The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 3 : A Past That Was Never Forgotten

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 3 — A Past That Was Never Forgotten

Continued

Adrian remained frozen in the middle of his apartment.

The photograph was still in his hand.

He read the message again.

"For Ethan. Don't let our children find out what happened."

His fingers trembled.

"Ethan..."

The name escaped his lips almost like a question.

He sat down slowly on the edge of his bed.

For several minutes, he simply stared at the photograph.

The image showed his father standing beside another man. Adrian didn't recognize the other man immediately, but something about his face felt familiar.

Then it suddenly came to him.

He had seen that face in the office.

On the wall.

In an old framed photograph near Ethan's father's portrait.

It was Ethan's father.

Adrian's breathing became heavier.

"What were you involved in?"

He searched through the old box again.

There were several documents, photographs, receipts, and letters.

Most of them were old and faded.

He picked up another photograph.

This one showed a group of people standing outside a large hotel.

Adrian looked closer.

There were two children standing in front.

One was him.

The other was Ethan.

Adrian's eyes widened.

"I knew him?"

He couldn't remember.

He tried harder.

A small playground.

A birthday cake.

A red toy car.

A boy laughing.

Then a memory suddenly flashed through his mind.

A little boy standing beside him.

"What's your name?"

"Adrian."

"I'm Ethan."

"Do you want to be my friend?"

Adrian closed his eyes.

The memory disappeared as quickly as it came.

He opened them again.

"No..."

He looked at the photograph.

"That can't be real."

But it was.

He had been there.

Ethan had been there.

Their families had known each other.

And someone had deliberately hidden it.

Adrian reached for another envelope.

Inside was a letter.

The handwriting belonged to his father.

Adrian recognized it immediately.

His heart began beating faster.

He unfolded the paper.

Most of the letter was difficult to read, but one sentence was clear.

"If anything happens to me, keep Adrian away from the Reyes family."

Adrian stopped breathing for a moment.

"Why?"

He continued reading.

"They will tell you I betrayed them. Don't believe everything they say."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

His father had never told him any of this.

Why?

What had really happened?

---

The following morning, Adrian arrived at work earlier than usual.

He barely slept.

His mind was filled with questions.

When he entered the building, Ethan was already there.

Their eyes met.

Ethan immediately noticed something was different.

"You look tired."

Adrian placed his bag on the desk.

"I didn't sleep much."

"Why?"

Adrian looked at him.

"Family problems."

Ethan became quiet.

Adrian wondered whether Ethan already knew.

He wanted to ask.

But fear stopped him.

Instead, he said:

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Did you know my father?"

Ethan's expression changed.

Only for a second.

But Adrian noticed.

"What makes you ask that?"

"Just answer."

Ethan looked away.

"I knew of him."

"That's not what I asked."

Ethan remained silent.

Adrian stepped closer.

"Did you know him?"

"Yes."

The answer hit Adrian harder than he expected.

"How?"

"Our families worked together."

Adrian stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't sure you remembered."

"Remembered what?"

Ethan looked at him.

"The past."

Adrian's heart raced.

"What past?"

Before Ethan could answer, the conference room door opened.

Marcus entered.

"Sir, we need to talk."

Ethan looked at Adrian.

"Later."

Adrian shook his head.

"No."

Ethan stopped.

"I want the truth."

Marcus looked uncomfortable.

Ethan sighed.

"Give us a minute."

Marcus left.

Adrian lowered his voice.

"I found an old photograph."

Ethan's face became pale.

"You did?"

"Of us."

Ethan didn't answer.

"Why were we together?"

Ethan looked down.

"Because we knew each other."

"When?"

"When we were children."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Why don't I remember?"

"Because you were young."

"Then why do you remember?"

"I didn't."

Adrian looked at him.

"What?"

"I only remembered last night."

"How?"

"Daniel showed me the photograph."

Adrian immediately recognized the name.

"Daniel."

Ethan nodded.

"Who is he?"

Ethan hesitated.

"Someone from my past."

"Your ex?"

Ethan looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"People don't usually show up after years unless they have a reason."

Ethan looked at him.

"Daniel knows what happened between our families."

Adrian's voice became softer.

"What happened?"

"I don't know everything."

"But you're trying to find out."

"Yes."

Adrian looked at the floor.

"My father left me a letter."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"What did it say?"

Adrian hesitated.

"He said I shouldn't trust the Reyes family."

Silence.

Ethan looked like he had been punched.

"I see."

Adrian immediately regretted saying it.

"Ethan—"

"No."

Ethan stepped back.

"He's probably right."

Adrian looked confused.

"What?"

"You shouldn't trust me."

"That's not what I meant."

"It's okay."

Ethan turned away.

But Adrian grabbed his arm.

