Chapter 7: The Enemy Behind the Smile
My father stared at the door.
Nobody moved.
Madison Carter.
The same girl who had torn my test apart in front of the entire school.
The same girl who had dumped my backpack onto the hallway floor and laughed while everyone watched.
Now she was standing outside, asking for help.
My father looked at me.
“Stay back.””
I almost laughed.
“You say that every time.””
“This is different.””
“It’s always different.””
His expression softened for a second.
Then another knock came.
Harder.
“Please!””
Madison’s voice cracked.
“They know I talked to Eleanor. They know I found the files.””
My father’s eyes narrowed.
He unlocked the door but kept his body between us.
Madison rushed inside.
Then she stopped.
Because she saw me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The girl who had acted untouchable at school suddenly looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
Her perfect hair was messy.
Her expensive clothes were wrinkled.
Her hands were shaking.
I crossed my arms.
“Why are you here?””
Madison looked down.
That was something I never thought I would see.
Madison Carter avoiding eye contact.
“I need your help.””
I almost smiled.
“Really?””
She swallowed.
“I know what I did.””
“You humiliated me.””
“Yes.””
“You destroyed my work.””
“Yes.””
“You spent months making sure everyone thought I was nothing.””
Her eyes lowered.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
But it didn’t erase what happened.
“So why should I care what happens to you?””
Madison looked at my father.
Then back at me.
“Because I wasn’t the one controlling everything.””
My father stepped forward.
“Explain.””
Madison took a deep breath.
“Eleanor Voss approached me six months ago.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“She told me your family was dangerous.””
A bitter laugh escaped from me.
“You believed her?””
Madison looked ashamed.
“I thought she was protecting me.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“From what?””
Madison hesitated.
Then she reached into her bag.
She pulled out a folder.
“I found this in my father’s office.””
My father took it.
The moment he saw the documents, his face changed.
“What is this?””
“Records.””
Madison looked at me.
“About you.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What kind of records?””
She looked away.
“The kind that shouldn’t exist.””
My father opened the folder.
Inside were copies of photographs.
School records.
Medical files.
Documents from years ago.
All about me.
My entire life.
Someone had been watching me.
Tracking me.
Recording every detail.
I felt sick.
“How long?””
Madison’s voice became quieter.
“Since you were born.””
The room went silent.
My father flipped through the pages faster.
Then suddenly stopped.
I noticed his hands shaking.
“What did you find?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
There was fear in his eyes.
“They knew.””
“Who?””
He turned the paper toward me.
At the bottom was a symbol.
A black circle with a silver line through the center.
My father whispered:
“The Voss organization.””
Madison looked confused.
“Organization?””
My father looked at her.
“You really don’t know who your family works for?””
Her face changed.
“What?””
He closed the folder.
“Your father isn’t just a businessman.””
Madison went pale.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying the person you trusted helped destroy my family.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
My father’s voice was cold.
“Yes.””
I looked at Madison.
For the first time, I didn’t see the bully from school.
I saw someone who had been trapped too.
But I still needed answers.
“Why did you target me?””
Madison looked at the floor.
“Because Eleanor told me if I became your enemy, you would reveal yourself.””
“Reveal what?””
She looked at my necklace.
“That.””
My hand immediately covered it.
“What does it do?””
Madison shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Then she whispered:
“But Eleanor does.””
Before anyone could respond, the lights flickered.
My father immediately turned toward the window.
“What’s wrong?””
He didn’t answer.
He walked closer.
Then stopped.
Outside, across the street, a black car was parked.
Someone was sitting inside.
Watching.
Madison stepped back.
“They found me.””
My father grabbed his phone.
“We have to leave.””
I looked at him.
“Where?””
His eyes moved to the necklace.
“Somewhere your mother wanted you to go if this day ever came.””
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“Home.””
I frowned.
“My home is with Mom.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“Your real home.””
A place I had never heard of.
A place my mother had hidden from me.
May you like
Then my father said the words that changed everything.
“The house where you were born.””
