The unravel thread~

Episode 2: The Unraveling Thread

The morning after receiving the letter, the city of Velmora woke with its usual bustle. But for Leon "Shadow" Valenciaga, the weight of the previous night’s discovery hung heavy in the air. Every corner of his empire seemed to breathe tension.

In the heart of the Valenciaga estate, Leon stood before a massive wall of monitors, each one flickering with information about Evelyn Everleigh. His team had already been hard at work, gathering every scrap of intel they could find. But there was something unsettling about the Everleigh family’s perfect image—nothing seemed out of place.

A soft knock echoed behind him, and Leon turned to see Jace enter with a stack of files.

“Nothing too unusual about her life,” Jace began, setting the folders on the desk. “She’s the perfect heir to the Everleigh fortune—public appearances, charity events, and the occasional gala. Her personal life is as clean as a whistle.”

Leon leaned over the desk, flipping through the files. There were photos of Evelyn smiling at public events, laughing with friends, always in the presence of the elite.

But Leon knew better. A facade like that didn’t come without a price.

“Anything in the family history?” Leon asked.

Jace hesitated before nodding. “There’s one thing. Years ago, there was a fire in the Everleigh estate, when Evelyn was still a child. It’s mostly forgotten, but there were whispers. Some said it was an accident, others believed it was intentional—maybe even a cover-up. The authorities never found a cause, but it’s been buried ever since.”

Leon’s gaze hardened. A fire, a hidden tragedy… It was the kind of thing people tried to erase from memory. The kind of thing that tied people together, whether they wanted it or not.

“You think the letter is connected to that?” Jace asked, watching him closely.

“I think it’s more than just the letter,” Leon murmured. “There’s something they’re hiding, something from the past. And I’m going to find out what it is.”

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime from his phone. A new message. It was from an anonymous number.

“Evelyn Everleigh will be at the Empire Gala tonight. But you already knew that, didn’t you, Leon?”

The message sent a chill through his spine. Someone was watching him, pulling the strings. Whoever sent that message knew too much about his movements.

“What’s the Empire Gala?” Jace asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“It’s an event that brings the city’s elite together once a year,” Leon said, his mind racing. “The Everleighs always attend, of course. But I think tonight, we’ll be making an appearance too.”

—

That night, the Empire Gala glittered with opulence, a sea of silver and gold as the rich and powerful of Velmora mingled in their finest attire. The venue was a palace in its own right—crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the perfectly manicured crowd. Leon stood in the corner of the grand ballroom, his eyes scanning the room, waiting for the right moment to approach.

Evelyn Everleigh was here, dressed in a stunning emerald gown that shimmered under the lights. She appeared to be the epitome of grace and beauty, her blonde hair styled in delicate waves, her blue eyes wide and bright as she laughed with her friends.

But there was something about the way she carried herself—a nervousness hidden behind a perfect smile. Leon could see the cracks in her facade, the way she seemed to recoil every time someone spoke her name too loudly.

“Do you see her?” Jace asked, stepping up beside him.

Leon nodded without breaking his gaze. “She’s too perfect. No one is this flawless. Especially not someone connected to the Everleighs.”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t think she’s the one behind this, do you?”

“I don’t know yet,” Leon replied, his voice low. “But if she’s hiding something, I’m going to make her tell me.”

The music swirled around them as Leon moved through the crowd, his presence almost magnetic. The guests parted subtly as he passed, the air thick with the unspoken power he carried. As he reached the center of the ballroom, his gaze remained fixed on Evelyn. She was alone now, standing by a balcony, looking out at the city below.

It was the perfect opportunity.

Leon walked toward her, his every step deliberate, the weight of the night pressing against him. As he approached, Evelyn turned, her gaze meeting his. There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes, followed by an almost imperceptible flinch.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, her voice soft but steady.

Leon smirked. “You never do.”

He stepped closer, his presence like a shadow at her back. The music seemed to fade into the distance as the tension between them thickened.

“I’ve heard rumors about your family, Evelyn,” Leon said, his voice low, almost dangerous. “And I know you’ve heard the same about mine. But I’m more interested in the things we both haven’t heard. The things we’re not supposed to know.”

Evelyn’s eyes flickered, a brief moment of vulnerability breaking through her composed exterior. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leon smiled, his fingers brushing the edge of the black rose pinned to his suit jacket. “Oh, I think you do.”

—

To be continued…

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