A Contract Written In Hate

The Truth Between Us

CHAPTER NINE

The Truth Between Us

“He died because Damian tried to save him—and failed.”

The stranger's words echoed in my head.

I turned towards Damian. “Tell me he's lying.”

He looked at me, but the answer never came.

“Damian!”

“I was there that night,” he finally said. “Your father came to the Cross estate to meet my father. They argued about the foundation's money, and things got out of control.”

“What does that mean?”

“My father had discovered that yours was keeping evidence against him. He wanted it destroyed.”

I struggled to breathe normally.

“And you helped him?”

“No.” Damian's voice cracked. “I tried to get your father out. But by the time I reached the driveway, his car was already gone.”

“Then how did he die?”

“I don't know who caused the accident, Serena. I swear to you.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to find a reason to believe that the man standing before me wasn't connected to my father's death.

But he had lied to me from the beginning.

“You knew all this when you offered me the contract.”

“I knew your father had been investigating my family. I didn't know the full truth.”

“And you thought marrying me would solve everything?”

“I thought you'd help me find the missing evidence.”

I stepped back as if he'd struck me.

“So I was just a convenient way to get what you wanted?”

“At first, yes.”

His honesty cut deeper than I expected.

Then he lowered his voice.

“But that changed.”

“Don't.”

“Serena—”

“Don't tell me your feelings changed when you've spent every day hiding the truth from me.”

The man holding the flash drive cleared his throat impatiently.

“Touching conversation, but we're running out of time.”

Damian moved in front of me.

“Where is Noah?”

“You'll get your answer when we confirm the drive contains what we need.”

He signalled to the other man, who began moving towards the exit.

Panic seized me.

“You promised to release my brother!”

The stranger looked back. “I promised nothing.”

He turned to Damian.

“Tell your uncle we expect the remaining documents by midnight. If he refuses, the girl and her brother will pay for his mistakes.”

Then both men disappeared into the darkness.

I stood frozen.

“Your uncle?” I whispered.

Damian's face hardened.

“Victor is behind this.”

“You knew?”

“I suspected it.”

“And you still brought me here?”

“I didn't know they'd come after you.”

I shook my head, struggling to hold back my tears.

“I can't do this anymore.”

I turned towards the entrance, but Damian didn't follow immediately.

“Serena, wait.”

I stopped without looking at him.

“Your father left something else behind,” he said. “A letter addressed to you. My mother kept it hidden for years.”

My heart stumbled.

“Where is it?”

“In my study.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because the letter names the person your father trusted most.”

I slowly turned around.

“Who?”

Damian's eyes held mine.

“Your mother.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“My mother died before my father.”

“I know.”

“Then how could she have been involved?”

He reached into his jacket and handed me a folded piece of paper.

At the bottom was my mother's signature.

And above it, in my father's handwriting, were seven words that made the world tilt beneath my feet.

If I die, your mother knows why.

I looked up at Damian, my hands trembling.

For years, I'd believed my parents' deaths were tragedies that had shattered our family.

Now I wasn't sure I'd ever known my family at all.

And somewhere, my brother was still waiting for me to save him.

To be continued…