The unveiled past

Another knock, firm but not aggressive.

Mary shook her head. "Don't open it."

Gift hesitated. Every instinct told her to stay still, to pretend no one was home. But something deeper—the same uneasy feeling she'd had at the wedding—made her step forward.

Slowly, she unlocked the door and pulled it open just a little.

A man stood there.

Tall, dressed in dark clothes, his face unreadable. He looked like the man who had followed her earlier, but there was something about him—calm, controlled, like he was used to watching people without being seen.

"Hello," His voice was quiet but firm.

Gift tightened her grip on the door. "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer right away. He just studied her, like he was trying to figure something out. Then, slowly, he reached into his pocket.

Gift's breath caught. Was he armed?

But when he pulled his hand out, it wasn't a weapon he held—it was a small envelope

"I was sent to find you," he said, holding it out. "You might want to read this."

Gift didn't move. Her pulse was too loud in her ears.

"I don't take things from strangers," she said, keeping her voice steady.

The man gave a small smirk like he expected that answer. "Fair enough." He slipped the envelope back into his pocket. "But we need to talk

She clenched her jaw. "About what?"

He looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "Andrew."

Gift's breath hitched.

Mary stepped beside her. "Who are you?" she asked sharply. "And what do you want with my cousin?"

The man exhaled, glancing around as if checking for something. Then he lowered his voice.

"I was sent to follow you," he admitted. "To find out who you are."

Gift's fingers curled around the doorframe. "Sent by who?"

The man didn't answer right away. He looked at her for a long moment, then took a step back.

"You're not safe," he said simply. "And neither is Andrew."

Gift's stomach tightened. "Why should I believe you?"

The man sighed. "Because if I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn't be standing here."

Silence stretched between them.

Then he reached into his pocket again, this time pulling out a small piece of folded paper. He set it on the doorstep.

"If you want to know the truth, read it."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the night, but hid around the building 

Gift stood frozen, staring at the paper on the ground, her heart pounding.

What was happening?

Who was this man?

And why did she feel like the past she had long forgotten was slowly coming back to find her?

Gift's hands shook as she picked up the folded paper. Mary stood close, watching with worried eyes.

"Gift, don't open it," Mary whispered. "What if it's dangerous?"

Gift's heart pounded. "I need to know."

She slowly unfolded the paper. The message was short, written in neat, careful handwriting:

"Chief Williams wants to know who you are. Be careful. He's already watching."

A chill ran down her spine.

Chief Williams? She wondered 

Could he be the powerful man from the wedding?

The one who had looked at her like he was searching for something.

But why?

She had never met him before. At least… she didn't think she had.

Gift swallowed hard, staring at the words. Something about this felt bigger than her like she was being pulled into something she didn't understand.

Mary grabbed her wrist. "Gift, we should go to the police."

Gift let out a shaky laugh. "And tell them what? What a strange man followed me, and left a warning?" She shook her head. "They won't do anything, Mary."

Mary bit her lip. "Then what do we do?"

Gift exhaled slowly. "I need to find out what's going on."

Before Mary could argue, the door creaked open slightly, and a low voice said, "Then let me help you." the man earlier, they both thought he'd gone 

Both of them froze.

He stepped inside

But there was something about him—calm, steady, like someone who had seen too much.

"I won't hurt you," he said, his hands raised slightly. "But you need to tell me everything you know about Andrew."

Gift's breath hitched. "Who are you?"

The man's face was unreadable. "A friend," he said simply. "And if you want to stay alive, you need to trust me."

Mary took a step forward, placing herself slightly in front of Gift. "What do you want?" she asked again, her voice firm but cautious.

The man held up his hands, his expression unreadable. "I was sent to follow you," he admitted. "By Chief Williams."

Gift's chest tightened. "Then why are you here, telling me this?"

The man exhaled, glancing toward the door as if checking for anyone outside. "Because something about this doesn't sit right. Chief Williams is a careful man—he doesn't ask about people unless he has a reason. And right now, you are his reason."

Gift swallowed hard. "I don't even know him."

"Exactly," the man said, his eyes watching her closely. "But he knows you—or at least, he thinks he should."

A shiver ran down Gift's spine.

It wasn't just curiosity. Chief Williams wasn't the kind of man who asked questions for no reason.

This was deeper.

Darker.

The man lowered his voice. "I need to know everything about you and Andrew. How do you know him? What was he to you?"

Gift hesitated. She didn't know this man. He could be lying, tricking her.

But something in his eyes told her otherwise.

She took a deep breath. "Andrew and I… we were everything to each other once."

Mary squeezed her arm gently, silently supporting her as she continued.

"He was my world," Gift admitted. "Until one day, news reached me that he was involved in a ghastly accident that claimed his life. No funeral. No goodbye. I thought he was dead."

The man's face didn't change, but she could tell he was processing her words carefully.

"I went to that wedding," Gift went on, her voice quieter now, "because I thought I finally found him again. But when I saw him… he pretended not to know me."

The man nodded slowly, like puzzle pieces were falling into place. "And Chief Williams… he noticed."

Gift's stomach twisted. "Why does he care?"

The man hesitated. Then, as if making a decision, he leaned in slightly. "Because Andrew told Chief Williams he's an orphan."

Gift's breath caught in her throat.

"He told Chief he had no family. No past." The man's voice was low, careful. "And then, out of nowhere, you show up. A woman who clearly knows him. A woman he refuses to acknowledge."

Gift felt lightheaded.

Andrew lied?

He told Chief Williams he had no family?

Why?

The man straightened. "Chief Williams is a smart man. He doesn't believe in coincidences. He wants to know who you are, and he won't stop until he gets his answers."

Gift's hands clenched into fists. "So what do I do?"

The man studied her for a long moment, then said, "For now, you disappear out of here

Gift blinked. "What?"

"Chief can't find you if you're not here," the man said simply. "You need to leave, stay low."

Mary stepped forward. "And what about you? Why are you helping her?"

The man hesitated. Then, in a quieter voice, he said, "Because I've seen too many people get swallowed by Chief's world. And I don't want her to be one of them."

Gift felt her throat tighten.

She didn't know this man. But right now, he was the only thing standing between her and something far more dangerous.

She looked at Mary, her chest heavy.

Running wasn't what she wanted.

But she might not have a choice.