Chapter 13: The Friend Who Was Never My Friend
I couldn't hear anything after Robert said those words.
Not the wind outside.
Not the voices around me.
Not even my own heartbeat.
"My best man...""
The photograph was still lying on the table.
A younger version of the man I trusted most.
The man who had been beside me through every major moment of my adult life.
Ethan.
My closest friend.
My business partner.
The person I called when my father died.
The person who held me together when I thought I had lost everything.
And now I was supposed to believe he was connected to all of this?
"No.""
The word came out quietly.
Then louder.
"No.""
Robert watched me carefully.
"You know I'm telling the truth.""
I looked at my father.
"Tell me he's lying.""
My father didn't answer.
That hurt more than Robert's accusation.
"Dad.""
My father's eyes filled with regret.
"Marcus...""
"Tell me.""
He looked down.
And I knew.
I knew before he said anything.
"He was the one who found me.""
The room went still.
"Found you?""
My father nodded.
"After I disappeared, I needed someone I could trust.""
"And you trusted him?""
My father's face changed.
"I didn't know who he really was.""
I laughed.
A broken sound.
"Nobody does, apparently.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Marcus.""
I turned toward her.
"Don't.""
She stopped.
Because she understood.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone had explanations.
Everyone had reasons.
But I was the one who had to live with the damage.
Daniel opened another file.
"Ethan's real name is Alexander Hayes.""
My stomach dropped.
"Hayes?""
My father nodded.
"My first son's name.""
I stared.
"Why would he change his name?""
Robert answered.
"Because he wanted to erase the connection.""
I looked at my father.
"Why didn't you tell me about him?""
My father looked away.
"Because I thought he was dead.""
Nobody spoke.
The silence was unbearable.
"What?""
My father sat down.
"After his mother left, I searched for him for years. I found out he had been adopted.""
"And?""
"I lost track of him.""
Robert smiled coldly.
"Until he came back.""
My hands curled into fists.
"So Ethan became my friend because of you?""
My father looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"But you suspect.""
He didn't deny it.
That was enough.
I remembered every conversation.
Every time Ethan asked about my family.
Every time he was curious about my father's company.
Every time he encouraged me to investigate the past.
I thought he cared.
Maybe he was collecting information.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
Everyone looked at it.
A message.
From Ethan.
My blood went cold.
"Marcus, don't believe them. I can explain.""
Another message arrived.
"I know where the original files are.""
Then another.
"But if you open them, you'll destroy the only family you have left.""
I stared at the screen.
My father saw the messages.
"He knows.""
"Knows what?""
"That you're here.""
A sound came from outside.
A car engine.
Then another.
Daniel moved toward the window.
"We need to leave.""
My mother looked confused.
"Why?""
Daniel looked outside.
"Because he didn't come alone.""
The lights of several vehicles appeared through the trees.
My father grabbed the files.
"Marcus, we go now.""
I didn't move.
"Where?""
He looked at me.
"To the place where this started.""
"The hotel?""
He nodded.
"But there's something you need to know first.""
"What?""
My father looked at Vanessa.
His expression softened.
"Your bride was never the enemy.""
Everyone turned.
Vanessa looked shocked.
"What?""
My father continued.
"She was looking for the same person we were.""
I stared at him.
"Then who was she looking for?""
My father looked toward the approaching cars.
"The person who killed her mother.""
The room went silent.
Vanessa's face changed.
"My mother wasn't killed.""
My father looked at her sadly.
"Yes, she was.""
A tear rolled down Vanessa's face.
"Who?""
My father answered quietly.
"The same person who tried to kill me.""
Outside, a car door slammed.
Then a voice shouted:
"Marcus!""
I knew that voice.
Ethan.
My father grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't answer.""
But it was too late.
May you like
Because Ethan stepped into the doorway.
And he was holding a gun.
