The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 13 : THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 13 — The Man Who Disappeared

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Adrian stared at the stranger standing beside Mason.

The man's face was older than the photographs Adrian had seen, but there was no doubt.

The eyes.

The jawline.

The familiar scar above his eyebrow.

He was Gabriel Santos.

The uncle Adrian had been told had died years ago.

Adrian's voice trembled.

"You're..."

Gabriel smiled faintly.

"Your uncle."

Adrian stepped backward.

"No."

Gabriel looked at him.

"I know this is difficult."

"You were dead."

"That's what everyone was supposed to believe."

Adrian shook his head.

"Why?"

Gabriel didn't answer.

Ethan stepped forward.

"You've been behind everything."

Gabriel looked at him.

"That's a very simple way to describe it."

"Mason worked for you."

"Yes."

"Daniel worked for you."

"Briefly."

"You were involved with my mother's death."

Gabriel's expression became serious.

"Your mother discovered things she shouldn't have."

Ethan's hands tightened.

"Did you kill her?"

Gabriel remained silent.

"Answer me!"

Mason stepped forward.

"Ethan—"

"Stay out of this."

Gabriel raised his hand.

"Let him ask."

He looked at Ethan.

"No. I didn't personally kill your mother."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"But you ordered it."

Gabriel looked away.

"She was going to expose everything."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Gabriel sighed.

"Yes."

The word hit Ethan like a physical blow.

Adrian immediately reached for his hand.

Ethan held it tightly.

"You destroyed my family."

Gabriel shook his head.

"No. Your family destroyed itself."

"You stole millions."

"I moved money."

"You framed Roberto."

"I protected my interests."

"You separated us."

Gabriel's eyes moved toward Adrian.

"That was necessary."

Adrian's voice became angry.

"Necessary?"

"You and Ethan were children."

"We were innocent."

"Exactly."

Gabriel stepped closer.

"You were the one thing neither family could control."

Adrian frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Gabriel looked at Ethan.

"Your fathers were planning to expose me."

Ethan froze.

"My father knew?"

"Yes."

"And Roberto?"

"Yes."

"They worked together."

Gabriel nodded.

"They wanted to destroy everything I had built."

Adrian shook his head.

"You destroyed our families because of money?"

Gabriel smiled bitterly.

"Money was never enough."

"Then what did you want?"

"Power."

The word echoed through the mansion.

Gabriel continued.

"I wanted control over the companies, the properties, the investments, and the accounts."

Ethan stared at him.

"You were willing to kill for it."

"I was willing to do what was necessary."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

"My father loved you."

Gabriel looked at him.

"Your father was weak."

"He trusted you."

"And that was his mistake."

Adrian looked away.

Ethan stepped forward.

"You used everyone."

Gabriel smiled.

"That's how power works."

---

Mason suddenly spoke.

"We should leave."

Ethan looked at him.

"You knew all of this."

Mason nodded.

"I did."

"Why?"

Mason looked down.

"Because Gabriel saved me."

Ethan frowned.

"From what?"

"My father's anger."

Mason took a breath.

"I made mistakes. Gabriel gave me a second chance."

"You betrayed everyone for him."

"I thought I was protecting my family."

Ethan shook his head.

"You were protecting yourself."

Mason looked hurt.

"Maybe."

Gabriel interrupted.

"Enough."

He looked at Ethan.

"Give me the box."

Ethan held it tighter.

"No."

Gabriel's expression changed.

"You don't understand what you're holding."

"The account."

"Yes."

"The evidence."

"Yes."

"Then that's exactly why you're not getting it."

Gabriel smiled.

"I expected you to say that."

He nodded toward the door.

Two men entered.

Adrian stepped closer to Ethan.

Ethan whispered:

"When I tell you to run, run."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Adrian."

"You promised."

Ethan looked at him.

He knew.

He couldn't argue.

Gabriel watched them.

"Still protecting each other."

Adrian looked at him.

"You're the reason our families were destroyed."

Gabriel smiled.

"And yet you two found each other again."

"Maybe that was supposed to happen."

Gabriel's expression darkened.

"Nothing happens by accident."

---

One of the men moved toward Ethan.

Ethan pushed him away.

A struggle began.

Adrian grabbed the black box and ran toward the hallway.

"Adrian!"

Gabriel immediately followed.

Adrian ran through the mansion.

He knew he couldn't outrun them forever.

He entered his mother's old bedroom and locked the door.

Ethan was still fighting downstairs.

Adrian looked at the box.

There had to be something inside that could help them.

He opened it again.

The USB drive was still there.

He grabbed it.

Then he noticed another compartment.

Inside was a tiny key.

