Chapter 5: My Brother’s Confession
Ethan entered the mansion like he owned it.
He removed his coat, smiled at the staff, and walked toward the living room.
Just like always.
That was what made it worse.
He looked normal.
Comfortable.
Like he wasn’t the person whose name was sitting on my computer screen.
“Brother.””
He smiled.
“I heard you had some excitement yesterday.””
I didn’t move.
“How did you hear that?””
His smile faded slightly.
“Everyone in the house knows.””
“No.””
I looked directly at him.
“Everyone in the house knows I can walk?””
A pause.
A very small pause.
But enough.
Ethan’s eyes moved to my legs.
Then back to my face.
“You should have told me.””
“Why?””
He stepped closer.
“Because I’m your family.””
I almost laughed.
“Family?””
“Yes.””
“The same family connected to a hidden account?””
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“What account?””
I picked up the document from the table.
“This one.””
Ethan glanced at it.
Then looked away.
“I don’t know what that is.””
“Really?””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
His jaw tightened.
“Careful.””
There was something different about his voice.
Not fear.
Anger.
The same anger I had heard from Vanessa.
Lily quietly entered the room and stood beside me.
Ethan noticed her.
“Lily, go upstairs.””
“No.””
Everyone froze.
My daughter was still scared, but she wasn’t hiding anymore.
Ethan forced a smile.
“Sweetheart, adults are talking.””
Lily held my hand.
“You’re one of them.””
Ethan’s face changed.
“Excuse me?””
“You’re helping Vanessa.””
The silence was immediate.
Vanessa, who had been standing near the staircase, looked at Ethan.
Not surprised.
Afraid.
That reaction told me everything.
Ethan looked at her.
“You told her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
I watched them carefully.
They weren’t acting like partners.
They were acting like two people trapped by the same secret.
I stood.
Ethan stepped back slightly.
“You really have been pretending.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I wanted to know who was trying to destroy me.””
He looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.””
“Then explain.””
He said nothing.
“Explain why my accident happened.””
His face tightened.
“Because you were going to ruin everything.””
The words escaped before he could stop them.
The room became silent.
I stared at him.
“Everything?””
Ethan realized his mistake.
He looked away.
“You don’t understand.””
“No.””
I walked closer.
“Make me understand.””
His eyes became filled with frustration.
“You built an empire and forgot the people who helped you build it.””
“That’s what this is about?””
“Do you know what it feels like watching you have everything?””
I stared at him.
“You had everything too.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I had your shadow.””
For a moment, I saw something beneath his anger.
Pain.
But pain didn’t excuse betrayal.
“You tried to kill me.””
Ethan shook his head.
“I didn’t.””
“Then what happened?””
He looked at Vanessa.
She lowered her eyes.
Finally, Ethan whispered:
“The crash was supposed to scare you.””
I froze.
“What?””
“It wasn’t supposed to leave you injured.””
My hands trembled.
“So someone changed the plan.””
Ethan said nothing.
That silence was the answer.
I stepped back.
“Who?””
He looked terrified.
“Someone who has been controlling Vanessa from the beginning.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Stop.””
Everyone looked at her.
Her face was pale.
Ethan shook his head.
“It’s too late.””
“No,” Vanessa whispered.
“It isn’t.””
I looked between them.
“Who is it?””
Ethan opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, every light in the mansion went out.
The security alarm started screaming.
Then my phone received a new message.
A video.
I opened it.
And saw Lily’s bedroom.
Empty.
My heart stopped.
Because my daughter was no longer standing beside me.
May you like
And the message below the video said:
*If you want her back, come alone.*
