Chapter 69: The File of Shadows
Chapter 69: The File of Shadows
The taxi stopped in front of Sterling Tower. The glass walls soared skyward, catching the morning light so brightly that Camila had to narrow her eyes. She drew a deep breath, her slender hand gripping the side of her wheelchair, then slowly pushed herself forward. The wheels rolled steadily across the marble floor, each echoing turn like the pounding of her restless heart. In the grand, elegant lobby, her figure in the wheelchair drew glances from curious employees as they passed.
At the reception desk, a young woman in the company’s uniform stepped forward immediately. Her gaze wavered for a moment upon seeing Camila, then she spoke softly, with careful courtesy:
“Good morning, ma’am. Do you have an appointment?”
Camila lifted her head, her calm eyes veiling a quiet determination.
“Hello. My name is Camila. I want to see CEO Leon Sterling.”
The receptionist froze, her eyes widening slightly, as though confirming something already expected.
“You… are Camila Dawson, aren’t you?”
Camila frowned faintly and gave a small nod.
“Yes. You know me?”
A polite smile curved the woman’s lips, but beneath it flickered a trace of caution, as though she were following prior instructions.
“Mr. Leon is currently away on a business trip. However, he left word… that if you came, I must give you something.”
Camila’s heart stumbled in her chest, squeezed tight by both fear and fragile hope. The receptionist disappeared into a back room, leaving Camila to tighten her grip on the wheels of her chair, her pulse racing. Moments later, the woman returned with a black folder in hand and passed it to her.
“Please take this. He asked that you read it carefully.”
The folder was cold against her palm, sending a chill up her arm. Camila accepted it with a restrained nod.
“Thank you.”
The receptionist bowed slightly. Camila turned and rolled away, but her eyes caught on the folder’s corner. Three faint dots marked the edge—identical to the strange symbol she had seen before. A shiver crept down her spine. This was no coincidence. Leon had left it for her, without doubt.
Back at the Sterling mansion, the silence was suffocating without Leon and Ethan. The vast house felt hollow, the sound of her wheelchair wheels echoing like a mournful song. She stopped in the middle of the living room, golden afternoon light streaming through the windows, illuminating emptiness rather than warmth.
With trembling hands, Camila opened the folder. Inside were dozens of photographs: blurred shots taken in shadows, unfamiliar men whispering in secret, the silhouette of a woman beside a luxury car, clearer frames that seemed torn from surveillance cameras.
Her breath caught.
“Leon… what are you trying to show me?”
Tears fell onto the edges of the photos. She quickly wiped them away, her voice breaking:
“Are you safe? Why must you leave me with only these scattered clues?”
Ethan’s image flashed across her mind—his bright smile clutching his teddy bear, his innocent voice describing sandcastles. A sob rose in her throat.
“Ethan… I miss you so much. You just got better, and now you’re away from me again.”
Suddenly, a folded slip of paper slid from between the files. Camila unfolded it with shaky fingers. The handwriting was unmistakably Leon’s:
“Camila, if you’re reading this, keep these documents safe. You must find David—he will help you.”
Her whole body stiffened. Her heart thundered violently. Leon had foreseen this. And David was the one he trusted.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. For a moment, it was as if Leon’s voice echoed in her mind:
“Camila, don’t be afraid. I can’t be there with you now… but you must be strong. For Ethan. For yourself.”
Her lips parted, whispering through her tears:
“Leon… I’m not afraid. But I need you. I will find you. You must be safe.”
When her eyes opened again, they blazed with resolve. She carefully closed the folder, wheeled into the bedroom, entered the code of the wardrobe safe, and locked the file inside. The heavy click of the safe door brought a momentary relief, though the weight in her chest remained.
Her gaze lingered on the family photo by the shelf—Leon smiling, Ethan laughing in his father’s arms. Another tear fell, but this time it carried a hidden strength.
“No matter the cost… I’ll protect Ethan, I’ll find you, and I’ll uncover the truth.”
Night fell. The mansion lay in eerie silence, broken only by the whistle of wind through the garden. Moonlight spilled cold and silver across the polished floor. Camila sat alone in the living room, listening to the relentless ticking of the clock. Each passing second gnawed at her unease.
Suddenly—a faint beam of light flickered across the front gate. Camila jerked toward the window. A black car slid by in the shadows, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The night air seeping through the cracks was icy enough to raise goosebumps.
Rinnnggg!
The shrill ring of the phone shattered the stillness.
Camila’s heart leapt. She fumbled for the device, staring at the screen. Unknown number. No name. Her hand trembled as seconds dragged on. Finally, she pressed “accept.”
Only heavy breathing came from the other end—slow, deliberate, unsettling. Then a low, husky male voice broke the silence. It was both strange and hauntingly familiar.
“Camila…”
She froze, gripping the phone tighter. Her voice came out choked.
“Who… who are you?”
A pause. Then the voice replied, through clenched teeth:
“The file… don’t let anyone else see it.”
Click.
The line went dead.
Camila stared at the dark screen, her heart pounding furiously, her hands ice-cold. The weight of silence pressed down upon the vast house, every corner steeped in suffocating dread.
Was it Leon… or someone else entirely? The question echoed inside her, shaking her to the core. She wheeled to the window, searching the darkness beyond the gate. But only the thick, suffocating night remained.
And somewhere within that silence, the ringing of the phone lingered in her mind—like a tolling bell, warning that the storm had only just begun.