CHAPTER 5 The Woman Behind the Locked Door
CHAPTER 5 The Woman Behind the Locked Door
Theodore Vale did not sleep that night.
He sat alone in the library, surrounded by old family books and forgotten memories.
Every photograph on the walls suddenly looked different.
Every smile seemed fake.
Every family celebration seemed like a performance.
For seventeen years, Theodore believed he knew who the Vales were.
A wealthy family.
A respected name.
A powerful legacy.
But now he understood something terrifying.
Power was often built on secrets.
And the Vale family had more secrets than anyone knew.
The silver locket sat on the table in front of him.
The same locket that had disappeared from Rosalie’s neck.
The same locket that somehow ended up in Sebastian’s hands.
Theodore stared at it.
Why had someone taken it?
Why had someone returned it?
And why did everyone become afraid when his mother was mentioned?
A sound interrupted his thoughts.
The library door opened.
Sebastian entered.
For once, he did not look like the powerful head of the Vale family.
He looked exhausted.
“Theodore.”
Theodore did not turn around.
“You lied to me.”
Sebastian stopped.
“I know.”
Theodore looked at him.
That answer surprised him.
“I spent years believing she was dead.”
Sebastian walked closer.
“I know.”
“You watched me grow up without her.”
Sebastian looked away.
“I thought it was the only way to keep you alive.”
Theodore’s expression hardened.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“No.”
Theodore stood.
“It’s what everyone says when they don’t want to admit they made a choice.”
Sebastian accepted the accusation.
Maybe because he knew Theodore was right.
Hours later, Rosalie was released from the hospital.
The doctors wanted her to stay longer.
But she refused.
She wanted answers.
The moment she entered the Vale mansion, she stopped.
Everything looked exactly the same.
The paintings.
The furniture.
The endless hallways.
But she felt like she was walking into a place that had betrayed her.
Theodore noticed.
“You okay?”
Rosalie nodded.
“No.”
He looked at her.
She gave a small, tired smile.
“At least I’m honest.”
For the first time in days, Theodore almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Sebastian entered the room.
“We need to talk.”
Rosalie immediately became serious.
“About Mother?”
Sebastian looked surprised.
“You know?”
Rosalie nodded.
“I saw her.”
Eleanor, standing nearby, went pale.
“You saw her?”
Rosalie looked at her.
“Yes.”
The room became silent.
Theodore noticed Eleanor’s reaction.
She wasn’t surprised.
She was afraid.
“Where?” Sebastian asked.
Rosalie looked toward the old east wing of the mansion.
“The locked room.”
Everyone became still.
Theodore frowned.
“What locked room?”
Sebastian said nothing.
That silence answered everything.
The east wing had been closed for almost ten years.
Nobody entered.
Nobody mentioned it.
Theodore remembered being younger and asking about it.
His father had always changed the subject.
He thought it was just another strange family rule.
Now he understood.
The truth was hidden behind that door.
Sebastian walked ahead with a key.
Theodore followed.
Rosalie followed too.
Eleanor stayed behind.
“You shouldn’t open that room.”
Everyone turned.
Sebastian looked at her.
“Why?”
Eleanor’s voice trembled.
“Because some things are buried for a reason.”
Theodore looked at her.
“Like my mother?”
Eleanor had no answer.
The key turned slowly.
The lock had not been touched in years.
The door opened with a heavy creak.
A wave of dust-filled air escaped.
Inside was a room frozen in time.
A woman’s clothing hung untouched inside a closet.
Books covered the shelves.
Old letters filled the desk.
And on the wall were dozens of photographs.
Theodore stepped closer.
His heart stopped.
Every photograph showed the same woman.
His mother.
Alive.
Smiling.
Holding Rosalie as a baby.
Holding Theodore when he was younger.
Living a life they were told never existed.
Rosalie covered her mouth.
“She was here.”
Sebastian walked toward the desk.
A small journal rested there.
He picked it up.
The cover had a name written on it.
Isabella Vale.
Their mother.
Sebastian opened the first page.
The handwriting was familiar.
The same handwriting from Rosalie’s letters.
The first sentence immediately changed everything.
If you are reading this, then they failed to keep me hidden.
Theodore leaned closer.
Sebastian continued reading.
The person who destroyed our family is someone we trusted.
A cold silence filled the room.
Another page.
Another message.
I discovered what my husband was hiding.
Sebastian stopped.
Theodore looked at him.
“What?”
Sebastian turned the page.
His face changed.
Because the next line was written clearly.
The child we raised was never supposed to inherit the Vale name.
Rosalie looked confused.
“What child?”
Nobody answered.
Then a sound came from behind them.
The door slammed shut.
Everyone turned.
The room was dark.
Someone had locked them inside.
Theodore rushed toward the door.
“Open it!”
No response.
Sebastian tried the handle.
Nothing.
Rosalie looked around nervously.
“Someone followed us.”
Then a voice came through the old speaker hidden inside the wall.
A voice they had never heard before.
“You finally found the room.”
Theodore stepped back.
“Who are you?”
The voice laughed softly.
“You should be asking…”
A pause.
Then the words came.
“Who am I supposed to be?”
Theodore froze.
Because the voice continued.
“Theodore Vale…”
“You were never supposed to exist.”
The lights suddenly turned on.
And on the desk in front of them was a new photograph.
A photograph that had not been there before.
It showed their father.
Their mother.
Sebastian.
Rosalie.
And one more person.
A young man about Theodore’s age.
Standing beside them.
May you like
With Theodore’s face.
TO BE CONTINUED…
