Chapter 7: The Place Where Daniel Waited
The location written on the back of the photograph was a name I had never heard before.
Ashford Chapel.
Three words.
Three words that somehow made Richard Blackthorn look terrified.
Arthur noticed immediately.
“You know that place.””
Richard said nothing.
Arthur stepped closer.
“My father.””
Richard looked at him.
“Where is Ashford Chapel?””
The older man’s silence answered before his words did.
“It was destroyed.””
Victoria stared at him.
“Destroyed?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Years ago.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Daniel standing somewhere unknown.
Alive.
Waiting.
Impossible.
“Then why would he send us there?”” I asked.
Richard looked at me.
“He didn’t.””
The answer chilled me.
“What do you mean?””
Richard walked toward the photograph.
“He would never tell you to come alone.””
My stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying someone wants you to believe this came from Daniel.””
Arthur took the picture from Victoria.
“Then who sent it?””
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew the answer could be worse than the mystery.
Someone had been watching us.
Someone had access to Daniel’s hidden room.
Someone knew exactly what would break us apart.
Arthur looked at me.
“You are not going.””
I expected those words.
But hearing them still hurt.
“Arthur…”
“No.””
His voice was firm.
“Not after everything we have discovered.””
“I need to know if Daniel is alive.””
“And I need to know if this is a trap.””
I looked at him.
“You think I don’t?””
“That is not what I said.””
“It is what you mean.””
His expression softened.
Only slightly.
“Rose, ten years ago you lost your brother because people around you hid the truth.””
The words hit me.
“And now?””
“Now I refuse to let you walk into another secret alone.””
For a moment, I forgot everything else.
The betrayal.
The lies.
The fear.
Because underneath all of it was Arthur.
The man who had spent years believing I had trusted him enough to tell him everything.
And I hadn’t.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
His eyes met mine.
“For what?””
“For keeping Daniel from you.””
The silence between us felt heavier than anger.
Then Arthur looked away.
“I don’t know how to feel yet.””
I nodded.
“I understand.””
But Victoria interrupted.
“You shouldn’t trust her either.””
Everyone turned.
She stood near the doorway.
Her face was calm again.
Too calm.
Arthur looked at her.
“After everything tonight, you still want to accuse Rose?””
“I want the truth.””
“So do I.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Then ask yourself something.””
Arthur frowned.
“What?””
“Why did Daniel leave the evidence for her?””
Nobody spoke.
Victoria looked at me.
“Why did he choose Rose?””
My hands tightened.
Because I knew why.
Daniel had always protected me.
Even when I didn’t deserve it.
But Victoria continued.
“He trusted her because he believed she was part of the solution.””
She looked at Arthur.
“But what if he was wrong?””
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“Enough.””
“No.””
Victoria shook her head.
“You want answers? Then stop pretending the danger is only outside this house.””
She pointed toward the documents.
“The truth is sitting right in front of you.””
Richard watched her carefully.
“You are very desperate to make Arthur doubt Rose.””
Victoria smiled.
“And you are very desperate to protect her.””
The two stared at each other.
Then I realized something.
They both knew more than they were saying.
Everyone in this house carried a piece of Daniel’s disappearance.
Everyone except me.
And that terrified me.
The next morning, I woke before sunrise.
I had barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Daniel’s face.
Alive.
Waiting.
The brother I thought I had lost was somewhere in the world.
Or someone wanted me to believe he was.
Arthur was standing by the window when I entered the study.
He had not slept either.
“You’re going.””
It wasn’t a question.
I looked at him.
“Yes.””
He sighed.
“I knew you would.””
“I have to.””
“I know.””
That surprised me.
He turned around.
“I spent the night angry.””
I lowered my eyes.
“I know.””
“But anger doesn’t change one thing.””
“What?””
“If Daniel is alive, we need to find him.””
I looked at him.
“Then come with me.””
He shook his head.
