Chapter 10: The Ally I Never Questioned
The voice echoed through the dark hallway.
“Ethan, don’t listen to them.””
Every instinct in my body told me to move.
But I didn’t.
Because I was trying to understand what I was hearing.
The person outside the door wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone I trusted.
Someone who had stood beside me when everyone else turned away.
Someone who had defended me in front of two hundred wealthy guests.
Isabella.
My father looked at her.
Not with anger.
With fear.
That scared me more.
“Ethan,” my father whispered.
I raised a hand.
“Wait.””
I needed answers.
The office door opened slightly.
A beam of light entered the room.
Then Isabella stepped inside.
But something was different.
She wasn’t holding her folder.
She wasn’t carrying evidence.
Her expression was completely changed.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like someone who finally stopped pretending.
I stared at her.
“Tell me I’m wrong.””
She said nothing.
That silence hurt more than a confession.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Isabella?””
She looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
My chest tightened.
“For what?””
Her eyes moved to me.
“For letting you trust me.””
The room felt colder.
My father moved closer.
“Who are you?””
Isabella looked at him.
“My name isn’t Isabella Bennett.””
The name hit me.
Bennett.
My own last name.
“What?””
She took a breath.
“My real name is Isabella Hale.””
Nobody spoke.
Daniel immediately understood.
“Victor Hale.””
She nodded.
“My father.””
Everything went quiet.
I felt like the floor had disappeared.
“No.””
She looked down.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
“You knew.””
“I knew who you were.””
The words cut deeper.
“You knew from the beginning.””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
The first person who helped me when I arrived at the gala.
The person who told Brooke that I deserved respect.
The person who gave me evidence.
All of it.
Was it an act?
“Why?””
She looked at the letter in my hand.
“Because my father wanted me to find it.””
I stepped back.
“You were working for him.””
“No.””
Her answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
“Then explain.””
She looked exhausted.
“I was investigating him.””
Nobody moved.
“My father disappeared when I was young. Everyone told me he died. But years later, I discovered he was alive.””
She looked at my father.
“Just like you.””
My father’s expression softened slightly.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three years ago.””
I shook my head.
“So you approached me because of Victor.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
The truth hurt.
Even if there was more to it.
“You used me.””
Her eyes filled.
“At first, yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
“At first?””
She looked at me.
“Then I realized you were not what my father said.””
I frowned.
“What did he say?””
“That you were dangerous.””
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“Dangerous?””
“He believed you were the only person who could expose him.””
I looked at the evidence.
The files.
The photographs.
The secrets.
“So why help me?””
She answered quietly.
“Because I spent my entire life believing my father was a victim.””
A pause.
“Then I found out he wasn’t.””
The lights suddenly flickered.
Everyone looked around.
Daniel checked his phone.
“No signal.””
My father moved toward the window.
“We need to leave.””
Before we could move, the front door downstairs slammed.
Someone else was inside.
Not alone.
My father’s face changed.
“They found us.””
Daniel whispered.
“Who?””
My father didn’t answer.
Because footsteps were already coming toward us.
Slow.
Confident.
Then a man appeared at the end of the hallway.
Victor Hale.
Alive.
Older.
Smiling.
The man who had haunted my family for twelve years stood ten feet away from me.
“Ethan.””
I felt anger rise.
“You.””
Victor smiled.
“You look just like your father.””
“I thought you were dead.””
“That was the idea.””
Isabella stepped forward.
“Dad.””
Victor looked at her.
And his smile disappeared.
“You disappointed me.””
Her face fell.
“I’m not like you.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You’re like him.””
I clenched my fists.
“Why did you ruin my life?””
Victor laughed.
“Because your father ruined mine.””
“You killed my mother.””
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“I didn’t kill her.””
“Then who did?””
Victor looked at my father.
And said something that made my blood freeze.
“Ask him.””
My father went silent.
I looked at him.
Again.
Another secret.
Victor smiled.
“Your father has spent years letting you hate everyone else.””
He stepped closer.
“But the truth is…”
May you like
He pointed at my father.
“Richard Bennett is the reason your mother died.””
