Shadows of the Past

Ava’s POV

My knees were still drawn to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them as I tried to make sense of what I’d just heard. The man beside me—my supposed uncle—had peeled back layers of my family’s past, but his words only raised more questions.

I stared at him, watching as his face softened for a moment, his lips parting as if he were about to say more. Instead, he exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

“It all started with your grandmother,” he began, his tone distant, as though he were reliving a memory. “She married my father when I was just a boy. Together, they ran an orphanage—a beautiful place filled with laughter and hope. They were well-off, generous to everyone they met. And your mother, Celia... She was the sweetest soul I’ve ever known. Even though we weren’t related by blood, she made me feel like I was her real brother.”

I blinked, startled by the sudden emotion in his tone. He seemed lost in the memory, his gaze distant as he continued.

“There was a boy in the orphanage—Richard Miller. Celia adored him, but it wasn’t the same way he adored her. She treated him like a brother, but his feelings for her ran deeper. I’ll admit, I was jealous at first. The two of them were inseparable—sneaking food, clothes, anything she could, to help him. It felt as though he replaced me and they became the perfect duo. Eventually, though, we became a trio, and I thought we’d always have each other.”

He paused, his jaw clenching as he glanced at me. "But then Caleb Rodriguez entered the picture."

My stomach twisted at the name. My father.

“He was from the city—charming, ambitious, and dangerous,” my uncle said bitterly. “Everyone could see through him. Everyone except Celia. She was blinded by love. Caleb convinced her that we were after his life because of their love, although that wasn't true. She left everything—her family, the orphanage, even us—to be with him. When we found out she was pregnant with you, we tried to reach her. But by then, Caleb had cut her off from us completely.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And my grandparents?”

“They never stopped loving her,” he said, his voice cracking. “Even after she left, they hoped she’d come back. But things only got worse. Caleb squandered everything she had, every bit of inheritance our father had set aside for her. And then...” His voice trailed off, the weight of his next words heavy.

“What happened?” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.

“Caleb didn’t just ruin her financially,” he said, his eyes hardening. “He had a mistress. Together, they plotted against her. They...” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat before continuing. “They killed her, Ava. Your mother was murdered. And Caleb was behind it all.”

The air seemed to leave my lungs. I stared at him, my chest tightening. This just confirmed my suspicions. Holly heard right.

“Why didn’t anyone stop him?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“We tried,” he said, his fists clenching. “I tried. Our father even sent men to get her out of that marriage, but Caleb was always one step ahead.

He would look for ways to plot against us so that your mother would take his side. And it always worked.”

He took a deep breath while staring out of the window before he continued. “When our father discovered Caleb’s plans, he entrusted me and Richard to protect Celia. But Caleb found out... He sent people after me. I nearly died trying to save your mother.”

Tears welled in my eyes as his voice faltered. “Before our father passed, he bought shares in a company under Celia’s name—Jamesons Enterprises. He hoped it would provide for her and her children if anything ever happened. But when I came back to deliver the deeds, it was already too late. Celia was gone, and you and Holly were in Caleb’s hands.”

I shook my head, my thoughts a whirlwind. “And Richard? Why didn't he do anything?”

“He never gave up on her. He tried his best, working behind shadows but he couldn't do much. He promised to get you and Holly out from your father's grasp even if it meant selling his soul,” my uncle said softly.

“He even bought shares from his son’s company under Celia’s name, to keep her legacy alive. But losing her broke him. And I...” His voice cracked again, tears streaming down his face. “I failed her. I failed you and Holly too.”

The pieces were finally coming together and everything was beginning to make sense. I briefly remembered the box and the contents. This was the answer to the myriad of questions and the connection between my mother and Richard.

I felt the sting of tears in my own eyes as I watched him crumble under the weight of his grief.

“But I’m here now,” he continued, his voice firm despite his tears. “And I swear, Ava, I won’t let anything happen to you or Holly. Not again. And definitely, not while I still breathe.”

I wiped my eyes, forcing myself to focus. “You said my mother owns half of Jamesons Enterprises. Does this mean that whoever is after me now, which I'm guessing is Jameson himself, has discovered that I own half of the company?”

He hesitated, his gaze darkening. “Yes. Jameson is the greatest rival of ‘The Miller's empire’. He's obviously threatened that you have a huge share in his company. And it's not just about the company itself. It’s about power—wealth, influence, and control. Caleb squandered everything else, but he never got his hands on Jameson. He only found out about it recently too. And Now he’s willing to join hands with the devil to take it from you.”

My stomach churned as I pieced the fragments together. Caleb Rodriguez, the man who’d destroyed my mother, my own father, was now after me.