Mila held her phone out towards Adrian.
"Look."
Her hand shook a little.
"Shit."
Adrian leaned closer and looked at the screen.
"Why is she doing this?"
Mila pulled the phone back.
"How does Vivian know about the photo?" She was curious.
Her voice stayed low.
Adrian sat down quickly.
"She knows everything that happens in this house."
Mila crossed her arms tight.
"You and Vivian… together?"
Adrian nodded once.
"Yeah, years ago. We were young. Stupid."
Mila stepped closer.
"Why didn't you say this to me, Adrian?"
Adrian didn't raise his head up.
"Didn't think it mattered now, Vivian changed. I changed."
Mila released her arms, touched the envelope in her pocket.
The money felt warm.
"But she still has power over you, right?"
Adrian stood up very fast.
"No, not anymore. That photo was just… leftover."
He got up, went to the filing cabinet and opened the last drawer again.
Mila watched him closely.
He took the photo out once more.
"You see this smile?" he asked, pointing at young Vivian's face.
"That girl left a long time ago."
Mila took the photo from him.
Her fingers touched him lightly.
She studied the image.
The kiss on the cheek looked happy.
"What ended it?"
"Victor found out."
"He said family doesn't mix with staff."
Mila sat on the chair and leaned forward.
"So he broke you two up?"
Adrian gave a small nod.
"He sent me away again to a boarding school round two."
Mila shook her head.
"Victor controls everything."
Adrian poured more water.
He offered her the glass.
She took small sips.
The cool liquid helped her throat.
"Adrian, I'm sorry you went through that."
Adrian sat beside her on the desk.
His leg touched hers lightly.
"Old news," he said.
"But Vivian… she holds grudges and I know that."
Mila checked her phone again.
The message still glowed.
"Tell him I said hi," she read aloud.
"Hahahahah…," short and dry.
"Classic V." Adrian said.
Mila kept the phone in her pocket.
She stood up.
"I need to get this money to the hospital soon."
Adrian quickly held her hand.
"Be careful out there, I need you safe."
Morning light began to come through the window.
"Mmmmm."
Mila nodded.
She walked to the door.
Adrian unlocked it.
They stepped into the dark hallway.
"Sleep a little Mila," he whispered.
Mila turned back once.
"You too."
She hurried to her room.
The house stayed quiet.
She locked her door.
She lay on the bed.
Her mind was still on the photo
Vivian's arms around Adrian.
The kiss.
The smile.
Mila closed her eyes tight.
Sleep came slow and thin.
When she woke up the following morning, it was 9 o'clock.
"Oh my God, I need to hurry now to the hospital." She jumped up from the bed.
She washed her face fast and changed into fresh clothes.
The envelope was still in her pocket.
"Okay let's get something first."
She went to the library downstairs.
Victor was already in the library, sitting down in the leather chair.
Books covered the wall.
He looked up from his newspaper.
"Mila," he said.
"Come sit with me."
Mila walked in slowly.
"Hi, Victor"
She took the chair across from him.
The leather felt cool.
Victor folded the paper properly and kept it on the small table.
"You look tired, what have you been up to."
Mila didn't act like she cared.
"Bad night," she said.
Victor poured tea from the pot.
"Hmmmmmm.. I see."
He moved a cup to her.
"Drink, it helps."
Mila took the cup.
Warm steam rose up.
She sipped once.
"Mmm… this tastes good, thanks."
"Lately, I've been thinking about my family." Victor said. He was resting on the chair while one hand was on his knee.
Mila watched his face.
"Really?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"As you grow old, you will have a lot of things you regret doing."
He looked at the books.
"I was too hard on Adrian. I sent him far when he was very young."
Mila set her cup down.
"Why?"
Victor sighed deep.
"I felt doing that was going to make him strong."
He touched his chin.
"But he grew up lonely."
Mila leaned forward a little.
"Like you told me last night?" she asked.
Victor looked at her. His eyes were pale.
"Your father… your father was different. He used to hug you every night.'
"Mmmm… he did."
Mila nodded once.
Victor looked at the light that was shining through the curtain in the window.
"I never did that with my boys."
"Victor said feelings make you weak," he added.
Mila stayed quiet.
She watched him.
Victor continued.
"I regret the empty rooms, the one-plate dinners."
He picked up his tea.
Took a long sip.
Mila spoke softly.
"Adrian told me some."
He dropped the cup he was holding.
His hands were shaking a little.
"He did?"
Mila nodded.
"He said you sent him to school at ten."
Victor could not look at her face.
"I can't change what has happened. I made a big mistake."
None of them said anything for some time.
The sound of the clock was loud.
Mila adjusted herself.
"Vivian knows a lot."
Victor's eyes snapped back.
"What about Vivian?"
Mila kept her voice even.
"She delayed my allowance."
"She… what?"
Victor didn't smile.
"On purpose?"
Mila pulled out her phone.
She showed him one photo.
The sticky note.
Red ink.
Victor leaned in close.
His face went hard.
"V.C.," he read.
He sat back slowly.
"Vivian plays games."
Mila put the phone away.
"Adrian helped me clear the bills. He paid himself."
"Did he?" He raised his eyebrow.
"He's kind." Mila responded.
Victor tapped the table.
"Kindness can be dangerous. I wasn't able to get to know my son better."
Immediately, the room became heavy.
Mila stayed calm.
"Family should help family."
Victor smiled a little, but it didn't show in his eyes.
"Yeah, you sound like your father Mila."
Mila smiled back.
Soft.
"Thank you Victor"
He got up and went to bring an old album that was on the bookshelf.
He opened it.
Pages turned slow.
"See this?"
He showed Mila a photo.
Young Victor with two boys.
Mila stood beside him.
She looked at the picture.
"Adrian looks sad." she said softly.
Victor closed the album.
"He was, I never asked about his day."
Mila touched the album cover.
Her finger traced the edge.
"I asked my dad every night."
Victor put the album back.
He faced her.
"I envy that," he replied with a low voice.
Mila felt the words.
She stayed still.
Victor sat down again.
"Things can change, I guess"
"Maybe"
Mila nodded.
They talked more.
About small memories.
Victor shared one story.
About a fishing trip that went wrong.
Mila laughed once.
Soft.
Victor smiled real this time.
The clock showed eleven.
Someone knocked at the library door.
Sharp.
Victor called out.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A maid stepped inside.
She held a white envelope.
"Mail for Miss Mila."
She handed it over.
Mila took it.
Her name printed neatly.
She opened the envelope.
Paper inside.
Official looking.
She read fast.
Her eyes opened.
"Eviction notice," she whispered.
Victor stood up quickly.
"What?"
Mila held the paper out.
Her hand trembled.
"For Nana's house."
"Signed… looks like your name."
Victor grabbed the paper.
He scanned it.
His face turned red.
"This is forged."
Mila stepped back.
Her back hit the chair.
"Really? Who would do this?"
Victor squeezed the edge.
His knuckles white.
"Someone wants you scared, Mila."
Mila pulled her phone.
She snapped a photo of the notice.
Dawn had come.
But new trouble just started.
The library felt smaller now.
Victor stared at the paper.
Mila stared at Victor.
Questions burned between them.
The house waited outside.
Silent.
But danger glowed brighter than before.