Married to my enemy's Brother

The Warehouse

I barely slept that night.

The message remained on my phone long after Daniel left my room.

DON'T GO TO THE WAREHOUSE, SOFIA.

YOUR FATHER WENT THERE THE NIGHT HE DISAPPEARED.

I read the words again and again.

My father had never disappeared.

That was what everyone had told me.

He had lost his company.

He had fallen into debt.

He had become a different man.

But no one had ever said he disappeared.

So why would someone send me that message?

And more importantly—

How did they know Daniel and I were planning to go to the warehouse?

I sat beside the window until morning, staring at the darkness outside.

Someone was watching me.

There was no other explanation.

When the sun finally began to rise, I made a decision.

I was going to the warehouse.

With or without Daniel.

I got dressed quickly and slipped the photograph into my bag.

The small key Daniel had given me was still in my hand.

I stared at it for several seconds before putting it into my pocket.

Then my phone rang.

Peter.

I answered immediately.

"Peter?"

"Where are you?"

"The Carter mansion."

"I know."

I frowned.

"What do you mean, you know?"

There was silence.

"Peter?"

"Are you alone?"

"Yes."

"Good."

His voice sounded different again.

"What's happening?"

"I need to see you."

"Why?"

"Because there are things I should have told you years ago."

My heart started beating faster.

"Is this about Dad?"

Another pause.

"Yes."

I stood up.

"What happened the night his company collapsed?"

"I can't explain everything over the phone."

"Peter, please."

"Sofia, listen to me carefully."

His voice became serious.

"Don't go anywhere with Daniel today."

I froze.

"Why?"

"Because I don't trust the Carters."

"You don't know Daniel."

"I know his family."

"So do I."

"No, you don't."

His words carried a weight I couldn't ignore.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"Meet me first."

"Where?"

"Elena's place."

I frowned.

"Why Elena?"

"Because I don't want anyone following me."

"Peter—"

"I'll explain everything when you get there."

The call ended.

I stood there staring at my phone.

My brother was hiding something.

I knew it now.

The only question was whether he was protecting me or protecting himself.

I left my room.

Daniel was waiting downstairs.

He was dressed in a dark jacket, and the keys to his car were in his hand.

"You came," he said.

"I said I wanted to go."

"I thought you might change your mind."

"I don't."

He studied my face.

"Did you sleep?"

"Not much."

"Neither did I."

We walked toward the front door.

Then Daniel stopped.

"Before we go, there's something you should know."

I turned.

"What?"

"The warehouse has been abandoned for years."

"Why?"

"My father stopped using it after the company restructuring."

"And you think my father went there?"

"I don't know."

"Then why are we going?"

"Because of the key."

I reached into my pocket and touched it.

"What makes you think it opens something there?"

"My father used to keep important documents at that warehouse."

"What kind of documents?"

"Financial records. Contracts. Property documents."

I looked at him.

"Could there be records about my father?"

"Possibly."

"Then let's go."

Daniel nodded.

But before he could open the door, my phone rang again.

Elena.

I answered.

"Sofia, where are you?"

"At the Carter mansion."

"Don't leave with Daniel."

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Peter is here."

My heart jumped.

"With you?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"He says he has something you need to see."

Daniel watched me carefully.

I turned away.

"Elena, I'll be there."

"Come alone."

The call ended.

Daniel stepped closer.

"What did she say?"

"I need to see my brother."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"We were going to the warehouse."

"I know."

"Then why are you changing your mind?"

"I'm not."

I looked at him.

"I'm going to get answers first."

Daniel studied me.

"Where?"

"I'll tell you later."

His expression tightened.

"Sofia."

"I'll be back."

I walked past him.

"You're not going alone."

I stopped.

"Why?"

"Because whoever sent those messages knows what you're doing."

"Which is exactly why I need to know what Peter found."

Daniel sighed.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Sofia—"

"I said no."

His eyes narrowed.

"You don't trust me."

"Not completely."

He nodded slowly.

"At least you're honest."

I walked outside.

For once, Daniel didn't stop me.

But as I reached the gate, I looked back.

He was still standing there.

Watching me.

I didn't know whether he was protecting me or trying to control the situation.

Either way, I wasn't going to let him decide what I discovered about my own family.

***

Elena opened the door before I could knock twice.

She pulled me inside.

"You came alone?"

"Yes."

She looked behind me.

"Good."

Peter was sitting in the living room.

The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong.

His face looked exhausted.

"What happened?" I asked.

He stood.

"I should have told you years ago."

"Then tell me now."

He looked at Elena.

She nodded.

Peter reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.

He handed it to me.

"What is this?"

"Something Dad gave me."

"When?"

"The night before everything happened."

My hands began to shake.

"You had this all these years?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because Dad told me never to show it to anyone."

"Not even me?"

"Especially not you."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because he was afraid."

"Of what?"

Peter looked at me.

"The Carters."

My heart sank.

"What did Dad know?"

"I don't know everything."

"Then tell me what you do know."

Peter sat down.

"That night, Dad came home late."

"What time?"

"After midnight."

"Was he alone?"

Peter shook his head.

"No."

"Who was with him?"

"I didn't see the person."

"Then how do you know?"

"Because I heard them arguing."

