Chapter 4: The Woman Behind The Secret
I couldn’t take my eyes off Vanessa.
The woman I had planned to marry was standing beside me while strangers searched the hospital for my nephew.
And somehow, she knew exactly why.
“Start talking,” I said.
My voice sounded different.
Colder.
Vanessa looked around.
The men in the hallway were getting closer.
“Not here.””
I stepped closer.
“No more secrets.””
Her jaw tightened.
“Ethan—”
“No.””
I pointed toward Noah.
“That child has spent seven years without knowing his family. Maria was nearly killed tonight. And you’re still protecting whatever this is.””
Vanessa looked away.
For a moment, I thought she would lie again.
Instead, she whispered:
“Your brother wasn’t innocent.””
Maria shook her head.
“That’s not true.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You know it is.””
I watched them.
Two women.
Two completely different stories.
And only one of them could be telling me the truth.
“What did Andrew do?””
Vanessa took a breath.
“He found documents.””
“What documents?””
“Proof that your father’s business partner was moving money illegally.””
I frowned.
“My father’s partner?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Someone inside the company was stealing millions.””
I stared at her.
“And Andrew found out?””
“Yes.””
“Then why fake his death?””
Vanessa’s eyes lowered.
“Because someone tried to kill him.””
The words hung in the air.
Maria looked at me.
“He didn’t fake his death because he wanted to disappear.””
She held Noah closer.
“He did it because he wanted Noah to live.””
A sudden noise came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Closer.
The men were almost at our door.
I made my decision.
I grabbed Noah’s backpack.
“We’re leaving.””
Vanessa looked shocked.
“Ethan, you don’t know who you’re trusting.””
I looked at her.
“I know exactly what I know.””
Her expression changed.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Maria spent three years taking care of my home. You spent three years trying to become part of my family.””
I paused.
“But tonight, one of you was standing over an injured woman while the other was trying to protect a child.””
Vanessa looked like I had slapped her with words.
But I didn’t care.
We moved through a side hallway with the help of a nurse.
Maria was still weak, but she refused to stay behind.
“I’m coming.””
“No,” I said.
“You need rest.””
She shook her head.
“I left Andrew once because he asked me to hide.””
Her voice broke.
“I won’t leave Noah now.””
We reached a stairwell.
For a few seconds, everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Who is this?””
A man’s voice came through.
“Ethan Carter.””
I stopped walking.
“How do you know my name?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because I knew your brother.””
My grip tightened.
“Where is Andrew?””
The man breathed out slowly.
“That depends.””
“On what?””
“On whether you want the truth.””
I looked at Maria.
Then Noah.
“Tell me.””
The man lowered his voice.
“Your brother didn’t die six years ago.””
I closed my eyes.
I already knew.
But hearing it from someone else made it real.
“He’s alive,” the man continued.
“Where?””
Another pause.
Then the words that changed my entire understanding of the night came.
“He’s been hiding because he discovered who ordered the accident.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
The man didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he said:
“Look behind you.””
I turned.
At the top of the stairwell stood Vanessa.
But she wasn’t alone.
The three men were behind her.
And she was holding something in her hand.
Not a weapon.
A photograph.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Ethan, before you hate me…”
She held up the picture.
“You need to see who was standing next to Andrew the night he disappeared.””
I stared at the photograph.
Even from a distance, I recognized the person beside my brother.
Because it was someone I trusted.
Someone I had known my entire life.
May you like
And the worst part was…
They were still alive.