And a photograph.

The photograph showed Ethan and Adrian as children.

But this time, someone had written something on the back.

"The truth is hidden where you first met."

Adrian's mind raced.

Where they first met.

The coffee shop?

The office?

The Riverside Hotel?

Then he remembered.

The old garden.

He and Ethan had first met as children at the Reyes family garden.

Adrian suddenly understood.

"The garden."

The bedroom door shook.

Someone was trying to break it down.

Adrian quickly hid the USB drive inside his pocket.

He opened the window.

It was only one floor above the ground.

He climbed down carefully.

Then ran.

---

Ethan finally escaped the men and reached the bedroom.

"Adrian!"

No answer.

The window was open.

Ethan looked outside.

"He escaped."

Gabriel appeared behind him.

"He has the drive."

Ethan turned.

"You won't get it."

Gabriel smiled.

"That's what you think."

Ethan rushed past him.

He ran outside.

---

Adrian reached the garden.

He remembered the old tree where he and Ethan had once played.

He searched around the roots.

Nothing.

Then he noticed a small stone.

It had two initials carved into it.

E + A

Adrian smiled through his tears.

He moved the stone.

Underneath was a metal container.

Inside was another letter.

He opened it.

The handwriting belonged to Ethan's mother.

«Ethan and Adrian,

If you are reading this together, then you found each other again.

I prayed this day would come.

The person who destroyed our families believed separating you would erase the truth.

He was wrong.

Your memories may have been taken from you, but your hearts remembered.

You were friends before you understood what friendship meant.

And perhaps one day, you will become something more.»

Adrian stopped reading.

His heart raced.

The letter continued.

«The secret you are searching for is not simply about money.

It is about a promise your fathers made.

They promised to protect their children.

They also promised that if one of them disappeared, the other would continue the fight.

Roberto kept that promise.

Your father sacrificed everything to protect you.

Ethan's mother did the same.»

Adrian wiped his tears.

Then he found one final line.

«Trust each other. The truth is safest between you.»

Adrian folded the letter.

A voice came from behind him.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Adrian turned.

Gabriel stood there.

He had found him.

Adrian stepped backward.

"You won't get the drive."

Gabriel smiled.

"You don't understand."

"What?"

"I don't need the drive."

Adrian frowned.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I need you."

Adrian's heart raced.

"For what?"

Gabriel stepped closer.

"You are the key."

"What does that mean?"

"Your father never told you."

"Told me what?"

Gabriel smiled.

"Your bloodline gives you access to the final account."

Adrian stared.

"What?"

"The account can only be opened by someone from the Santos family."

"Then why do you need me?"

"Because I don't have access."

Adrian understood.

"You can't open it yourself."

"Exactly."

"So you need me alive."

Gabriel nodded.

"For now."

Suddenly, Ethan appeared behind him.

"Get away from him."

Gabriel turned.

Ethan stood several meters away.

His face was filled with anger.

Gabriel smiled.

"There you are."

Ethan stepped forward.

"You won't touch him."

Gabriel looked between them.

"You two really are inseparable."

Adrian moved closer to Ethan.

Gabriel sighed.

"Then I suppose I'll have to change my plan."

Ethan frowned.

"What plan?"

Gabriel reached into his pocket.

He pulled out a photograph.

It showed Roberto in the hospital.

Adrian's face went pale.

"How did you get that?"

Gabriel smiled.

"I have people everywhere."

Ethan stepped forward.

"If you hurt him—"

"I won't."

Gabriel looked at Adrian.

"Not if you come with me."

Ethan shook his head.

"Don't listen to him."

Gabriel continued.

"Come with me, Adrian, and your father lives."

Adrian looked at Ethan.

Ethan's eyes silently begged him not to go.

Adrian knew what he had to do.

He stepped forward.

"I'll go."

Ethan grabbed his hand.

"No."

Adrian whispered:

"I have to."

Gabriel smiled.

"Good choice."

He turned toward the gate.

But before Adrian could follow, Ethan pulled him close.

"Don't leave me."

Adrian looked into his eyes.

"I won't."

Then he whispered something only Ethan could hear.

"Trust me."

Ethan's expression changed.

He understood.

Adrian wasn't surrendering.

He was buying them time.

Gabriel walked toward the gate.

Adrian followed.

Ethan watched helplessly.

Then he noticed the small USB drive hidden in Adrian's hand.

Adrian had secretly passed it to him.

Ethan smiled faintly.

He understood the plan.

Gabriel thought he had won.

But he didn't know that Ethan now had the evidence.

And Adrian was walking willingly into the heart of the enemy's secret operation.

For the first time, the game had changed.

TO BE CONTINUED...