My Ex-Girlfriend’s Older Sister Got Stood Up At An Art Gallery… So I Asked, “Can I Sit with You ?
Chapter 3
The next morning, I nearly ignored Amelia’s call.
Not because I didn’t want to hear from her.
Because I was afraid of what hearing her voice would do to me.
I answered.
“Hello?”
“Did you get a strange message?”
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know?”
“Because I got one too.”
“What did yours say?”
There was a pause.
“That I should stop seeing you.”
I sat up.
“Who sent it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do they want?”
“I don’t know that either.”
I got dressed.
“Where are you?”
“At the gallery.”
“I’ll come.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
She was quiet.
Then:
“Thank you.”
When I arrived, Amelia was standing in front of a large painting.
She looked nervous.
“Show me.”
She handed me her phone.
Same anonymous number.
Same warning.
But there was something else.
A photograph.
The two of us sitting in the café the night before.
Taken from outside.
I felt a chill.
“Someone followed us.”
Amelia nodded.
“I think so.”
“Did you recognize the car?”
“No.”
I looked around.
The gallery was empty except for staff.
“Who knew you were meeting Lucas last night?”
“My mother.”
“Anyone else?”
“Lucas.”
“Your assistant?”
“No.”
“Your sister?”
She looked at me.
“Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
I studied her.
“Why?”
Amelia looked away.
“We don’t talk much.”
“Why not?”
“Family.”
I didn’t ask.
She seemed relieved.
Then she said,
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?”
“Lucas didn’t stand me up.”
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“He called after you left.”
“Why?”
“He said he was told not to meet me.”
“By whom?”
“He wouldn’t say.”
I stared.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“I know.”
She handed me another photograph.
Lucas with an older man.
I recognized him.
Richard Carter.
Amelia’s father.
He had died six years earlier.
“What is this?”
“He wasn’t supposed to be in that photo.”
“When was it taken?”
“Three months ago.”
I looked at her.
“You think your father is alive?”
“No.”
“Then who is that?”
Amelia swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
She turned toward the painting.
“My father supposedly died of a heart attack.”
“Supposedly?”
“He had no history of heart problems.”
I said nothing.
She continued.
“After he died, his company was divided.”
“By whom?”
“My mother.”
“Your mother took control?”
“Yes.”
“Does she have the photo?”
“No.”
“Do you?”
“I found it in my father’s old office.”
“Why didn’t you tell your family?”
“Because I don’t know who I can trust.”
The words were quiet.
But serious.
I remembered the message.
Stay away from Amelia.
No idea what her family was hiding.
I looked at her.
“What do you want to do?”
“Find out whether my father is alive.”
I nodded.
“I’m in.”
She stared at me.
“Why?”
I smiled.
“Because you asked.”
Her eyes softened.
Then she whispered,
“You shouldn’t be this kind to me.”
“Why?”
“Because I might get used to it.”
I didn’t know how to answer.
So I didn’t.
We spent the day searching her father’s old files.
The company records had been heavily edited.
Entire folders were missing.
But one file remained.
Carter Foundation — Special Assets
Inside was a list of properties.
One caught my attention.
A private vineyard.
Owned through a shell company.
The shell company was connected to Lucas Grant.
Amelia looked at me.
“Lucas.”
I nodded.
“He’s involved.”
Then her phone rang.
Her mother.
“Amelia, where are you?”
“At work.”
“Come home.”
“Why?”
A pause.
“Because I know about Daniel.”
Amelia froze.
Her mother’s voice became cold.
“Stay away from him.”
The line ended.
Amelia slowly lowered the phone.
She looked at me.
“My mother knew before I told her.”
