Fated Shadows

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – The Cracks in the Surface

POV: Evelyne Reyes

Evelyne couldn’t stop thinking about the Carter family.

After that dinner, something inside her refused to settle. She wasn’t sure if it was the tension between their fathers, the way her mother seemed to force a smile, or the way Adrian Carter looked at her—like he already knew something she didn’t.

That was what bothered her the most.

Evelyne had always trusted her instincts. And her instincts were screaming at her.

Sitting in her usual café the next afternoon, she pushed her untouched coffee aside and tapped her fingers restlessly on the table. Lina was staring at her.

“Okay,” Lina finally said, setting down her phone. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting weird since last night.”

Evelyne sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know… I just—something doesn’t feel right.”

Lina smirked. “Let me guess—this has something to do with Adrian Carter.”

Evelyne shot her a glare. “This isn’t about him.”

Lina wiggled her eyebrows. “Really? Because I saw the way you two looked at each other last night.”

“It wasn’t a look,” Evelyne huffed. “It was—I don’t know, tension. He was just… weird.”

Lina leaned in. “Weird how?”

Evelyne hesitated. How could she explain it?

“It was like he already knew me before I even introduced myself,” she admitted. “Like he had already decided something about me before I even said a word.”

Lina shrugged. “Maybe he just has a resting rich-boy face.”

Evelyne rolled her eyes. “I’m serious, Lina.”

“Okay, okay.” Lina held up her hands in surrender. “Look, I get it. The Carters are weird. Your parents obviously have some past drama with them, and now you’re stuck wondering what it is. So… why don’t you just ask?”

Evelyne sighed. Because her father would never tell her the truth.

But maybe she didn’t need to wait for him to talk.

Maybe she needed to start finding the answers herself.

---

POV: Adrian Carter

Adrian wasn’t surprised when his father summoned him to the study.

William Carter always had an agenda, and after last night’s dinner, Adrian knew his father wouldn’t stay quiet for long.

As he stepped into the dimly lit office, he found his father standing by the window, a glass of whiskey in hand.

Adrian closed the door behind him, waiting.

William finally turned around, his sharp eyes assessing him. “What did you think of her?”

Adrian knew exactly who he was talking about.

“She’s smart,” he said simply. “And she asks questions.”

William smirked. “That’s what worries you, isn’t it?”

Adrian didn’t respond.

Because it did worry him.

Evelyne Reyes wasn’t the type to ignore her instincts. He had seen the curiosity in her eyes, the way she studied everything around her. She wasn’t just going to accept what her father told her.

And that meant she would start digging.

William took a slow sip of his drink. “She’ll find out eventually.”

Adrian clenched his jaw. “And what happens when she does?”

His father only smiled. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether or not you let her.”

Adrian stiffened.

He had grown up watching his father manipulate people like pieces on a chessboard. William Carter never let anyone know more than what he wanted them to.

And now, he expected Adrian to do the same.

Adrian exhaled, pushing down the unease crawling under his skin. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

William set his glass down. “Simple. Make sure she doesn’t look too deep.”

Adrian stared at him.

So that was it.

His father wanted him to keep Evelyne distracted, to lead her away from the truth without her even realizing it.

It was a game Adrian didn’t want to play.

But the problem was… he might not have a choice.

---

POV: Fernando Reyes

Fernando sat in his office at Café Reyes, staring at the untouched documents on his desk.

His hands were clenched into fists, his mind racing.

William Carter had a plan.

He could feel it.

That man never did anything without a reason. That dinner wasn’t just about reconnecting—it was about something else.

And Fernando had a sickening feeling that whatever it was, it involved Evelyne.

He had spent years keeping her away from the Carters, protecting her from their world. But now, it seemed that world was creeping closer.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

His wife stepped inside, her eyes filled with concern.

“Elena,” he sighed. “What is it?”

She closed the door behind her, hesitating. “She’s asking questions.”

Fernando’s stomach twisted.

“About what?”

Elena gave him a knowing look. “You know what.”

Fernando exhaled slowly, pressing his fingers against his temple.

“She deserves to know the truth,” Elena said softly.

Fernando shook his head. “No. The truth will only put her in danger.”

Elena’s expression turned pained. “She’s not a child anymore, Fernando. You can’t protect her forever.”

He knew that.

But knowing it didn’t make it any easier.

Because if Evelyne kept digging, if she uncovered everything…

It wouldn’t just be their family’s past that she discovered.

It would be their future at risk, too.

---

POV: Evelyne Reyes

That night, Evelyne stood in front of her father’s office door, hesitating.

She wanted answers. Needed them.

But something told her that once she asked, there would be no turning back.

She raised her hand to knock—

But then, through the wooden door, she heard her father’s voice.

“We can’t let her find out the truth.”

Evelyne froze.

The truth?

Her mother’s voice followed, quieter, more hesitant. “She deserves to know.”

Her father’s tone hardened. “No. If she knows… she’ll be in danger.”

Evelyne’s heart pounded.

What the hell were they hiding?

She stepped back, her mind spinning.

Her father didn’t just want to keep her in the dark—he was afraid.

And Evelyne had never known her father to be afraid of anything.

But now she knew one thing for sure—

Whatever truth they were hiding… it was big.

And no matter what it took—

She was going to find out.