
Her daughter knowing she was loved.
Celeste slowly walked toward the purse.
Darius watched.
“What are you doing?””
She reached inside.
“I need to show you something.””
She removed a small key.
Not expensive.
Not decorative.
Old.
Worn.
Amara looked at it.
“What is that?””
Celeste stared at the key.
“Something Naomi gave me.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You still have it?””
Celeste nodded.
“She made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
Celeste looked at Amara.
“To open it only if you came looking.””
Darius frowned.
“Open what?””
Celeste closed her hand around the key.
“A box.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
Then the answer came.
“My house.””
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“You can’t take her there.””
Celeste frowned.
“Why?””
“Because if Victor knows she found the picture, he knows the next step.””
Darius looked at him.
“What next step?””
Marcus looked toward Amara.
“Getting rid of anything Naomi left behind.””
A chill moved through the room.
Darius immediately became alert.
“Does he know where you live?””
Celeste didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Darius looked at her.
“He does.””
Celeste nodded.
“He always did.””
Before anyone could respond, the lights in the reception hall flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then returned.
Guests gasped.
Darius immediately looked toward the security entrance.
Something was wrong.
The doors that had been locked were now open.
The security monitor on the wall flashed.
A camera feed.
A hallway.
Empty.
Then suddenly—
A figure appeared.
Standing directly in front of the camera.
Everyone stared.
Even Darius froze.
Because the person on the screen wasn’t trying to hide.
They were looking straight into the camera.
Straight at them.
The image zoomed slightly.
Then a message appeared on the monitor.
Written in black letters.
*YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE PAST ALONE.*
Amara grabbed Celeste’s hand.
Celeste looked at the screen.
And for the first time that night, she wasn’t afraid of the secret.
She was afraid of what someone would do to keep it hidden.
Darius reached for his radio.
“Everyone stay inside.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
His face went pale.
“Darius…”
“What?””
Marcus pointed.
The figure on the monitor slowly lifted something into view.
A photograph.
The same photograph.
But this time, there was writing across the front.
Darius stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
Marcus whispered the words before anyone else could read them.
And when Celeste saw the message, she knew Naomi’s final warning had never been meant for her.
It had been meant for Amara.
May you like
Because written across the picture were five words:
*Your mother never left alone.*
