Chapter 7: The Secret About Ethan
I read the message three times.
Not because I didn’t understand the words.
Because I couldn’t accept them.
*“Your sister still doesn’t know the truth about Ethan.””*
My eyes moved from the phone screen to Marcus.
“Who sent this?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than the message.
“Marcus.””
He looked down.
“Jenna.””
My stomach dropped.
Again.
Jenna.
Another piece of my wedding day falling apart.
“She knew something about Ethan?””
Chloe wiped her face.
“I didn’t know what she found.””
I turned toward her.
“You paid her to investigate my fiancé?””
Her expression changed.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you.””
I almost laughed.
“That’s what everyone says after they hurt me.””
Chloe looked ashamed.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked at the floor.
“That you would find out before I did.””
I froze.
“Find out what?””
Nobody answered.
The silence was unbearable.
I looked at Marcus.
“Show me the messages.””
He handed me the phone.
The conversation between Chloe and Jenna was longer than I expected.
It started two weeks before the wedding.
*Chloe: I need to know if Ethan is hiding anything.*
*Jenna: Why?*
*Chloe: Because nobody is that perfect.*
I swallowed.
Nobody is that perfect.
That sentence sounded exactly like Chloe.
She had been searching for a crack.
Something she could use.
Something that would make my happiness less real.
I kept reading.
*Jenna: I found something.*
*Chloe: What?*
*Jenna: I need more time.*
Then the messages stopped.
Until the morning of my wedding.
*Chloe: Did you find it?*
*Jenna: Yes. Your sister doesn’t know.*
My hands shook.
“What did she find?””
Chloe looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
“You paid her.””
“I know.””
“You destroyed my wedding because you thought Ethan was hiding something?””
Her eyes filled.
“I thought if there was something wrong, I was protecting you.””
I stared at her.
“You poured ink on my dress to protect me?””
She looked away.
Even she knew how ridiculous it sounded.
Before anyone could speak, my phone rang.
Ethan.
I almost didn’t answer.
Not because I didn’t want to hear his voice.
Because I was suddenly afraid of what I might hear.
I stepped away.
“Hey.””
“Are you okay?””
His voice immediately softened something inside me.
But not enough.
“Ethan, I need to ask you something.””
A pause.
“Okay.””
“Is there anything you haven’t told me?””
Silence.
Not long.
But long enough.
My heart sank.
“Ethan?””
“I knew this was coming.””
The words made my chest tighten.
“What does that mean?””
He sighed.
“Who told you?””
“Answer me.””
Another pause.
Then:
“I wanted to tell you after the wedding.””
The world seemed to go quiet.
“After the wedding?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I didn’t want your wedding day ruined.””
I closed my eyes.
My sister’s voice appeared in my head.
She’ll finally understand how it feels.
“What is it?””
Ethan took a breath.
“My father.””
I frowned.
“Your father?””
“You know we haven’t spoken in years.””
“Yes.””
“He contacted me last month.””
I said nothing.
“He wanted to meet.””
“And?””
“I refused.””
“Why?””
“Because he didn’t come back because he missed me.””
The pain in his voice was obvious.
“He came back because he needed something.””
I looked through the window.
“What?””
“He wanted money.””
I exhaled slowly.
That wasn’t what I expected.
“What does this have to do with me?””
“He found out we were getting married.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“And?””
“He thought marrying you would give him access to my life again.””
I didn’t speak.
Ethan continued.
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
“I know.””
I sat down.
Because suddenly, everything was complicated.
My sister had hurt me.
Jenna had betrayed me.
But Ethan had hidden something too.
Not a betrayal.
Not a lie.
But a secret.
“Why did Chloe know about this?””
“She didn’t.””
“She paid Jenna to find something.””
A long silence followed.
Then Ethan said:
“Jenna contacted my father.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She asked him questions.””
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
I looked back at Chloe.
She was watching me.
Terrified.
“Ethan, I need the truth.””
“You have it.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
His voice became firm.
“The only thing I kept from you was that my father came back. I was trying to protect our day.””
I wanted to believe him.
Part of me did.
But another part of me was exhausted from discovering secrets.
When I returned to the kitchen, Chloe was standing.
“What did he say?””
I looked at her.
“Why does it matter?””
“Because I was right.””
My eyes narrowed.
“About what?””
“That something was wrong.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
Her face changed.
“No?””
“You weren’t trying to protect me.””
She looked hurt.
“You don’t know that.””
“Yes, I do.””
I stepped closer.
“You wanted to find a reason my happiness wasn’t real.””
Her eyes filled.
“And you found one.””
The sentence hit her.
Because it was true.
But before she could respond, my mother’s phone rang again.
She answered.
Then her face went pale.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
She slowly lowered the phone.
“It’s the police.””
Nobody moved.
“They want to speak about the wedding dress.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
Mom looked at me.
“Because someone filed a report claiming the damage wasn’t an accident.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“They think it was intentional vandalism.””
