Chapter 10: The Video He Wanted Me to See
Nobody moved.
The file sat on the screen like a threat.
*The Truth About Olivia.*
A title designed to provoke fear.
A title designed to make me wonder what Ethan had discovered.
Rachel stepped closer.
“Don’t open it.””
I looked at her.
“You think it’s a trap?””
“Yes.””
Daniel nodded.
“She’s right.””
I stared at the screen.
Ethan had spent years planning.
He had predicted my reactions.
He had prepared documents.
Backups.
Escape routes.
This video was not a desperate move.
It was another piece of his plan.
“What if it’s not a trap?”” I asked.
Rachel frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“What if he wants me to watch it?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Why would he?””
“Because he thinks it will change something.””
I sat down.
“Ethan always believed he understood me.””
I looked at the file.
“He thinks there is something he knows that I don’t.””
Rachel crossed her arms.
“Then we watch it carefully.””
She isolated the file.
No external connection.
No hidden access.
Only then did she open it.
The screen showed Ethan.
Not the version from the press conference.
Not the confident businessman.
Just Ethan sitting in a dark room.
His face looked exhausted.
For a moment, I almost remembered the man I loved.
Almost.
Then he spoke.
“Olivia.””
My name sounded strange coming from him.
“You probably hate me right now.””
I didn’t respond.
The video continued.
“And maybe you should.””
Rachel looked surprised.
Daniel remained silent.
Ethan looked directly into the camera.
“I know what everyone thinks.””
He paused.
“They think I used you.””
My hands tightened.
Because he said it like an accusation.
Like someone had misunderstood him.
“But nobody knows the whole story.””
The video changed.
Documents appeared.
Old company records.
Photos.
Emails.
Then Ethan continued.
“Six years ago, when Harrington Dynamics almost collapsed, my family lost everything.””
I frowned.
“That’s not true.””
Daniel looked at me.
“What?””
I shook my head.
“Keep watching.””
Ethan continued.
“My father was sick. My mother was desperate. Everyone expected me to save the company.””
The screen showed old financial records.
“But then Bennett Technologies appeared.””
My own company logo appeared.
“You saved us.””
The words were quiet.
Almost sincere.
Then came the part I hated.
“I realized something.””
Ethan leaned closer.
“Olivia Bennett wasn’t just successful.””
A pause.
“She was untouchable.””
The video changed again.
Photos of me.
Business events.
Interviews.
Company announcements.
He had been collecting information for years.
“She had everything I needed.””
Rachel whispered:
“He was monitoring you.””
I didn’t answer.
Ethan continued.
“At first, I wanted to understand her.””
A bitter smile appeared.
“Then I wanted to become her equal.””
The video paused.
Then resumed.
“But eventually, I realized something.””
His expression changed.
“She would never choose someone like me.””
The room became quiet.
I stared at the screen.
Because for the first time, I saw the truth.
Not love.
Not anger.
Insecurity.
Ethan had built an entire plan around a belief that he was beneath me.
And instead of changing himself…
He tried to take what I had.
The video continued.
“So I made a decision.””
A document appeared.
The acquisition plan.
“I would merge our companies.””
Rachel shook her head.
“Lie.””
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.””
Ethan looked into the camera.
“I knew Olivia would resist.””
My stomach tightened.
“But I also knew her weakness.””
I froze.
“My weakness?””
The video continued.
“She believes people deserve second chances.””
The words hit harder than they should have.
Because they were true.
Ethan knew me.
He knew exactly where my heart was.
“She would fight for me.””
His voice lowered.
“She would fight for us.””
I looked away.
The man I loved had turned my best quality into a weapon.
Then the video changed.
A new document appeared.
My name.
A signature line.
A marriage agreement.
Rachel stood immediately.
“What is that?””
I stepped closer.
The document was dated three months before Ethan proposed.
Three months.
Before the ring.
Before the promises.
Before he said forever.
I read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
Then I stopped.
Because it wasn’t a business agreement.
It was a personal one.
A private agreement between Ethan and his family.
A plan for what would happen after marriage.
Daniel’s face turned pale.
“What does it say?””
I couldn’t speak.
Rachel read it.
Then her expression changed.
“Oh my God.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“It says that after the marriage, Ethan would gain access to your private assets.””
Silence.
Daniel looked at the screen.
“Not just the company.””
I nodded slowly.
“My inheritance.””
The room went cold.
Ethan didn’t just want Bennett Technologies.
He wanted everything attached to my name.
Then the video ended.
One final sentence appeared.
*Now you know why I chose you.*
Nobody spoke.
Then Rachel’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her face changed instantly.
“Where?””
A pause.
Then:
“Are you sure?””
She hung up.
I looked at her.
“What happened?””
She looked at me.
“Marcus was found.””
I stood.
“Is he okay?””
Rachel hesitated.
“No.””
My heart sank.
“Where is he?””
She looked toward the door.
“At Harrington Dynamics.””
Daniel whispered:
“He went back.””
And I knew why.
May you like
Because Marcus had discovered the truth.
And Ethan knew he had.