"Ethan."

Ethan looked at his hand.

Adrian slowly released him.

"I don't think you're your father."

Ethan stared at him.

Adrian continued.

"I don't know what happened between our families. But I know you haven't done anything to me."

Ethan's expression softened.

"Why do you trust me?"

Adrian smiled faintly.

"I don't."

Ethan looked disappointed.

"Not completely."

Adrian added:

"But I'm trying."

Those words meant more to Ethan than Adrian realized.

---

That afternoon, Adrian received an unknown message.

We need to talk.

He stared at the screen.

Who is this?

The reply came immediately.

Someone who knows the truth about your father.

Adrian's heart raced.

Who?

A location appeared.

Riverside Hotel. 8:00 p.m.

Adrian looked at the message.

He didn't know whether it was a trap.

He almost deleted it.

Then another message appeared.

Come alone. If Ethan comes with you, you'll never learn what happened.

Adrian's hands became cold.

He looked across the office.

Ethan was speaking with Marcus.

Adrian wondered whether he should tell him.

But the message specifically warned him not to.

For the first time, Adrian had to make a decision without Ethan.

---

At exactly 7:50 p.m., Adrian arrived at Riverside Hotel.

The building looked abandoned.

He stepped inside.

"Hello?"

No answer.

The lobby was dark.

Adrian took out his phone.

"Is anyone here?"

A light suddenly turned on.

Adrian froze.

A man stepped out from behind a pillar.

He was older, dressed in a dark jacket.

Adrian didn't recognize him.

"You're Roberto Santos's son."

Adrian stepped back.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled sadly.

"My name is Victor."

"What do you want?"

"To tell you the truth."

"About my father?"

Victor nodded.

"Your father didn't betray the Reyes family."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Then who did?"

Victor looked toward the hotel entrance.

"You need to leave."

"Why?"

"Because someone knows you're here."

Adrian turned around.

The doors were slowly closing.

A shadow appeared outside.

Then another.

Victor's expression changed.

"They followed you."

Adrian's heart pounded.

"Who?"

Victor grabbed Adrian's arm.

"Run."

They moved toward the back hallway.

Footsteps echoed behind them.

Adrian looked over his shoulder.

Someone was following.

He ran faster.

Suddenly, his phone fell from his pocket.

He stopped.

"I need my phone."

"Leave it!"

"But—"

"Your life is more important!"

They reached a back door.

Victor opened it.

"Go!"

Adrian stepped outside.

Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Adrian!"

He stopped.

He knew that voice.

He turned.

Ethan was standing at the end of the hallway.

Breathing heavily.

His expression was filled with fear.

"What are you doing here?"

Adrian stared at him.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Ethan walked toward him.

"I came because I knew you were in danger."

"How did you know?"

Ethan didn't answer.

Adrian's suspicion returned.

"You knew I was coming here."

"I tracked your phone."

"You followed me?"

"I was trying to protect you."

Adrian's voice became angry.

"I told you I needed the truth!"

"And I was trying to find it!"

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

Ethan stepped closer.

"Because I was afraid."

Adrian's anger softened slightly.

"Afraid of what?"

Ethan looked into his eyes.

"Of losing you."

The words shocked both of them.

Neither spoke.

The tension between them suddenly became something else.

Something neither could ignore.

Adrian whispered:

"You barely know me."

Ethan answered quietly:

"I think I've known you longer than either of us remembers."

Adrian's eyes filled with emotion.

Before he could respond, a loud crash came from inside the hotel.

They both turned.

Victor was gone.

Ethan immediately grabbed Adrian's hand.

"Come on."

Adrian looked down at their hands.

For a moment, he didn't pull away.

They ran into the night together.

Neither noticed the figure standing inside the hotel window.

The man watched them disappear.

Then he took out his phone.

"They're together."

A voice answered on the other end.

"Good."

The man smiled.

"Then the plan is working."

---

Later that night, Ethan drove Adrian home.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

Finally, Adrian broke the silence.

"Why did you say you were afraid of losing me?"

Ethan kept his eyes on the road.

"Because it's true."

Adrian looked out the window.

"You're confusing me."

"I know."

"Sometimes I think you're hiding something from me."

"I am."

Adrian turned toward him.

"What?"

Ethan stopped at a red light.

"The truth."

Adrian waited.

Ethan looked at him.

"But I'm trying to find it before I tell you."

The light turned green.

He continued driving.

Adrian looked at him for a long moment.

Then he quietly placed his hand on the seat between them.

Ethan glanced at it.

Their fingers almost touched.

Neither moved.

But neither pulled away.

For the first time, Adrian wondered if the secret between them wasn't only about their families.

Maybe there was another secret.

One neither of them was ready to admit.

TO BE CONTINUED...