Chapter 10: The Hidden Truth

Achilles stared at the photographs spread across the table.

Every picture documented Emerald's life over the last seven years.

Someone had been watching her every move.

"How is this possible?" Emerald whispered.

"I never noticed anyone following me."

"That's because whoever did this is highly trained," Marcus replied.

"These aren't ordinary surveillance photos."

"Someone invested years into tracking you."

Achilles carefully examined the last photograph.

"Marcus, enlarge the background."

"Right away, sir."

Marcus connected his tablet to the television in the study.

After zooming into the image, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.

"Wait..." Emerald stepped closer.

"Isn't that...?"

"Tess," Achilles finished.

Emerald's eyes widened.

"My sister?"

"She appears in three different photographs," Marcus explained.

"Always near you, but never directly beside you."

"That's impossible."

"She was living here while I was studying in New York."

"Exactly," Achilles said.

"Which means someone else was watching both of you."

Richard entered the study after receiving Achilles' call.

"Did you discover anything?"

Achilles handed him the photographs.

Richard's expression darkened immediately.

"Whoever is behind this has been planning something for years."

"But why Emerald?"

"That's what we need to find out."

Marcus received another notification.

"Sir, our cyber team recovered deleted files from the abandoned warehouse."

"Any names?"

"Only one."

"Read it."

"Project Rosebud."

The room fell silent.

"Project Rosebud?" Emerald repeated.

"What does that even mean?"

"We don't know yet," Marcus admitted.

"But every recovered document contains your childhood nickname."

Achilles clenched his fists.

"There has to be something we're missing."

"Sir," Marcus continued, "there's another file."

"Open it."

A scanned document appeared on the screen.

Most of it had been corrupted.

Only a few sentences remained readable.

"Primary Target: Emerald Hutton."

"Operation Status: Delayed for seven years."

"Objective: Capture alive."

Emerald felt the blood drain from her face.

"Capture... alive?"

"Someone planned to kidnap me?"

"Apparently," Richard answered grimly.

"But why wait seven years?"

"Maybe because she wasn't here," Achilles replied.

"They waited until she returned."

Suddenly Eleanor entered carrying tea.

"Master Achilles..."

She stopped after noticing everyone's serious expressions.

"Is something wrong?"

"Do you remember anyone asking about Emerald years ago?" Achilles asked.

The elderly woman frowned thoughtfully.

"Actually... yes."

Everyone looked toward her.

"About six years ago a man came to the estate."

"He claimed he was delivering documents."

"When I mentioned Little Rosebud had moved away, he became strangely disappointed."

"Can you describe him?"

"Tall."

"Black coat."

"A scar near his left eye."

"And..."

"He had a tattoo on his wrist."

"A chess piece," she finished.

Achilles exchanged a glance with Marcus.

"The same symbol."

"Exactly."

Marcus immediately typed the description into the security database.

"Sir... we have a possible match."

A criminal profile appeared.

"Name: Victor Kane."

"Former military intelligence officer."

"Currently missing."

"Suspected member of an underground organization known as The Kings."

"Any current location?" Achilles asked.

"Unknown."

"Last confirmed sighting was three months ago... in New York."

Emerald looked shocked.

"New York?"

"That means he was following me while I was there."

"Most likely," Marcus answered.

Achilles walked toward the window.

His expression became colder than ever.

"Increase security around the estate."

"Double the guards."

"No one enters without my permission."

"Understood."

Later that night, Emerald couldn't sleep.

She walked into the rose garden behind the mansion.

The cool breeze calmed her racing thoughts.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Achilles asked as he joined her.

"Too many questions."

"Same here."

"Ace..."

"Do you think they're really coming after me?"

He looked directly into her turquoise eyes.

"I don't think."

"I know."

"Then why are you still helping me?"

"Because protecting you has always been my first choice."

"Even before I knew people were hunting you."

Emerald smiled sadly.

"You never stopped calling me Rosebud."

"Because you'll always be my Rosebud."

Before she could answer, a loud explosion echoed through the estate.

BOOM!

The entire mansion shook violently.

Security alarms began screaming.

"Sir!" Marcus shouted through the communicator.

"The front gate has been blown open!"

"Multiple armed vehicles are entering the estate!"

"They're here!"

Achilles immediately pulled Emerald behind him.

"Stay close to me."

"Whatever happens... don't let go of my hand."