CHAPTER NINE — THE DISAPPEARANCE
1647 Words
ADRIAN'S POV
I stared at the photograph in Ethan's hands.
For the first time in years, I was afraid.
Not for myself.
For Ethan.
He had spent his entire life believing that our father's death was a simple tragedy.
It wasn't.
It was a carefully buried secret.
And now the grave was opening.
“You said you arrived after it happened,” Ethan said.
“Yes.”
“And my mother was there?”
I nodded.
His jaw tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was protecting you.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
He threw the photograph onto the bed.
“Protecting me by lying to me?”
I had no answer.
Amara stood between us.
“Adrian, what exactly happened that night?”
I looked at her.
Then at Ethan.
“I was seventeen minutes late.”
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“I received a call from Dad that night.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me to come to the old warehouse.”
I swallowed.
“He sounded terrified.”
Ethan stared at me.
“Why?”
“He said someone had discovered what he had been investigating.”
“Marcus?”
“I thought so.”
“And when you arrived?”
I looked down.
“Your father was already dead.”
Silence filled the room.
Ethan's eyes became glassy.
“And Mom?”
“She was there.”
“What was she doing?”
I hesitated.
“She was holding his hand.”
Ethan's face fell.
“Was she crying?”
“Yes.”
“Did she kill him?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
I knew that much.
“But you said she was there.”
“She was.”
“Then why?”
I looked toward the open window.
“Because she was the one who found him.”
Ethan slowly sat back down.
“So who killed Dad?”
I stared at him.
“I don't know.”
His eyes hardened.
“You're lying again.”
Before I could respond, Amara's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“It's Serena.”
Everyone froze.
“Answer it,” Ethan said.
Amara accepted the call.
“Serena?”
There was silence.
Then a shaky voice came through.
“Amara…”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Serena, you need to come back.”
“No.”
Her voice cracked.
“They know.”
“Who?”
“The people who killed Ethan's father.”
Ethan immediately leaned closer.
“Put her on speaker.”
Amara did.
“Serena,” Ethan said.
Silence.
Then—
“Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“I am so sorry.”
“For what?”
“I should have told you years ago.”
“Then tell me now.”
She breathed shakily.
“I know who killed your father.”
My heart stopped.
Ethan's eyes widened.
“Who?”
Serena didn't answer.
Instead, she whispered:
“Look inside your mother's old jewelry box.”
“What?”
“There's something hidden beneath the false bottom.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your father gave it to me the night before he died.”
Ethan stood.
“Where are you?”
“I can't stay on the phone.”
“Serena!”
“Ethan…”
Her voice became softer.
“Don't trust anyone.”
The call ended.
Amara stared at the phone.
“She hung up.”
Ethan looked at me.
“Where would she go?”
“I don't know.”
But I did.
There was only one place Serena would go if she was frightened.
The old family house.
“We have to get there.”
---
SERENA'S POV
I ran through the dark alley.
My breathing was uneven.
Every sound behind me made me turn around.
I knew they were following me.
I had made one mistake.
I had called Amara.
And now they knew I was still alive.
I reached the old house and unlocked the back door.
The house was dark.
Silent.
I stepped inside.
“Serena.”
I froze.
A voice came from the living room.
I slowly turned.
Marcus was sitting in the darkness.
My blood ran cold.
“You…”
He stood.
“You really should have listened to me.”
I backed away.
“Stay away from me.”
“You could have lived quietly.”
“You killed Ethan's father.”
Marcus smiled.
“No.”
I stared at him.
“Then who did?”
He walked closer.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
He stopped directly in front of me.
“I didn't kill him.”
“Then why were you there?”
“Because I was trying to save him.”
I shook my head.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You should.”
He reached into his pocket.
I stepped back.
But instead of a gun, he pulled out an old key.
He placed it on the table.
“Your answer is inside the jewelry box.”
My heart stopped.
“You know about it?”
“Of course.”
“What's inside?”
