Beneath the Surface

Chapter 13: A Bitter Choice

The days following Amelia's accident felt like a blur—visits to the doctor, physical therapy, and a lot of rest. Daniel never left her side, his presence a constant reminder that she was loved, cherished, and protected. It was almost as if the world outside her hospital room no longer mattered; it was just the two of them, and for the first time in a long while, Amelia felt peace.

But that peace was shattered when the door to her apartment opened one late afternoon. Amelia, sitting on the couch wrapped in a soft blanket, looked up to see Daniel standing in the doorway. He was holding a letter, and his expression was tense.

"What's this?" she asked, her voice soft, unsure of what she was about to hear.

"It's from Adrian," Daniel replied, his voice cool, but there was an edge to it. "He sent it to the house. I didn't open it."

Amelia's stomach sank. Adrian hadn't been in contact since the accident, but the letter was a sign that he wasn't going to just disappear. She took the letter from Daniel with trembling hands, and with a deep breath, she opened it.

The paper inside was crisp, the handwriting familiar. As she read the words, her heart tightened.

Amelia,

I'm sorry for everything. I know I've hurt you, and I know that you've moved on with Daniel. But you need to know something important—there's more to what happened with the accident than you realize. I never meant for this to happen, and I'll be here when you're ready to talk.

Please come to the place where we first met. I need to explain everything to you.

—Adrian

Amelia's hands shook as she finished reading, the words swirling in her mind. She felt a lump rise in her throat, but she pushed it away. She didn't need Adrian's explanations. She had moved on, and she had Daniel. That was all that mattered.

"Are you going to see him?" Daniel asked, his voice tight with uncertainty. He wasn't angry, not yet, but she could see the tension in his shoulders, the concern in his eyes.

Amelia took a long, deep breath, trying to steady herself. "No," she said firmly, looking up at Daniel. "I'm not going to see him. I don't need to. I have everything I need here with you."

Daniel exhaled slowly, his hand reaching out to gently touch her cheek. "Good. I know how much he hurt you, Amelia. And I don't want you to go back into that world. You're safe here with me."

She nodded, her heart swelling with love for him. She knew in that moment that Daniel was the one who had never given up on her. He was the one who had been there when Adrian had turned his back. He was the one who deserved her.

But just as she was about to tell Daniel that she was ready to put the past behind her for good, the doorbell rang. It was a sound that made her stomach twist.

"I'll get it," Daniel said, standing up. Amelia watched him walk toward the door, her thoughts scattered. She couldn't help but wonder if Adrian had somehow found a way to contact her again, despite everything she'd said.

As the door creaked open, Amelia held her breath, half-expecting Adrian to be standing there, with that familiar apologetic look in his eyes. But what she didn't expect was the person who stood in the doorway—a man dressed in black, his face partially obscured by a cap.

"Are you Amelia?" the man asked, his voice clipped and businesslike.

Amelia's heart skipped a beat, her instincts telling her something was wrong. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"

The man glanced at Daniel, who was standing protectively behind her, and then handed Amelia a small, sealed envelope. "This is for you," he said simply before turning to leave.

Amelia's fingers trembled as she took the envelope, her eyes scanning the mysterious delivery man's retreating figure. She felt a sharp pang in her chest, the kind of instinctive unease she had grown to trust over the years.

"What is it?" Daniel asked, his voice tight with concern.

"I... I don't know," Amelia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I have a bad feeling about this."

She opened the envelope slowly, her breath catching in her throat as she pulled out a small piece of paper. The writing on it was hurried, almost frantic.

"Amelia, I'm sorry. There's something you don't know about the accident. It wasn't just reckless driving. You were targeted. I have proof. Meet me at the old warehouse, 5 PM. If you don't, everything you know will be at risk."

The message was signed simply, Adrian.

Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. The words echoed in her mind, repeating over and over. She could barely comprehend what she had just read. Her mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear—Adrian was warning her. But why? And why now?

"Amelia..." Daniel's voice broke through her thoughts, filled with a mixture of concern and fury. "You can't go. We don't know what he's playing at."

"I don't know what to think, Daniel," she whispered, her mind spinning. "Why would he say something like this? After everything, why would he want to help me now?"

Daniel's face hardened, his expression filled with protective resolve. "Because it's a game to him. He'll do anything to get under your skin."

"I need to know the truth," she said quietly, her voice breaking. "I can't ignore it. I need to face whatever this is, even if it means going back to the past. I can't live with the uncertainty."

Daniel reached for her, his eyes full of concern. "Amelia, I won't let you do this alone."

She looked at him, her heart torn. "I need you to trust me, Daniel. I have to do this. For myself."

Daniel hesitated, his brow furrowing. He wanted to stop her. He wanted to keep her safe. But Amelia was already pulling away from him, her mind set on finding the answers that had eluded her for so long.

Later that evening, Amelia stood in front of the old warehouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The rusted metal walls loomed around her, silent and imposing. She didn't know what to expect—did Adrian truly have something important to share? Or was this another one of his manipulations?

The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, her breath catching in her throat. Shadows seemed to stretch out around her, but then she heard footsteps. Her eyes darted to the figure approaching from the darkness.

It was Adrian.

But he wasn't alone.