Chapter 33: The Hidden Past
The night felt heavier than usual.
After Emily's call, neither Lina nor Adrian could sleep peacefully.
Lina lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind replayed everything again.
Emily's warning.
The black car.
Daniel's discovery.
Her heart felt uneasy.
Something terrible was slowly unfolding.
She turned to her side.
Then suddenly—
Another memory flashed.
Rain.
A slippery road.
Her hands gripping the steering wheel.
Her breathing quickened.
Then—
She saw headlights behind her.
The same black car.
Her heart pounded.
The memory became clearer this time.
The black car followed closely.
Too closely.
She remembered feeling scared.
Then—
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice.
Cold.
"You shouldn't be here."
Lina gasped.
Her eyes snapped open.
Her breathing became uneven.
That voice…
It sounded familiar.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Was that…
Emily?
She quickly got up.
She needed to tell Adrian.
She stepped outside her room.
The hallway was quiet.
She knocked on Adrian's door.
It opened almost immediately.
He looked worried.
"You can't sleep?"
She shook her head.
"I remembered something."
His expression turned serious.
"What?"
She whispered softly.
"I got a call… before the accident."
"What kind of call?"
"A woman… warned me…"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What did she say?"
"She said… I shouldn't be there."
His expression darkened.
"Did you recognize the voice?"
Lina hesitated.
"I think… it sounded like Emily."
Silence fell.
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"This is getting worse."
Lina nodded slowly.
"What should we do?"
Adrian thought quietly.
"We need proof."
Before he could say more—
His phone buzzed.
It was Daniel.
He answered immediately.
"Yes?"
Daniel sounded tense.
"I found something else."
Adrian stepped aside slightly.
"What?"
Daniel continued.
"I checked Emily's background."
Adrian frowned.
"And?"
"She worked at your company before."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
Lina looked surprised.
"My company?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes. Two years ago."
Adrian's expression turned cold.
"I don't remember her."
Daniel spoke quietly.
"She used a different last name."
The air turned heavy.
"What name?"
Daniel answered slowly.
"Emily Carter."
Adrian's eyes widened slightly.
Carter…
That name sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
Then suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
A project.
A dismissed employee.
A scandal.
Adrian's expression darkened.
"I remember."
Lina looked at him.
"You do?"
He nodded slowly.
"She was fired."
Daniel asked quietly.
"Why?"
Adrian's voice turned cold.
"For leaking confidential information."
Lina felt shocked.
"So she…"
Adrian continued.
"She tried to sabotage a major deal."
Daniel fell silent.
"So… she has a reason to hate you."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lina's heart tightened.
"Then… my accident…"
No one spoke.
But the implication was clear.
—
Meanwhile…
Sophia stood quietly behind the hallway corner.
She had heard everything.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"Emily Carter…"
She whispered softly.
Then her lips curved slowly.
"Interesting."
Because she remembered something too.
Something none of them knew.
—
The next morning…
Lina woke up feeling exhausted.
But determined.
She needed answers.
She stepped downstairs.
Adrian was already there.
He handed her a cup of coffee.
"You didn't sleep well."
She nodded.
"You?"
"Same."
They exchanged quiet looks.
Then—
Sophia walked in.
She looked calm.
"I heard you talking last night."
Adrian frowned.
"You were listening?"
She shrugged.
"Accidentally."
Then she sat down.
"I know something about Emily."
Lina leaned forward.
"What?"
Sophia spoke calmly.
"Emily wasn't just fired."
Adrian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Sophia looked serious.
"She blamed someone for it."
"Who?"
Sophia looked directly at Lina.
"You."
Lina froze.
"Me?"
Sophia nodded.
"She believed you reported her."
Lina looked confused.
"But… I don't even remember her."
Sophia shrugged.
"Maybe you did… before the accident."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"So she targeted Lina…"
The room fell silent.
Because everything now started to make sense.
The accident.
The warning.
The lies.
Emily wasn't just suspicious.
She was dangerous.
—
Meanwhile…
Emily sat in her office.
She held a photo.
A photo of Lina.
Her eyes turned cold.
"You're remembering…"
She whispered softly.
Her grip tightened.
"But it's too late."
Her phone buzzed.
She answered.
"Yes."
A male voice spoke quietly.
"They're investigating."
Emily smiled slightly.
"Let them."
Her eyes darkened.
"Everything is already in motion."
She ended the call.
Her gaze shifted outside the window.
Because she knew—
The past she created…
Was about to destroy everything.