CHAPTER FIVE — THE BETRAYAL
1339 Words
AMARA'S POV
“I betrayed Ethan.”
Serena's words hung in the air.
Nobody spoke.
I stared at her, waiting for an explanation.
“What did you do?”
Serena wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Three years ago, Ethan and Adrian had a terrible argument. Adrian had discovered something about Ethan that could destroy his future.”
“What?”
Serena looked at Ethan.
“Tell her.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Serena, not now.”
“Then when?”
I stepped between them.
“No more secrets.”
Ethan looked at me.
“Amara…”
“No.”
My voice cracked.
“I've had enough of being the last person to know everything.”
He lowered his eyes.
Serena took a deep breath.
“Adrian found out that Ethan was planning to leave me.”
I stared at Ethan.
“You were?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't love Serena anymore.”
Serena laughed bitterly.
“You didn't love me, but you were too afraid to tell me.”
“I was going to.”
“But you didn't.”
I looked between them.
“And what did that have to do with Adrian?”
Serena's face changed.
“Adrian wanted Ethan to stay with me.”
“Why?”
“Because he was in love with me.”
Silence.
My mouth fell open.
“Adrian was in love with you?”
Serena nodded.
“He had been for years.”
Ethan looked away.
“He hated me because he thought I had everything he wanted.”
I swallowed.
“So the accident…”
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
“Wasn't an accident.”
---
ETHAN'S POV
I didn't want Amara to hear the truth this way.
But there was no turning back.
“Adrian tried to kill me that night,” I said.
Amara stared at me.
“What happened?”
I closed my eyes.
“I was driving home when Adrian called me. He told me he wanted to talk.”
“You went?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was my brother.”
I paused.
“I never thought he would hurt me.”
Serena whispered:
“You should have.”
I looked at her.
She looked down.
“Tell her the rest.”
I shook my head.
“I can't.”
“Ethan.”
“No!”
My voice echoed through the car.
Amara flinched.
I immediately regretted it.
“I'm sorry.”
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Just tell me the truth.”
I took a deep breath.
“That night, Adrian confronted me about Serena.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me that if I left Serena, he would make sure I regretted it.”
Amara's hands trembled.
“And then?”
“He attacked me.”
I looked at Serena.
“She was there.”
Amara turned toward her.
“You were there?”
Serena nodded.
“I followed them.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid Ethan was leaving me.”
Her voice broke.
“I wanted to stop him.”
I stared out the window.
“Adrian and I fought.”
“Then what happened?”
“Adrian fell.”
Amara gasped.
“Where?”
“Near the bridge.”
I swallowed.
“I reached for him.”
“But?”
“He grabbed my hand.”
I paused.
“Then he let go.”
Amara covered her mouth.
“You didn't save him?”
“I tried.”
“You said he attacked you.”
“He did.”
“But he was still your brother.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I know.”
---
SERENA'S POV
I couldn't keep the secret anymore.
Not after seeing Adrian alive.
“Amara…”
She looked at me.
“I need to tell you what I did.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Serena, don't.”
“I have to.”
I looked down at my hands.
“When Adrian fell, I saw something.”
“What?”
“A second car.”
Amara frowned.
“A car?”
“Yes.”
“It was parked near the bridge.”
“Who was inside?”
“I don't know.”
“But someone got out.”
Ethan stared at me.
“You never told me that.”
“I was scared.”
“Of who?”
Serena looked toward the window.
“Adrian.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Amara looked confused.
“Why would you be afraid of Adrian if he was the one who fell?”
“Because I saw him get up.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“What?”
“He climbed out of the water.”
Silence.
“He was alive.”
I looked at Ethan.
“And someone helped him.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Ethan grabbed my arm.
“You should have told me!”
“I was terrified!”
“You let me believe my brother was dead!”
“I thought he would come back for me!”
“And now he has.”
---
AMARA'S POV
My head was spinning.
There were too many secrets.
Too many lies.
I looked at Ethan.
“Did you know Adrian was alive?”
“No.”
I looked at Serena.
“Do you know who helped him?”
“No.”
Then my phone buzzed.
Everyone froze.
I looked down.
A message.
Adrian: Ask Ethan why he really pushed me.
My heart stopped.
I looked at Ethan.
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
“Ethan?”
His face had gone pale.
“It's not what you think.”
“Then tell me!”
He looked at Serena.
She shook her head.
“Don't.”
I stepped backward.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Ethan finally whispered:
“I didn't push Adrian.”
“Then what happened?”
“I let him fall.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“He was hanging from the bridge.”
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
“I could have pulled him up.”
My heart broke.
“But I didn't.”
The car became completely silent.
“Why?”
Ethan looked at me.
“Because he had a knife.”
I swallowed.
“You thought he was going to kill you?”
“I knew he was.”
“Then why are you blaming yourself?”
“Because he was my brother.”
Before I could respond, a loud sound came from outside.
CRASH!
We all jumped.
Ethan immediately started the car.
“What was that?”
Serena looked through the window.
Her face went white.
“Someone hit the back of the car.”
Ethan looked in the mirror.
A black car was following us.
It accelerated.
Ethan stepped on the gas.
The black car followed.
“Who is that?” I cried.
“I don't know!”
The car came closer.
Serena screamed.
“Ethan, they're going to hit us!”
The black car slammed into ours.
I screamed as our car swerved.
Ethan fought to control the steering wheel.
“Hold on!”
Another impact.
Then everything went black.
---
ADRIAN'S POV
I watched from a distance.
The car disappeared around the corner.
I lowered my phone.
The plan was working.
But Amara wasn't supposed to be involved.
I had only wanted Ethan.
I wanted him to feel the same fear I felt three years ago.
But now things had changed.
Someone else was moving the pieces.
Someone who had been watching all of us.
My phone vibrated.
Unknown: You failed.
I frowned.
Adrian: Who are you?
The reply came.
Unknown: The person who started all of this.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Unknown: And Amara is mine.
My expression changed.
For the first time in three years…
I was afraid.
END OF CHAPTER FIVE
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