The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 14 : INTO THE LION'S DEN

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 14 — Into the Lion’s Den

The black car disappeared into the darkness.

Ethan stood motionless at the garden gate.

For several seconds, he couldn't breathe.

Adrian was gone.

Taken by Gabriel.

But the small USB drive was now safely in Ethan's hand.

He looked down at it.

Then he remembered Adrian's final words.

Trust me.

Ethan closed his fist around the drive.

"I trust you."

Behind him, Mason approached slowly.

"You should let him go."

Ethan turned.

"Never."

Mason stopped.

"You don't understand what Gabriel is capable of."

"I understand enough."

"He'll kill you."

"Then he'll have to try."

Mason looked toward the road.

"Gabriel doesn't make empty threats."

Ethan stepped closer.

"Neither do I."

Mason sighed.

"Where are you going?"

"To get Adrian."

"You'll need help."

Ethan stared at him.

"Why would I trust you?"

Mason looked down.

"Because I'm tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Running."

Mason's voice became quiet.

"I've spent years doing things I regret."

Ethan said nothing.

"I thought I was protecting my family."

"You weren't."

"I know."

Mason looked at the empty road.

"I want to help you."

Ethan studied him.

"Then tell me where Gabriel is taking Adrian."

Mason hesitated.

"The old Santos estate."

Ethan frowned.

"Why?"

"Because that's where the final account is hidden."

Ethan held up the USB drive.

"And this?"

"Evidence."

"What does Gabriel need Adrian for?"

Mason looked directly at him.

"To open the account."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Then we're going there."

---

Inside the car, Adrian sat silently beside Gabriel.

Two men sat in the front.

The city lights slowly disappeared as they traveled farther from Manila.

Adrian looked at Gabriel.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll know soon."

"You said my father would live."

"He will."

"If you hurt him—"

"I won't."

Adrian looked out the window.

He tried to remain calm.

But his heart was racing.

He knew he was taking a huge risk.

He had left Ethan behind.

He hoped Ethan understood the plan.

He hoped Ethan would come.

Most importantly, he hoped Gabriel wouldn't discover the USB drive was gone.

Gabriel suddenly looked at him.

"You seem calm."

"I'm not."

"You're hiding something."

Adrian smiled faintly.

"Maybe."

Gabriel laughed.

"You remind me of your father."

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

"No."

Gabriel looked ahead.

"It's supposed to remind you that courage can be dangerous."

---

After nearly an hour, the car stopped.

Adrian stepped out.

He looked around.

The old Santos estate stood before him.

The property was surrounded by tall trees and a massive stone wall.

He had never seen it before.

Gabriel walked toward the entrance.

"Come."

Adrian followed.

Inside, the mansion was surprisingly modern.

Security cameras covered the walls.

Guards stood at several entrances.

Adrian realized immediately.

This wasn't a home.

It was a fortress.

Gabriel led him into a large room.

A computer system covered one wall.

In the center was a metal table.

Gabriel placed a small black device on it.

"The account is inside this system."

Adrian looked at it.

"And you need me."

"Yes."

"How?"

Gabriel pointed to a scanner.

"Your father's biometric information."

Adrian frowned.

"My fingerprint?"

"Your fingerprint."

Adrian stepped backward.

"I won't do it."

Gabriel smiled.

"I knew you'd say that."

He pressed a button.

A screen appeared.

Roberto was sitting in a hospital room.

Adrian's heart stopped.

His father looked weak.

Gabriel spoke calmly.

"You don't want him to suffer."

Adrian stared at the screen.

"Leave him alone."

"Then cooperate."

Adrian clenched his fists.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him."

"I haven't."

Gabriel looked at the screen.

"Yet."

Adrian approached the scanner.

He placed his finger on it.

The system activated.

A red light turned green.

The computer displayed:

IDENTITY CONFIRMED.

Gabriel smiled.

"Excellent."

Adrian looked at him.

"What happens now?"

"We open the account."

---

Meanwhile, Ethan and Mason arrived outside the Santos estate.

Ethan looked at the security cameras.

"There's no way we're getting inside."

Mason smiled.

"There is."

He pulled an old access card from his pocket.

Ethan stared.

"Where did you get that?"

"I used to work for Gabriel."

"You still have access?"

"Some."

Ethan took the card.

"Let's go."

They entered through a side gate.

Inside, they moved through the garden.

Mason pointed toward a small building.

"Security room."

Ethan nodded.

"Disable the cameras."

Mason entered.

Several minutes later, the cameras went dark.

Ethan looked at him.

"Good."

Mason nodded.

"Go."

Ethan entered the mansion.

---

Back inside, Adrian watched the screen.

Numbers began appearing.

Gabriel entered a password.

The system rejected it.

He tried again.

Rejected.

Adrian looked at him.

"You don't have the password."

"I have part of it."

"What do you need?"

"Your father's final code."

"Then why bring me here?"

"Because you know it."

Adrian frowned.

"I don't."

Gabriel smiled.

"You do."

