Unexpected Ally

Amelia sat in the library, flipping through old family documents Lucas had allowed her to access. She was determined to understand the network of alliances and rivalries that surrounded her husband. A sudden knock on the door made her look up, surprised. It wasn't Lucas.

"Come in," she said cautiously.

The door opened to reveal a young woman, elegant and confident, yet strangely familiar. Her name was Elena Lucas's estranged cousin. Amelia had heard about her in passing but never expected to meet her. Elena's presence immediately set Amelia on edge. Lucas had once mentioned that Elena was ambitious and dangerous, willing to betray family for personal gain.

Elena stepped into the room with a sly smile. "You must be Amelia. I've heard so much about you."

Amelia rose, keeping her expression neutral. "And you are?"

"Elena Russo. I suppose Lucas hasn't mentioned me much." She extended her hand.

Amelia hesitated for a moment before shaking it. "What brings you here?"

Elena's smile faltered slightly. "I need to talk to you. Alone."

Amelia's instincts screamed not to trust her, but curiosity got the better of her. "Alright. What is it?"

Elena closed the door behind her and lowered her voice. "I know Lucas doesn't trust me, and I don't blame him. But right now, he's in danger, and I'm the only one who can help."

Amelia crossed her arms. "Why should I believe you?"

Elena sighed, her confident façade cracking slightly. "Because whether Lucas believes it or not, I care about this family. And if something happens to him, it affects all of us. I have information about a plot against him something big."

Amelia's heart raced. She had been aware of the threats surrounding Lucas but hadn't expected someone from his own family to come forward.

"What kind of plot?" Amelia asked cautiously.

Elena hesitated, as if deciding how much to reveal. "There's a rival faction within the family. They think Lucas has become too powerful, too unpredictable. They want to replace him, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen."

Amelia's blood ran cold. She had always suspected Lucas's enemies were close, but this was worse than she imagined.

Amelia decided to hear Elena out but remained guarded. "Why are you telling me this? Why not go to Lucas directly?"

Elena's expression darkened. "Because he won't listen to me. He sees me as a threat, not an ally. But you… he trusts you. You can convince him to take this seriously."

Amelia frowned, unsure whether to believe Elena. "What's in it for you?"

Elena smiled faintly. "Smart question. Let's just say I don't want the wrong people taking over. They're reckless, and if they succeed, it won't just be Lucas who suffers. The entire family will fall apart."

Amelia nodded slowly. "Alright. Tell me everything you know."

Elena explained that the rival faction was planning to sabotage one of Lucas's major business deals, one that was crucial to maintaining his power and influence. They had planted a mole in his organization, someone who was feeding them insider information.

"Do you know who the mole is?" Amelia asked.

Elena shook her head. "Not yet, but I have my suspicions. If we work together, we can figure it out before it's too late."

Amelia felt torn. She didn't trust Elena, but the information she provided was too important to ignore.

"I'll think about it," Amelia said finally.

Elena nodded. "Just don't take too long. Time isn't on your side."

That evening, Amelia debated whether to tell Lucas about her conversation with Elena. She knew he wouldn't be happy about her meeting with someone he considered an enemy, but she couldn't keep something this significant from him.

When Lucas returned home, Amelia hesitated before approaching him. "I need to talk to you," she said.

Lucas looked at her, sensing the seriousness in her tone. "What's wrong?"

Amelia took a deep breath. "Elena came to see me today."

Lucas's expression immediately hardened. "What did she want?"

"She warned me about a plot against you," Amelia said. "She claims there's a faction within the family trying to take you down."

Lucas clenched his jaw. "And you believed her?"

"I don't know," Amelia admitted. "But she seemed sincere. She gave me details about their plans to sabotage your business deal. Lucas, if there's even a chance she's telling the truth, we need to act."

Lucas stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. Tell me everything she said."

Over the next few days, Lucas and Amelia worked together to verify Elena's claims. They uncovered subtle inconsistencies in their organization that pointed to a possible mole. Lucas was impressed by Amelia's keen observations and determination.

"I didn't expect you to be so good at this," Lucas said one evening as they reviewed documents together.

Amelia smiled faintly. "I'm just trying to keep you safe."

Lucas reached out and took her hand. "You're doing more than that. You're proving you're stronger than I ever imagined."

Their partnership deepened as they worked side by side, but Amelia couldn't shake the feeling that Elena's involvement would complicate things. She still didn't fully trust her, and neither did Lucas.

A week later, Elena provided them with new information—details about a secret meeting between the rival faction members. Lucas decided to confront them, but he insisted that Amelia stay behind.

"I can handle this," Lucas said firmly.

"I know you can," Amelia replied. "But be careful. I don't want to lose you."

Lucas kissed her forehead. "You won't."

As Lucas left for the meeting, Amelia's heart was heavy with worry. She knew the dangers he faced and wished she could be by his side. But she also understood that this was a battle he needed to fight on his own.

Alone in the mansion, Amelia found herself thinking about Elena. She couldn't decide whether the woman was truly an ally or playing her own game. Either way, one thing was clear: the stakes had never been higher.

Amelia resolved to stay vigilant. She might not be by Lucas's side at that moment, but she would do everything in her power to protect him and their fragile partnership. For now, Elena's information had proven valuable, but Amelia knew better than to let her guard down. In a world filled with lies and betrayal, trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.

Just as she tucked the paper with Elena's warning into her pocket, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a number she didn't recognize. Amelia hesitated, then answered. The voice on the other end was low, almost a whisper.

"You think you're safe. But you're already too deep. We're watching."

The line went dead before she could respond.