Chapter 11: The Brother Hidden In Plain Sight
Nobody spoke.
Not even Ethan.
He just stood there, watching me process everything.
I wanted to hate him.
I wanted answers.
I wanted someone to tell me this was a nightmare.
But the worst part was that I didn’t feel anger toward him.
I felt recognition.
Like some part of me already knew him.
“How long have you known?”” I asked.
Ethan looked at the floor.
“Most of my life.””
My chest tightened.
“And you never came to me?””
“No.””
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because Richard made sure I believed you hated me.””
The words surprised me.
“I never knew you existed.””
“I know.””
He stepped closer.
“He told me you were the reason my mother lost everything.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Ethan gave a painful smile.
“Richard was good at creating enemies.””
Victoria quietly said:
“He manipulated both of you.””
Ethan looked at her.
“You knew.””
Victoria nodded.
“I found out years ago.””
“Then why didn’t you tell us?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was afraid.””
Ethan laughed softly.
“Everyone was afraid of him.””
Nobody argued.
Because everyone knew it was true.
Thomas opened another file.
“Richard’s plan was simple.””
I looked at him.
“Simple?””
“Yes.””
He pointed to the documents.
“He wanted two heirs who could never unite.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because divided people are easier to control.””
Ethan looked at me.
“He wanted me to believe you stole my life.””
“And he wanted me to believe you were dangerous.””
Ethan nodded.
“Exactly.””
The silence between us felt strange.
Two brothers.
Raised apart.
Both victims of the same person.
I sat down.
“So what happened after that?””
Ethan looked at the old photograph.
“Your father sent me away.””
“Where?””
“To boarding schools. Different countries. Different names.””
My jaw tightened.
“He erased you.””
“Yes.””
“And your mother?””
Ethan’s expression changed.
“She spent years trying to expose him.””
Elizabeth.
I remembered her words.
My father spent thirty years trying to silence her.
“She knew everything.””
Ethan nodded.
“She knew Richard changed the hospital records.””
I looked at him.
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
“Because she tried.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ethan pulled out a small notebook.
“She wrote letters to you.””
I stared.
“Where are they?””
He looked toward Thomas.
“Your father destroyed most of them.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I knew about some.””
I turned sharply.
“You knew?””
Thomas looked ashamed.
“I was weak.””
The anger I felt finally escaped.
“You all watched him destroy people.””
Nobody defended themselves.
Because nobody could.
Then Ethan placed the notebook on the table.
“There’s something else.””
I opened it.
Inside were pages written by Elizabeth.
The final page was different.
It wasn’t a letter.
It was a warning.
*Richard didn’t hide the truth because he was afraid of losing his company.*
I continued reading.
*He hid it because the person who helped him build the company was still alive.*
I looked up.
“Who?””
Ethan’s face became serious.
“The person who controlled Richard.””
I frowned.
“My father controlled everything.””
“No.””
Ethan shook his head.
“He wanted people to believe that.””
He pointed at the page.
“There was someone above him.””
The detective immediately looked interested.
“Who?””
Ethan answered quietly.
“Your grandfather.””
Everyone froze.
I stared.
“My grandfather died before I was born.””
Ethan nodded.
“That’s what Richard wanted everyone to believe.””
My heart started racing.
“What are you saying?””
Ethan looked at the mansion.
“This family secret didn’t begin with your father.””
A pause.
“It began with the man who taught him everything.””
Before anyone could respond, the detective’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What?””
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Mr. Hale…”
“What happened?””
The detective lowered the phone.
“We found another sealed record.””
“Where?””
He looked toward the old east hallway.
“Inside your father’s private safe.””
My stomach tightened.
“What record?””
The detective swallowed.
“A death certificate.””
I stared.
“For who?””
He looked at Ethan.
May you like
Then at me.
“For a child named Alexander Hale.””
