Chapter 6: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
Charlotte stared at the photograph.
The noise of the hotel vanished.
The alarm.
The footsteps.
The nervous whispers.
Everything became distant.
Because the person standing beside her mother in that old picture was not a stranger.
Not an enemy.
Not someone she had spent years avoiding.
It was someone she trusted.
Someone who had held her hand through the darkest months after Evelyn’s death.
Someone who had promised her that they would uncover the truth together.
Her best friend.
Amelia Hart.
Charlotte looked at the back of the photograph again.
The words were written clearly.
*Ask your best friend why she lied.*
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
“No.””
The word escaped before she could stop it.
Margaret stepped closer.
“Charlotte.””
She looked up.
“Tell me this is wrong.””
Margaret glanced at the photograph.
Her silence answered before her words did.
“I didn’t know Amelia was involved.””
Charlotte shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at the picture again.
“That’s impossible.””
Richard watched her carefully.
And then, slowly, a smile appeared on his face.
Not because he was happy.
Because he had found something he could use.
“Interesting.””
Charlotte looked at him.
“What?””
He nodded toward the photograph.
“After everything tonight, you still believe everyone except yourself.””
Her expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
“Why?””
Richard took a step closer.
“Because you know I’m right.””
The anger in Charlotte’s chest rose.
“You don’t get to talk about trust.””
Richard ignored the insult.
“You came here believing you knew exactly who betrayed you.””
He looked around the lobby.
“Me.””
His eyes moved to Margaret.
“Her.””
Then back to Charlotte.
“But now you’re discovering the truth is much closer.””
Charlotte looked away.
She hated that a small part of her wondered.
Not because she believed Richard.
Because she knew Amelia.
Or at least she thought she did.
They met when they were sixteen.
Before Charlotte’s family name mattered.
Before Solmere became a battlefield.
Amelia was the only person who treated her normally.
She didn’t care about the Vale fortune.
She didn’t care about private planes or luxury hotels.
She cared about Charlotte.
When Charlotte lost her mother, Amelia was the person who stayed awake with her through endless nights.
The person who sat beside her at the funeral.
The person who told her:
“You don’t have to fight alone.””
And Charlotte believed her.
She had to.
Because after losing her mother, believing in Amelia was the only thing that still felt safe.
“Where is she?””
Everyone looked at Charlotte.
Margaret frowned.
“Who?””
“Amelia.””
Nobody answered.
That frightened Charlotte.
“Where is she?””
A security officer stepped forward.
“Miss Vale…”
“What?””
He hesitated.
“She was here.””
Charlotte froze.
“What do you mean?””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“Ms. Hart arrived at the hotel two hours ago.””
The lobby went silent.
Charlotte stared.
“She was here?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
The officer looked toward Richard.
Charlotte followed his eyes.
And immediately understood.
Richard knew.
“You knew she was here.””
Richard said nothing.
Charlotte stepped toward him.
“Didn’t you?””
“I knew she came to the hotel.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I wanted to see what she would do.””
The answer made Charlotte’s anger explode.
“You were watching her?””
Richard shrugged.
“Everyone was watching everyone.””
Charlotte looked at Margaret.
“Did you know?””
Margaret looked away.
That hurt more than she expected.
Because Margaret was the one person tonight she wanted to believe.
“How long?””
Margaret was quiet.
“How long did you know Amelia was connected to this?””
“Charlotte—”
“How long?””
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“Since before your mother died.””
The words felt like a physical blow.
Charlotte stepped back.
Before her mother died.
So everyone knew something except her.
Everyone had been protecting her.
And everyone had been lying to her.
A bitter laugh escaped her.
“Of course.””
She looked around.
“That’s what everyone does, isn’t it?””
Nobody spoke.
“They decide I’m too young.””
Charlotte’s voice shook.
“Too emotional.””
She looked at Margaret.
“Too fragile.””
Then Richard.
“Too powerless.””
Her eyes returned to the photograph.
“And while everyone was protecting me, everyone was keeping secrets.””
Margaret’s expression softened.
“That wasn’t why.””
“Then why?””
The attorney took a breath.
“Because your mother asked us to.””
Charlotte shook her head.
“My mother isn’t here.””
The words were quiet.
But they hurt.
“So I need someone to tell me the truth now.””
Nobody answered.
