The Secret Between Us

CHAPTER 12 : THE NAME HE WHISPERED

THE SECRET BETWEEN US

Chapter 12 — The Name He Whispered

"DAAAAD!"

Adrian's scream echoed through the old Santos house.

Roberto collapsed against Ethan's arms.

Blood stained his shirt.

Ethan lowered him carefully to the floor.

"Adrian, stay with me."

"My father!"

"I know."

Ethan pressed his hand against Roberto's wound.

"Daniel!"

"I'm trying to get a signal!"

Daniel ran toward the window.

Nothing.

The storm outside had become stronger.

Rain slammed against the roof.

The old house shook with every gust of wind.

Adrian knelt beside his father.

"Dad, please."

Roberto's eyes opened slightly.

"Adrian..."

"I'm here."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't talk."

"I have to."

"No."

Adrian held his father's hand.

"You just came back to me. You're not leaving again."

Roberto smiled weakly.

"You've grown."

Adrian began crying.

"I waited for you."

"I know."

"I hated you."

Roberto's eyes filled with tears.

"I know."

"I thought you didn't love me."

"I loved you more than anything."

Adrian shook his head.

"Then why?"

"Because if I came back... they would find you."

Ethan looked toward the windows.

"Who shot him?"

Roberto's expression changed.

"He's here."

"Who?"

Roberto struggled to speak.

"The man..."

He coughed.

"The man behind everything."

Ethan leaned closer.

"Tell me his name."

Roberto looked at him.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because he's listening."

Everyone froze.

Daniel looked around the room.

"What do you mean?"

Roberto pointed weakly toward the ceiling.

"There's a microphone."

Ethan immediately looked up.

A small red light blinked near the smoke detector.

"Someone is listening to us."

Daniel grabbed a chair and knocked the device down.

The red light went out.

"Now talk."

Roberto closed his eyes.

"I don't know how long I have."

Adrian squeezed his hand.

"You'll have enough time."

Roberto looked at Ethan.

"Your mother knew the truth."

Ethan swallowed.

"I know."

"She tried to stop him."

"Who?"

Roberto whispered:

"Mason was only a pawn."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Then who controlled him?"

Roberto looked toward Adrian.

"Someone from your mother's side."

Adrian froze.

"My mother?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Roberto closed his eyes.

"Your uncle."

Adrian stared.

"Elena?"

Roberto shook his head.

"Your mother's brother."

Adrian's face became pale.

"I don't have an uncle."

Roberto looked at him.

"You were told he died."

Silence filled the room.

Ethan exchanged a glance with Daniel.

"What's his name?"

Roberto took a breath.

"Gabriel Santos."

Adrian shook his head.

"That's impossible."

"He changed his identity."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted everyone to believe he was dead."

Adrian stared at his father.

"Why would my uncle destroy our family?"

Roberto's voice became weak.

"Because he believed everything should belong to him."

Ethan stepped closer.

"How much does he control?"

"Enough."

"What does that mean?"

Roberto looked at him.

"He owns the hidden accounts."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"The money?"

"Yes."

"And the company?"

"Part of it."

Daniel suddenly spoke.

"Then Gabriel is the person who has been controlling Mason."

Roberto nodded.

"Yes."

Adrian looked at Daniel.

"How do you know?"

"Because I met him."

"When?"

"Years ago."

Daniel's expression became bitter.

"He recruited me."

Ethan stared at him.

"You worked for him?"

"I didn't know who he was."

"When did you find out?"

"After your mother died."

Ethan's eyes filled with anger.

"And you said nothing."

"I was afraid."

"You should have told me."

"I tried."

"When?"

"Several times."

Ethan looked away.

Daniel continued.

"Every time I got close, someone threatened me."

Adrian looked at Roberto.

"Where is Gabriel now?"

Roberto's face became serious.

"Closer than you think."

---

The lights suddenly came back.

Everyone froze.

Then Ethan heard something outside.

A car engine.

He rushed to the window.

A black vehicle was speeding away from the property.

"He's leaving."

Ethan grabbed his jacket.

"I'm going after him."

Adrian stood.

"No."

Ethan looked at him.

"Adrian—"

"You promised."

Ethan stopped.

"You promised you wouldn't leave me."

Ethan looked at Roberto.

Then at Adrian.

He nodded.

"You're right."

Daniel stepped toward the window.

"We shouldn't chase him."

"Why?"

"Because that's what he wants."

Ethan frowned.

"He wants us to follow."

Daniel nodded.

"He wants us away from Roberto."

Adrian immediately looked at his father.

"Then we stay."

---

The ambulance finally arrived.

Roberto was taken to the hospital.

Adrian refused to leave his side.

Ethan stayed with him.

Daniel disappeared before the police arrived.

The hospital hallway was silent.

Adrian sat beside Roberto's bed.

Ethan stood near the window.

Hours passed.

Finally, a doctor came out.

"He's stable."

Adrian stood.

"Can I see him?"

"Briefly."

