Chapter 6 - THE ARCHIVEThe corridor was dark.
Only emergency lights illuminated the walls.
Adrian moved quickly.
Valeria followed.
"Where is the archive?" she asked.
"Basement level."
"How many security doors?"
"Three."
"How many people have access?"
"Five."
"Names?"
Adrian looked at her.
"You're already investigating."
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"Why would someone break into a secure archive during a wedding?"
Adrian stopped.
"Because everyone is distracted."
"No."
She shook her head.
"That's too obvious."
He looked at her.
"Then why?"
"Because the person wanted us to know."
Adrian's expression changed.
Valeria continued.
"The lights went out after the archive was opened."
"Meaning?"
"The timing was deliberate."
He stared at her.
"Someone wanted to create panic."
"And make us chase the wrong person."
They reached the first security door.
It was open.
The second.
Also open.
The third door stood at the end of the corridor.
A red light blinked above it.
Adrian entered his security code.
The door opened.
Inside, the archive was in chaos.
Files had been removed.
Drawers stood open.
But the original patent records were still there.
Valeria looked around.
"Nothing was stolen."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
She walked toward the center table.
A single folder lay open.
Inside was one sheet of paper.
A message.
YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Valeria picked up the paper.
There was something written on the back.
A date.
October 14, 1998.
Adrian stared at it.
His face became completely pale.
Valeria noticed.
"What happened that day?"
He didn't answer.
"Adrian."
He slowly looked at her.
"That was the day my father died."
Valeria frowned.
"Your father died in 1998?"
"Yes."
"Then why is that date connected to this?"
Adrian stared at the paper.
Because beneath the date was a second line.
A name.
ISABELLA ALCÁZAR.
His mother's name.
Adrian took one step backward.
"My mother was supposed to be dead."
Valeria froze.
"What?"
He looked at her.
"My father told me she died the same night he did."
The room became silent.
Then a sound came from behind them.
A slow clap.
Someone was standing in the doorway.
A man in a black suit.
The same man from the security photograph.
Victor Hale.
He smiled.
"Your father lied."
Adrian turned.
Victor raised a small device.
"And your mother is alive."
The door slammed shut.
The lights went out.
May you like
And Valeria heard Adrian whisper:
"Impossible."
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