“Not this time.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent that message wants you alone.””
“That makes it more dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“Then why would I go?””
Arthur walked toward me.
“Because if Daniel really is waiting for you, he may only trust you.””
The answer hurt because it was true.
He handed me a small envelope.
“What is this?””
“Something my father gave me.””
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Another photograph of Daniel.
But this time, he was older.
Different.
And standing beside him was Arthur’s father.
Richard.
“What is this?””
Arthur looked at the image.
“I found it in my father’s private files.””
“Why didn’t you show me?””
“Because I found it an hour ago.””
I studied the picture.
“Your father knew Daniel for years.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Arthur was silent.
Then he said:
“I think my father wasn’t hiding Daniel from us.””
A pause.
“I think he was hiding Daniel from someone else.””
Before I could respond, the study door opened.
Richard stood there.
“I need to speak with Rose.””
Arthur immediately stepped between us.
“No.””
Richard looked at his son.
“Arthur.””
“You have lied enough.””
“I know.””
“Then start telling the truth.””
Richard nodded.
“You deserve that.””
He looked at me.
“Daniel trusted you because you were the only person who could expose what happened.””
“What happened?””
Richard’s face filled with regret.
“The night Daniel disappeared, he was not taken because of the inheritance.””
I frowned.
“Then why?””
Richard looked toward the window.
“Because he discovered who ordered the original betrayal.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
Richard hesitated.
Then:
“My father.””
Arthur froze.
“Edmund?””
Richard nodded.
“Your grandfather was responsible for destroying Rose’s family.””
I stared at him.
“Then why did you protect him?””
Richard looked ashamed.
“Because I was a coward.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I knew the truth.””
Arthur’s voice was quiet.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I tried.””
“No.””
Arthur’s anger returned.
“You watched it happen.””
Richard accepted the accusation.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
Then Richard reached into his pocket.
He pulled out an old key.
And placed it in my hand.
“This belonged to Daniel.””
I looked at it.
“Where did you get this?””
“He gave it to me before he disappeared.””
“Why?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“Because he knew I was the only person who could get you to the truth.””
I closed my fingers around the key.
“What does it open?””
Richard’s face changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“The place where everything started.””
Ashford Chapel stood at the edge of the abandoned Blackthorn property.
The journey there took nearly an hour.
Arthur followed behind me despite saying he wouldn’t.
He never said he changed his mind.
He didn’t have to.
When we arrived, the old chapel looked exactly as Richard described.
Destroyed.
The roof had collapsed.
The windows were broken.
Nature had reclaimed the stones.
But one thing was strange.
The door was new.
Someone had rebuilt it.
Someone expected visitors.
I held the key.
Arthur stood beside me.
“Ready?””
No.
I wasn’t.
But I nodded.
The key turned easily.
The door opened.
Inside, there was no dust.
No decay.
Someone had been living here.
A table sat in the center.
On it was a single envelope.
My name was written across the front.
Rose.
My hands shook.
Arthur noticed.
“Don’t open it alone.””
I looked at him.
For the first time in days, I smiled slightly.
“I thought you wanted me to do everything alone.””
“I was wrong.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Only three lines.
My breath disappeared as I read them.
*Rose,*
*If you are reading this, then you finally know the truth.*
*But there is one thing I never told you.*
I turned the page.
And the next sentence made my entire body go cold.
Because it was written in Daniel’s handwriting.
*I was not the one who disappeared ten years ago.*
I looked at Arthur.
He read the words.
Neither of us understood.
Then a sound came from behind us.
A door closing.
Slowly.
We turned.
A figure stood in the shadows.
A man.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
My heart stopped.
Because after ten years…
My brother finally spoke.
“Rose.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Daniel?””
He looked at Arthur.
Then back at me.
And whispered:
“I’m sorry.””
A pause.
“Because the person you think betrayed you…”
May you like
His eyes moved toward Arthur.
“…was never the real enemy.””
