Chapter 12: The Last Piece of the Puzzle
The message sat on the desk.
Everyone stared at it.
Nobody wanted to speak first.
Because everyone knew what it meant.
Someone close to me had betrayed me.
Someone close to me would also be the one to save me.
But who?
My father?
Brooke?
Isabella?
Daniel?
I looked at each person.
And realized the worst part.
I didn’t know anymore.
Daniel broke the silence.
“We need to think logically.””
I looked at him.
“Logic hasn’t helped much lately.””
He nodded.
“Fair.””
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Chad.
Everyone froze.
I opened it.
*I can prove who killed your mother. Meet me alone.*
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“He knows something.””
“He’s dangerous.””
“So is everyone else.””
Nobody argued.
Because it was true.
I looked at my father.
“What would you do?””
He looked at me sadly.
“I would go.””
That surprised me.
“You would?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because if Chad knows the truth, he’s the last person who can reveal it.””
Isabella looked at the message.
“He’s afraid.””
I looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because Chad only tells the truth when he has nothing left to lose.””
She was right.
I hated that she was right.
Two hours later, I stood in an abandoned warehouse near the river.
Alone.
Exactly as Chad requested.
I heard footsteps.
Then he appeared.
But this wasn’t the confident man from the gala.
This was someone broken.
His suit was dirty.
His face was exhausted.
“You came.””
I looked at him.
“You almost destroyed my life.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
“Why should I listen?””
“Because I’m the only one who can tell you what really happened.””
I crossed my arms.
“Start talking.””
Chad looked around.
“Your accident wasn’t planned by Victor.””
I waited.
“Or Margaret.””
My expression changed.
“Then who?””
He swallowed.
“Me.””
The word hit like a punch.
I stared.
“You caused my accident?””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“I caused the situation.””
I didn’t understand.
“Explain.””
Chad looked down.
“Victor forced me to cooperate.””
“Why?””
“Because he had proof I helped him years ago.””
I stared.
“You were involved with him.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“I was young. Stupid. Greedy.””
“Keep going.””
“When you found out the company funds were missing, you were going to investigate.””
“Yes.””
“I warned Victor.””
My jaw tightened.
“You betrayed me.””
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
“But I didn’t know he would hurt you.””
“What happened?””
Chad looked away.
“The night of your accident, I followed you.””
My hands tightened.
“Why?””
“To stop you from meeting someone.””
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“Your father.””
Everything stopped.
“My father?””
Chad nodded.
“You were going to meet him because he contacted you.””
That was impossible.
“My father was dead.””
“That’s what everyone believed.””
I stepped closer.
“What happened next?””
Chad’s face became pale.
“I saw another car.””
“What car?””
He whispered:
“Your mother’s old car.””
I froze.
“What?””
“The same model. The same license plate number.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I thought so too.””
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a photograph.
I took it.
My hands started shaking.
Because it showed my accident scene.
And behind my destroyed car…
Was another vehicle.
A vehicle that belonged to my family.
Chad looked at me.
“Ethan.””
I stared at the picture.
“Your mother wasn’t just connected to your accident.””
A pause.
“She was there.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
His voice was urgent.
“Ethan, you need to come back immediately.””
“What happened?””
A long pause.
Then:
“We found the original accident report.””
I looked at Chad.
“And?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“The driver who caused the crash wasn’t a stranger.””
My heart stopped.
“Who was it?””
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“Ethan… it was someone who shares your blood.””
