Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside The Family
“Who is it?””
The question came out before I could stop myself.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Andrew, tell me.””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then I heard his breathing.
Heavy.
Careful.
Like every word mattered.
“I can’t say his name over the phone.””
I looked at my father.
He was watching me closely.
Vanessa stood near the window, her face pale.
“Why?””
“Because if the wrong person hears this conversation, Noah won’t be safe.””
My eyes moved toward the hallway.
Noah was sitting with Maria in a nearby room, unaware that his entire life had just been turned upside down.
“Andrew, I need answers.””
“You’ll get them.””
His voice softened.
“But first, you need to leave that house.””
My stomach tightened.
“Now?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because he already knows you found out.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding the phone.
My father noticed immediately.
“What did he say?””
I looked at him.
“Nothing.””
It was a lie.
But I didn’t know who I could trust anymore.
For six years, I believed my family was built on love.
Now every memory felt like a question.
My father walked closer.
“Ethan.””
I stepped back.
That small movement hurt him.
I could see it.
But I couldn’t ignore what I had learned.
“Where is Uncle Robert?””
My father froze.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“He’s traveling.””
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“You always know where everyone in this family is.””
My father looked away.
That was when I understood.
He knew more than he admitted.
Before I could push further, Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“Ethan, we need to go.””
I looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.””
She immediately let go.
“I know.””
Her voice was quiet.
“I know I lost your trust.””
I didn’t answer.
“But I’m still trying to keep you alive.””
The words should have sounded dramatic.
Instead, they sounded real.
And that confused me.
Because the woman who had lied to me was also the woman who might have saved my nephew.
I hated that both things could be true.
We left the mansion twenty minutes later.
Maria and Noah stayed hidden in a safe location arranged by hospital security.
I didn’t want to separate from them.
But Maria insisted.
“Ethan, you need to find Andrew.””
I looked at her.
“And you?””
She smiled weakly.
“I survived worse than this.””
Noah hugged her carefully.
“Mom, are we going to see Dad?””
Maria looked at him.
And I saw the pain in her eyes.
“I hope so.””
Driving through the city, Vanessa sat silently beside me.
The silence between us was unbearable.
Finally, I spoke.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Andrew?””
She looked out the window.
“Because he asked me not to.””
“That’s not enough.””
“I know.””
“You watched me mourn him.””
Her eyes filled.
“I know.””
“You watched my family pretend he was dead.””
“I know.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“Then why?””
Vanessa turned toward me.
“Because Andrew told me something before he disappeared.””
“What?””
“He said if you knew he was alive, you would come looking for him.””
I frowned.
“That sounds like me.””
She nodded.
“That’s why he hid.””
I looked at her.
“He was protecting me?””
“Yes.””
The answer bothered me.
Because it sounded exactly like something Andrew would do.
Always carrying the burden alone.
Always thinking he had to save everyone.
We arrived at the location from the photo.
A small cabin far outside the city.
The forest around it was silent.
Too silent.
I stepped out.
Vanessa followed.
“Ethan.””
I looked back.
“What?””
“Whatever happens…”
She swallowed.
“Don’t let anger decide what you do next.””
I almost laughed.
“After everything?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Her eyes moved toward the cabin.
“Because Andrew never wanted revenge.””
The cabin door opened.
A man stepped outside.
Older.
Thinner.
A scar across his eyebrow.
But there was no mistaking him.
Andrew Carter.
My brother.
Alive.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he whispered:
“Ethan.””
I forgot everything else.
I walked forward.
And hugged him.
The brother I had buried.
The brother I had missed.
The brother I thought I would never see again.
But when I stepped back, I noticed something.
Andrew wasn’t looking at me.
He was looking behind me.
At Vanessa.
And his expression wasn’t relief.
It was fear.
“Why is she here?””
I turned.
“Andrew…”
His voice became urgent.
“Ethan, listen to me.””
He stepped closer.
“Vanessa didn’t tell you everything.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“Andrew, no.””
His eyes stayed on her.
“She knows who betrayed me.””
I looked at Vanessa.
My heart sank.
“Is that true?””
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, a car engine roared in the distance.
May you like
Andrew’s face changed.
“They found us.””