I stared at him.

"About what?"

"I couldn't hear everything."

"What did you hear?"

Peter looked down.

"Your father said, 'If you do this, both families will fall.'"

A chill moved through me.

"What else?"

"He said, 'You promised me this would never happen.'"

I swallowed.

"Then what?"

"I heard another voice."

"Whose?"

"I don't know."

"Male or female?"

"Male."

My heart raced.

"Did Dad say anything else?"

Peter nodded.

"He said one name."

"What name?"

Peter looked at me.

"William."

The room became silent.

William Carter.

Daniel's father.

I slowly opened the envelope.

Inside was a folded document.

I opened it.

It was an old photograph.

My father was standing beside William Carter.

Again.

But this photograph was different.

They weren't outside a building.

They were inside an office.

And sitting behind a desk was another man.

I didn't recognize him.

"Who is that?" I asked.

Peter shook his head.

"I don't know."

I looked closer.

There was a date written beneath the photograph.

The night before the company collapsed.

My breathing stopped.

"They met twice?"

Peter nodded.

"That's what I believe."

I looked at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Dad made me promise."

"He's gone, Peter."

"I know."

"Then why are you still keeping his secrets?"

Peter's eyes filled with emotion.

"Because I was afraid."

I softened.

"Afraid of what?"

"That whoever destroyed Dad would come after us."

Elena stepped closer.

"Maybe they already have."

Peter looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

I showed them the messages.

Peter's face changed.

"Where did you get these?"

"I don't know."

"Have you told Daniel?"

"Yes."

Peter stood immediately.

"You told him?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Because he's my husband."

Peter shook his head.

"That's exactly what worries me."

I stared at him.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying you don't know what kind of family you've married into."

"Neither do you."

Peter looked away.

Elena stepped between us.

"Both of you need to calm down."

I turned toward Peter.

"You said Dad gave you something else."

Peter froze.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

He looked at the floor.

Then he slowly reached into his jacket again.

This time, he removed a small piece of paper.

He handed it to me.

Three words were written on it.

**TRUST NO CARTER.**

I stared at the handwriting.

I knew it.

It was my father's.

My heart sank.

"Why would Dad write this?"

Peter shook his head.

"I don't know."

I folded the paper.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

**HE LIED TO YOU AGAIN.**

I looked at Peter.

Another message appeared.

**ASK PETER WHERE HE WAS THAT NIGHT.**

My blood ran cold.

I slowly raised my eyes.

Peter had seen the message.

His face had gone pale.

"Peter..."

He didn't answer.

"Where were you that night?"

He looked at me.

"I told you."

"No."

My voice shook.

"You told me Dad came home late. You never told me where you were."

Peter stepped backward.

"Sofia..."

"Where were you?"

Elena looked between us.

Peter closed his eyes.

"I was at the warehouse."

Everything inside me went still.

"The warehouse?"

He nodded.

"Why?"

"I followed Dad."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I saw something."

"What?"

Peter looked toward the window.

"I saw Dad meeting William Carter."

My heart slammed against my chest.

"And?"

Peter swallowed.

"They weren't arguing."

"What were they doing?"

"They were exchanging something."

"What?"

"I don't know."

"You were there!"

"I was too far away."

I stepped closer.

"Then what happened?"

Peter looked at me.

"Your father gave William Carter a file."

My mind raced.

"What was inside?"

"I don't know."

"And then?"

"William gave Dad something in return."

"What?"

Peter shook his head.

"I couldn't see."

I stared at him.

Then I remembered the photograph.

My father's folder.

William Carter.

The warehouse.

The key.

Everything was beginning to connect.

My phone vibrated again.

Another message.

**COME TO THE WAREHOUSE.**

Then another.

**COME BEFORE DANIEL FINDS OUT WHAT HIS FATHER TOOK.**

I looked at Peter.

Then Elena.

Neither of them spoke.

I knew what I had to do.

I stood.

"We're going to the warehouse."

Peter immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because that's exactly what they want."

"Maybe."

I picked up my bag.

"But now I want to know why."

Elena stood.

"I'm coming."

Peter looked at her.

"No."

She folded her arms.

"You're not stopping me."

I looked at both of them.

For the first time since my family fell apart, I wasn't alone.

But I still had one question.

What had my father given William Carter?

And what had William given him in return?

Because whatever happened inside that warehouse that night had started something that had lasted for years.

And now someone wanted me to finish it.

I walked toward the door.

Then my phone vibrated one final time.

I looked at the screen.

The message was only five words.

**DANIEL IS ALREADY THERE.**

My heart stopped.

I looked at Peter.

"How?"

Peter's face went pale.

"He must have followed you."

I shook my head.

"No."

I remembered Daniel's expression when I left the mansion.

He hadn't tried to stop me.

He had simply watched me leave.

As if he already knew where I was going.

I tightened my grip on my bag.

"Then we need to get there before he finds whatever is inside."

Peter grabbed his jacket.

Elena followed.

We stepped outside.

None of us noticed the black car parked across the street.

Inside it, someone watched us leave.

A phone was raised.

A message was typed.

**THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY.**

The reply came almost immediately.

**GOOD.**

**LET THEM OPEN THE DOOR.**