He showed Adrian an old photograph.

It was the same childhood photograph of Ethan and Adrian.

On the back were four numbers.

Adrian stared.

"I've seen this before."

"Exactly."

Adrian thought carefully.

Then remembered something.

When he and Ethan were children, they had a secret game.

They used four numbers.

Their birthdays.

Adrian entered them.

The system accepted the code.

The screen changed.

ACCESS GRANTED.

Gabriel smiled.

"Your father trusted you."

Adrian looked at the files.

Thousands of documents appeared.

Bank accounts.

Property records.

Names.

Payments.

Secret transactions.

Then Adrian saw something.

A folder marked:

PROJECT TWO HEARTS.

He clicked it.

Gabriel immediately moved toward him.

"Don't."

Adrian froze.

"Why?"

"That folder isn't for you."

Adrian stared.

"What's Project Two Hearts?"

Gabriel didn't answer.

Adrian clicked it.

A video appeared.

Two children were sitting in a garden.

Ethan.

And Adrian.

They were laughing.

Adrian stared at the screen.

"I remember this."

Gabriel looked uncomfortable.

The video continued.

Their fathers were talking nearby.

Roberto said:

"They're inseparable."

Ethan's father laughed.

"Maybe they'll remain that way."

The video suddenly changed.

A document appeared.

PROJECT TWO HEARTS — MEMORY SEPARATION PROGRAM

Adrian's face went pale.

"What is this?"

Gabriel said nothing.

"You erased our memories?"

"We had to."

"Why?"

"Because you discovered something."

"What?"

"You found the account."

Adrian stared at him.

"We were children."

"Children can remember things."

"Who erased our memories?"

Gabriel looked away.

"Your fathers agreed."

Adrian shook his head.

"No."

"They believed it was necessary."

"My father would never do that."

"He did."

Adrian's eyes filled with tears.

Then another file appeared.

It contained medical records.

Memory suppression procedure.

Adrian covered his mouth.

"This is sick."

Gabriel remained silent.

"You took our memories."

"To protect you."

"You destroyed our childhood."

"I saved your lives."

Adrian turned toward him.

"You don't get to call that saving."

---

Suddenly, the door opened.

Ethan entered.

"Adrian!"

Adrian turned.

"Ethan!"

Gabriel's guards rushed forward.

Ethan fought one of them.

Mason followed.

"Go!"

Adrian ran toward Ethan.

Gabriel shouted:

"Stop them!"

Ethan grabbed Adrian's hand.

They ran.

Mason blocked the guards.

"Go!"

Ethan and Adrian rushed through the hallway.

They reached a staircase.

Adrian looked back.

"Mason!"

"He'll be fine."

They continued running.

Gabriel followed.

"You can't escape!"

Ethan opened a side door.

They entered a narrow passage.

Adrian recognized it.

"The garden."

They ran toward the exit.

But the door was locked.

Ethan looked around.

"There's another way."

Adrian pointed.

"That tunnel."

They opened a hidden door.

A dark underground passage appeared.

They entered.

---

For several minutes, they ran through darkness.

Finally, they emerged behind the estate.

Ethan stopped.

Adrian leaned against him, breathing heavily.

"You came."

"Of course."

"You got the drive?"

Ethan held it up.

"Yes."

Adrian smiled.

"I knew you would."

Ethan pulled him into a hug.

"I was terrified."

"So was I."

"I thought I was going to lose you."

"You didn't."

Ethan held him tighter.

Adrian whispered:

"I found something."

"What?"

"Project Two Hearts."

Ethan's expression changed.

"What is it?"

"They erased our memories."

Ethan froze.

"What?"

"Our childhood memories."

Ethan looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because we found the hidden account when we were children."

Ethan stared into the darkness.

"Then everything we've been searching for..."

"Was already known to us."

They stood silently.

Then Ethan touched Adrian's face.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

Ethan nodded.

"Neither am I."

Adrian looked at him.

"But I'm glad you're here."

Ethan smiled.

"Me too."

Their hands intertwined.

Then Adrian remembered something.

"The folder had another file."

"What file?"

"The person who authorized the procedure."

Ethan's face became serious.

"Who?"

Adrian took a breath.

"I didn't have time to open it."

Ethan looked toward the mansion.

"Then we need to find out."

Behind them, Mason suddenly appeared.

He was injured.

Ethan rushed toward him.

"Mason!"

Mason collapsed against a tree.

Adrian helped him sit.

"What happened?"

Mason struggled to breathe.

"Gabriel..."

"Where is he?"

"He's coming."

Ethan looked toward the estate.

Mason grabbed his arm.

"You don't understand."

"What?"

Mason's eyes widened.

"Gabriel wasn't the one who authorized the memory procedure."

Ethan froze.

"Then who was?"

Mason looked at Adrian.

"The person who signed it..."

He paused.

"...was your father."

Adrian's face went completely pale.

"My father?"

Mason nodded.

"And that's the secret Gabriel never wanted you to discover."

TO BE CONTINUED...