Then Charlotte turned toward the security officer.
“Find Amelia.””
The officer nodded.
“Yes, Miss Vale.””
Before he could leave, a voice came from behind them.
“You don’t have to.””
Charlotte froze.
Every person in the lobby turned.
A woman stood near the entrance.
Dark coat.
Loose brown hair.
A familiar face.
Amelia Hart.
For a moment, Charlotte forgot how to breathe.
Because seeing her friend standing there was worse than seeing her name on the photograph.
Amelia looked tired.
Not guilty.
Not confident.
Just exhausted.
Charlotte stared at her.
“How long have you been listening?””
Amelia didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with disappointment.
“Why?””
Amelia stepped forward.
“Charlotte…”
“No.””
Her voice stopped her.
“Don’t say my name like nothing happened.””
Amelia swallowed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Charlotte laughed quietly.
“Everyone says that.””
A painful silence followed.
Amelia looked at the photograph.
“You found it.””
Charlotte held it up.
“You mean the photograph you knew existed?””
Amelia closed her eyes.
“Charlotte.””
“Answer me.””
Amelia looked at her.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
Charlotte almost wished she had lied.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
“I couldn’t.””
“Why?””
Amelia looked toward Richard.
Then Margaret.
Then back at Charlotte.
“Because your mother made me promise.””
Charlotte froze.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
The room became quiet.
Amelia walked closer.
“She came to me three weeks before the accident.””
Charlotte stared.
“Why?””
“Because she knew someone was trying to use you.””
“Use me for what?””
Amelia’s voice became softer.
“To force you into signing over your inheritance.””
Charlotte frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does if someone believes you can be controlled.””
Charlotte looked at Richard.
Then back at Amelia.
“And you were supposed to do what?””
“Watch.””
The answer shocked her.
“Watch?””
Amelia nodded.
“Your mother asked me to stay close to you.””
Charlotte’s expression changed.
“Not because you were my friend.””
Amelia immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I was the only person she trusted who wasn’t connected to Solmere.””
Charlotte stared.
“But you were.””
Amelia looked confused.
“What?””
Charlotte held up the photograph.
“You were standing with her.””
Amelia looked at the image.
Then quietly said:
“That wasn’t the first time we met.””
The words made Charlotte’s stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Amelia took a deep breath.
“It means your mother knew me before you did.””
Nobody moved.
Charlotte felt the room spinning.
“My mother knew you?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Amelia looked toward the screen where Evelyn’s message had played minutes earlier.
Then she said something that changed everything.
“Because before I was your best friend…”
She paused.
“I was your mother’s secret investigator.””
The lobby went completely silent.
Charlotte stared.
“No.””
Amelia nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why would she hide that from me?””
Amelia’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because Charlotte…”
She looked at Richard.
Then at the photograph.
“Your mother discovered the person betraying her wasn’t just trying to steal Solmere.””
A pause.
“They were trying to destroy everyone connected to her.””
Charlotte felt a chill.
“Everyone?””
Amelia nodded.
“And that included me.””
A sudden noise interrupted them.
A phone ringing.
Everyone looked toward the reception desk.
The sound came from an abandoned phone sitting near the security monitors.
The officer walked over carefully.
He picked it up.
“Hello?””
His face changed.
Then he looked at Charlotte.
“Miss Vale.””
She stepped forward.
“What?””
The officer slowly held the phone out.
“The person calling says they have information about the ledger.””
Charlotte took the phone.
“Who is this?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a distorted voice answered.
“Charlotte Vale.””
Her grip tightened.
“Who are you?””
The voice continued.
“You want the truth about your mother’s death?””
Charlotte didn’t speak.
“You want to know who betrayed her?””
A pause.
“Then stop trusting the people standing beside you.””
Charlotte looked around the lobby.
At Margaret.
At Amelia.
At Richard.
Then the voice whispered:
“Because the person who killed Evelyn Vale is not in this room.””
A cold silence followed.
Charlotte frowned.
“What does that mean?””
The voice answered.
“It means…”
A pause.
“The person you’re looking for has been dead for six months.””
The call ended.
And on the security monitor behind Charlotte, a new message appeared.
*LEDGER LOCATION UPDATED.*
May you like
Then beneath it:
*AUTHORIZED BY: EVELYN VALE.*