Marcus smiled.
“The reason your life has been a lie.”
I stared at him.
Then he walked past me.
“Tell Ethan the truth before someone else does.”
I turned.
“Marcus!”
He stopped at the door.
“Who killed his father?”
He looked over his shoulder.
“You already know.”
Then he disappeared.
---
AMARA'S POV
The car stopped outside Ethan's childhood home.
Ethan immediately got out.
Adrian followed.
I stayed close to Ethan.
The house looked abandoned.
Dust covered the windows.
The front door creaked as Adrian opened it.
Ethan walked inside.
“Mom's room is upstairs.”
We followed him.
He opened the bedroom door.
Everything looked untouched.
A photograph of Ethan's parents sat beside the bed.
Ethan picked it up.
He stared at it for a long moment.
“She loved him.”
I touched his arm.
“I believe you.”
He looked at me.
“I don't know what to believe anymore.”
“You don't have to figure it out alone.”
His fingers tightened around mine.
Then Adrian spoke.
“Ethan.”
We turned.
He was standing beside an old wooden cabinet.
“There.”
Ethan walked toward him.
Inside the cabinet was a small jewelry box.
He lifted it carefully.
His hands trembled.
“This belonged to Mom.”
He opened it.
Inside were several rings, necklaces, and an old bracelet.
Nothing else.
Ethan frowned.
“There's nothing here.”
Adrian examined the box.
“Wait.”
He turned it over.
“There.”
A tiny crack ran across the bottom.
Ethan pushed against it.
Click.
The false bottom opened.
Inside was a small envelope.
Ethan pulled it out.
His name was written across the front.
ETHAN.
He stared at it.
“That's Dad's handwriting.”
I looked at Adrian.
He seemed just as shocked.
Ethan opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded letter.
He began reading.
His expression slowly changed.
“What does it say?” I asked.
He didn't answer.
“Ethan?”
He looked at me.
His eyes were filled with tears.
“My father knew he was going to die.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What?”
Ethan handed him the letter.
Adrian read it.
His face went pale.
“What is it?” I asked.
He looked at Ethan.
“Your father says he discovered who was stealing from the company.”
“Marcus?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
He continued reading.
Then suddenly stopped.
Ethan grabbed the letter.
“What?”
Adrian looked at him.
“He says the person responsible is someone inside the family.”
My heart sank.
Ethan read the final lines.
Then his hands began shaking.
“What?”
He looked at me.
Then Adrian.
“He wrote one name.”
“Whose?” I whispered.
Ethan slowly raised his eyes.
“Mom's.”
Silence.
I stared at him.
“That can't be right.”
Ethan looked back at the letter.
Then something fell from inside the envelope.
A small key.
And attached to it was a note.
Ethan picked it up.
There were only six words.
ASK HER WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
Ethan's breathing stopped.
“My mother is alive.”
Adrian's head snapped up.
“What?”
Ethan stared at the note.
“I saw her.”
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
My eyes widened.
“You never told us.”
“I thought I was imagining her.”
Adrian stepped toward him.
“Where?”
Ethan looked toward the window.
“Outside the hospital.”
A cold feeling ran through me.
Someone had been watching us.
Someone who knew exactly what we were doing.
Then—
A loud sound came from downstairs.
CRASH!
We froze.
Adrian immediately reached for the door.
“Stay here.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
Another crash.
Then footsteps.
Someone was coming upstairs.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
Adrian moved in front of us.
The footsteps stopped outside the bedroom.
The door handle began to turn.
Ethan whispered:
“Who is it?”
The door opened.
A woman stood there.
Older.
Pale.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Ethan stared at her.
He couldn't breathe.
Neither could I.
Adrian whispered one word.
“Mom.”
The woman looked directly at Ethan.
“I'm sorry.”
Ethan's face crumbled.
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
She stepped forward.
“Because if you knew I was alive…”
She looked behind her.
“…they would have killed you too.”
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