Adrian entered the room.

Ethan remained outside.

He looked at his phone.

There was a message.

You found him.

Another appeared.

Now you know about Gabriel.

Then:

But you don't know everything.

Ethan stared at the screen.

A photograph appeared.

It showed Ethan's mother.

She was standing beside Gabriel.

Ethan's breathing stopped.

The photograph had been taken years ago.

He recognized the location.

His father's office.

A message appeared beneath it.

She trusted him.

Then:

She shouldn't have.

Ethan immediately saved the photograph.

Another message arrived.

Ask your mother why she gave him access.

Ethan stared.

His mother had trusted Gabriel.

Or had she?

---

Adrian came out of the room.

"You look worried."

Ethan quickly put his phone away.

"I am."

"Did something happen?"

Ethan hesitated.

Then remembered his promise.

He showed Adrian the photograph.

Adrian stared.

"That's Gabriel."

"Yes."

"With your mother."

Ethan nodded.

"Why would she trust him?"

"I don't know."

Adrian looked at him.

"Maybe she didn't."

"What?"

"Look at her face."

Ethan studied the photograph.

His mother's expression was serious.

She wasn't smiling.

She appeared frightened.

Adrian pointed.

"She looks like she's being forced."

Ethan looked again.

Adrian was right.

His mother's hands were clenched.

"She was afraid."

"Maybe."

"Then Gabriel was already threatening her."

Ethan nodded.

"That's what it looks like."

Adrian touched his arm.

"Your mother may have been trying to protect us."

Ethan looked at him.

"She always was."

---

The next morning, Roberto woke.

Adrian immediately went to his side.

"Dad."

Roberto smiled.

"You're still here."

"Of course."

Ethan entered behind him.

Roberto looked at Ethan.

"Your mother would have been proud."

Ethan swallowed.

"I found her letters."

Roberto nodded.

"She knew."

"Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because she was afraid."

"Of Gabriel?"

"Yes."

Ethan sat beside the bed.

"What did Gabriel want?"

"Control."

"Of what?"

"Everything."

Roberto closed his eyes.

"Your family owns more than you know."

Ethan frowned.

"How much?"

"Enough to make someone willing to kill."

Adrian asked:

"Where is Gabriel now?"

Roberto opened his eyes.

"I don't know."

"Then how do we find him?"

Roberto looked at Ethan.

"He will find you."

"Why?"

"Because he needs something."

"What?"

Roberto hesitated.

"Your mother's necklace."

Ethan touched the necklace in his pocket.

"This?"

Roberto nodded.

"It contains a key."

Ethan's eyes widened.

"A key to what?"

Roberto whispered:

"The account where everything is hidden."

Adrian looked at Ethan.

"The secret money."

"Yes."

"How do we open it?"

Roberto looked at Ethan.

"Your mother knew."

"She's dead."

Roberto smiled sadly.

"Not everything she left behind is gone."

Ethan stared.

"What do you mean?"

Roberto reached beneath his pillow.

He pulled out a small piece of paper.

He handed it to Ethan.

There was a single sentence written on it.

When the stars disappear, look beneath the old clock.

Ethan frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Roberto closed his eyes.

"You'll know."

---

That evening, Ethan and Adrian returned to the old Reyes mansion.

The storm had passed.

The moon was visible through the clouds.

They entered the main hall.

An old grandfather clock stood against the wall.

Adrian looked at Ethan.

"The old clock."

Ethan nodded.

They examined it.

Nothing.

Then Adrian noticed something.

"Wait."

He touched the clock.

A small panel opened.

Inside was a keyhole.

Ethan took his mother's necklace.

The pendant had a tiny key hidden inside.

He inserted it.

The clock opened.

Inside was a black box.

Ethan pulled it out.

Adrian stood beside him.

They opened it.

Inside was a USB drive and a letter.

The letter was addressed to Ethan.

He opened it.

«Ethan,

If you have found this, then I am no longer there to explain.

The money was never the real secret.

The real secret is the person who ordered the first betrayal.

He has been close to both families for years.

Trust Adrian.

He is the only person who can help you find the truth.

And remember this:

The person who knows your greatest weakness is often the person standing closest to you.»

Ethan looked at Adrian.

Adrian looked back.

Neither spoke.

Then the mansion's front door suddenly opened.

Someone entered.

Footsteps echoed through the hall.

Ethan closed the box.

"Who's there?"

A man's voice answered from the darkness.

"You finally found it."

Adrian grabbed Ethan's hand.

Ethan stepped forward.

The figure slowly emerged.

It was Mason.

But he wasn't alone.

Someone stood behind him.

A man Ethan had never seen before.

Mason looked at Ethan.

"You wanted the truth."

He stepped aside.

The stranger smiled.

"Then let me introduce myself."

Adrian stared.

The man looked directly at him.

"My name is Gabriel Santos."

Adrian's blood ran cold.

His uncle was alive.

And he was standing directly in front of them.

TO BE CONTINUED...