Chapter 3: Unveiling the Past

The next few weeks passed by in a blur. Each day, Liam found himself caught between two worlds: the one he had known his entire life, filled with cold orphanages, endless teasing, and the sharp sting of rejection, and the one Ella was leading him toward, a world of power, secrets, and hidden legacies. Every time they met, it felt like they were piecing together a puzzle—one he had no idea even existed until now.

Ella's determination to help him was unwavering. She spent hours combing through old documents, talking to her family's contacts, and even sneaking into archives to find anything that could shed light on the mysterious Sylvia Locke. Liam knew that she was putting herself at risk, but she insisted on helping, on uncovering the truth that had been buried for so long.

One afternoon, as Liam walked through the gates of the school, Ella approached him with a small, weathered envelope in her hand. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know—this was important.

"I found something," she said, her voice low, almost hesitant.

Liam's heart skipped a beat. He took the envelope from her and opened it carefully. Inside was a faded photograph—two women, standing side by side, their faces locked in a smile that seemed too perfect to be real. Sylvia Locke, the woman from the letter, was one of them, but it was the other woman that caught Liam's attention.

She was older, with long, dark hair that cascaded down her back, her eyes sharp, as though they were hiding something deep beneath the surface. A certain coldness radiated from her, a chilling aura that reminded him of the emptiness he felt in the foster homes.

The photo was clearly old, yellowing at the edges, but the date on the back was even more startling. It was taken exactly twenty-one years ago. The same age Liam was now.

"This… this is my mother," Liam said, his voice barely a whisper.

Ella nodded, her gaze fixed on the photograph. "That's what I think, too."

Liam looked at the photo again. His mother—he had never seen a picture of her before. The woman in the photo, the one standing next to Sylvia Locke, was undeniably his mother. But why was she with Sylvia? And why had no one told him about this?

"I think this woman—Sylvia Locke—was much more involved with your parents than we realized," Ella said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I think she's the key to everything."

The revelation was overwhelming, but Liam didn't have time to dwell on it. His mind was racing with questions—so many questions—but one thing was certain: he needed to find out who had killed his parents, why, and how Sylvia Locke was involved.

As the days turned into weeks, Liam began to dig deeper into his own past. Ella was with him every step of the way, but their efforts to uncover the truth were met with increasing resistance. The more they dug, the more they found themselves caught in a web of secrecy, lies, and dangerous people.

Ella had mentioned that there were powerful people who didn't want the truth to come out, but now, Liam was starting to see it for himself. There were people watching him—lurking in the shadows, always just out of sight. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone, somewhere, was tracking his every move.

But he couldn't back down now. He had to know the truth, even if it meant putting himself in danger.

One night, as Liam was walking home from school, he noticed a car following him. At first, he thought it was just a coincidence, but when the car turned down the same street he did, his heart rate picked up. The car slowed down, keeping a distance but staying close enough for him to see it in his peripheral vision.

Liam's instinct was to turn and run, but he didn't. He couldn't afford to be scared anymore. He had learned that fear would only hold him back, just like it had when he was a child.

The car turned again, and this time, Liam quickened his pace. He wasn't going to let them get to him—not when he was so close to finding the truth.

But just as he was about to turn a corner, a figure stepped out from behind a building, blocking his path.

Liam froze, his mind racing. The figure was tall, with a broad frame, dressed in all black. He didn't recognize him, but there was something about the man that felt... wrong. Dangerous.

"You've been asking too many questions," the man said, his voice deep and menacing. "And we can't allow that."

Before Liam could react, the man lunged toward him, grabbing him by the collar of his jacket and lifting him off the ground.

"You're treading in dangerous waters," the man growled. "You don't know who you're dealing with."

Liam's heart pounded in his chest, his body tense with fear. But something inside him snapped. He had spent years being the victim, being the one who was powerless. But not anymore. He had answers to find. He had vengeance to seek.

In one swift motion, Liam twisted his body, breaking free from the man's grasp. He stumbled backward, his chest heaving with the force of the struggle.

"Who are you?" Liam demanded, his voice shaky but determined.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he reached for something inside his jacket—a small knife, gleaming in the dim light.

Liam's instincts kicked in. He had learned a few things in the past few years—enough to know how to protect himself.

As the man lunged again, Liam sidestepped, pushing him hard into the wall. The man groaned in pain but quickly recovered, coming at him again. But Liam was faster now, his body reacting with precision and speed. He dodged, grabbed the man's arm, and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the ground.

For a moment, there was silence. Liam stood over the man, panting, his heart still racing.

"Who sent you?" Liam demanded again.

The man, pinned beneath Liam's grip, sneered. "You think you can stop this? You're just a boy. You have no idea what you're up against."

But Liam wasn't listening anymore. He had just taken control of his own fate, and he wasn't going to let anyone stand in his way.

With one final push, he knocked the man out cold, leaving him unconscious on the ground. Then, without another word, Liam turned and walked away.

He didn't know what had just happened, but he knew one thing for sure: he was getting closer to the truth. And whoever had been watching him, whoever had sent that man after him, would have to reckon with him.

The fight was just beginning.