Chapter 6: The Price Of The Truth
I read Ellis’s message until the words stopped looking real.
If you want to see your son again, come alone.
My first instinct was to run.
To find Noah.
To do whatever Ellis demanded.
But then I remembered something.
Noah’s warning.
Don’t trust Richard.
My head spun.
Who was telling the truth?
Who was manipulating me?
Everyone seemed to have a secret.
I drove to the address Ellis sent.
An old warehouse near the edge of the city.
The kind of place people passed without noticing.
My hands gripped the steering wheel.
I called Rachel.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
I looked at the warehouse.
“I’m meeting Ellis.””
Silence.
“No.””
“Rachel—”
“No, Sabrina. Listen to me. Whatever he says, do not hand over that card.””
“How did you know?””
“Because Ellis called me.””
My stomach dropped.
“What did he say?””
“He said you were confused.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course he did.””
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Sabrina, I need you to understand something.””
“What?””
“Ellis isn’t acting like someone who wants money back.””
“Then what does he want?””
A pause.
“He wants control.””
I looked at the warehouse entrance.
“I have to go.””
“Sabrina—”
“I have to.””
I hung up.
Inside, the warehouse smelled like dust and old metal.
“Ellis?””
My voice echoed.
A light turned on.
He stepped out.
No suit this time.
No perfect image.
Just a tired man who looked like he hadn’t slept.
“Where is Noah?””
I didn’t answer.
His jaw tightened.
“You think I hurt him.””
“Did you?””
The question hung between us.
For a moment, Ellis looked wounded.
Then angry.
“You really believe I’m capable of that?””
“I believe you destroyed my life because you were afraid.””
His face changed.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He walked closer.
“You think this is about money?””
“That’s what everyone keeps saying.””
“Because it isn’t.””
I stared at him.
“Then what is it?””
Ellis looked away.
“My father built everything on lies.””
I froze.
“Your father?””
“He hid things from me. He controlled every decision I made.””
I almost laughed.
“And now you’re doing the same thing to Noah.””
His expression hardened.
“You don’t know what happened.””
“Then tell me.””
For a moment, I thought he might.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?””
A voice on the other end said something.
Ellis went pale.
“No. That’s impossible.””
I stepped closer.
“What happened?””
He ended the call.
Then looked at me.
For the first time since I knew him, Ellis looked terrified.
“Noah disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“He was supposed to be with someone I trusted.””
“Who?””
Ellis didn’t answer.
“Who?””
His silence told me everything.
The person he trusted wasn’t there.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Noah.
I opened it.
Mom, I’m okay.
I almost collapsed.
Then the next message appeared.
I found out who took the money.
I stared.
Another message.
And who really owns it.
My fingers trembled.
Then one final message arrived.
But it wasn’t from Noah.
It was a photo.
A document.
At the bottom was a signature.
My signature.
Except I had never signed it.
And underneath the image was a sentence:
“You were part of the plan from the beginning.””
I looked at Ellis.
He looked at me.
Neither of us spoke.
Because we both realized the same thing.
May you like
The money wasn’t the secret.
I was.
