Chapter 5: The Secrets We Bury
1252 Words
The night pressed in around them like a secret neither could escape. The storm had passed, but its echo lingered in the quiet corners of Ethan’s penthouse — in the ticking of the wall clock, in the sound of their breathing as they stood across from each other, divided by truth and silence.
Ariana’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. She had held on for months, waiting for this moment the moment Ethan would start to remember. But she hadn’t expected it to hurt this much. Every word, every glance, every question from him was a blade twisting in her ribs.
Ethan raked a hand through his hair. “You’re still not telling me the truth, are you?”
Her lips trembled. “Ethan, please”
“Don’t please me, Ariana,” he said, his voice rough, angry, broken. “Every time I close my eyes, I see flashes a car, blood, the sound of you screaming my name. And every time I ask, you tell me it’s nothing. I can’t keep living like this.”
She swallowed, eyes glistening. “If I tell you everything, you’ll hate me.”
His jaw tightened. “Then let me decide.that.”
But before she could respond, a sharp knock at the door interrupted them. Ethan frowned, moving to open it — but Ariana’s hand shot out to stop him. “Don’t.”
He froze. “Why not?”
“Because whoever it is… they’re not here for good news.”
The knock came again, harder this time. Ariana stepped back as Ethan opened the door. On the other side stood Lila, drenched from the rain, eyes wide with fear.
“Ethan,” she gasped. “You’re in danger.”
“Lila?” Ariana’s voice was tight, wary. “What are you doing here?”
Lila’s gaze flicked between them. “Alexander is planning something I overheard him at the foundation gala. He said he’s going to finish what he started.”
Ethan stiffened. “Finish what?”
Lila hesitated, then whispered, “The accident. It wasn’t an accident, Ethan. It was planned.”
Ariana’s breath caught in her throat. She felt the world tilt beneath her feet, the air suddenly too heavy to breathe.
“What are you talking about?” Ethan demanded.
“Alexander wanted control of the company,” Lila said shakily. “You were going to expose him for embezzlement, and he found out. The crash that took your memory wasn’t random. It was engineered.”
Ethan’s world went silent. The sound of rain outside faded into nothing. His hands trembled as flashes of memory tore through him headlights, Ariana’s scream, the screech of metal against asphalt.
“No…” he whispered. “That can’t be true.”
Ariana reached for him, but he stepped back. “Did you know?”
Her lips parted, but no sound came.
Ethan’s eyes darkened. “You knew.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I tried to protect you, Ethan. If I said anything, Alexander would’ve killed you. He already threatened”
He turned away, running a hand over his face. “So you chose silence over the truth?”
Ariana’s voice cracked. “I chose you.”
The tension broke like glass. Lila stood frozen, her guilt written across her face. “I shouldn’t have come,” she murmured, before rushing out into the hallway.
Ethan collapsed onto the couch, the weight of betrayal and confusion pressing him down. Ariana stood motionless, her tears falling soundlessly to the floor.
Ethan’s POV
He couldn’t breathe. The walls felt too close, the lights too bright. Everything he thought he knew everything Ariana had told him was unraveling.
He wanted to be angry. He wanted to hate her. But even now, when his memories were fragments, his heart still recognized her. It beat faster when she cried. It softened when she whispered his name.
He stood abruptly, pacing. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to,” Ariana said, the voice trembling. “But Alexander wasn’t bluffing. He had people watching me. Watching you.”
Ethan turned, his voice hoarse. “So you decided my life was easier without the truth?”
Her eyes flashed with pain. “I decided your life was more important than my forgiveness.”
The words struck him like a blow. He opened his mouth to speak but another memory hit him, this one sharp and vivid. He saw Ariana again, this time in a hospital room, holding his hand, whispering something over and over. ‘Please, Ethan, wake up.’
He swayed slightly, clutching his head.
“Ethan?” Ariana ran forward, grabbing his arms.
His breathing quickened. “I… I remember something.”
Her heart leapt. “What?”
He met her eyes, tears burning his own. “You. Begging me not to die.”
A sob broke from her lips. “You were in a coma for three weeks. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away her tears. “Maybe you did. Because I’m not sure who I am anymore.”
Her lower lip trembled. “You’re Ethan Knight the man I love.”
His hand lingered for a moment, but then he stepped back. “Love isn’t supposed to hurt this much.”
Before she could answer, his phone buzzed on the table. The caller ID made his blood run cold.
Alexander.
He answered. “What do you want?”
Alexander’s voice was calm, almost amused. “To make sure my little secret stays buried. You’re digging into things best left alone, brother.”
Ethan’s voice hardened. “You tried to kill me.”
A low chuckle echoed through the speaker. “If I wanted you dead, Ethan, you wouldn’t be talking to me now. But if you keep pressing someone else might not be so lucky.”
Ethan’s gaze darted to Ariana, who stood frozen by the window.
“Don’t touch her,” he hissed.
Alexander laughed softly. “Then behave.”
The call ended, leaving a deafening silence behind.
Ariana’s POV
She could see the fear in Ethan’s eyes even though he tried to hide it. The way his hands shook slightly as he placed the phone down. The way he didn’t look at her.
“Ethan, what did he say?”
He turned slowly. “He threatened you.”
Her heart dropped. “Then we have to leave”
“No.” His voice was low, controlled. “Running isn’t going to fix this. He wants me scared. I won’t give him that satisfaction.”
Ariana stepped closer. “And what if he means it?”
“Then I’ll end this before he gets the chance.”
She shook her head, tears spilling again. “You can’t fight him alone.”
Ethan looked at her then, really looked the woman who had loved him through everything, even when it broke her. “I’m not alone,” he said softly.
The moment was fragile and electric. But before either could speak again, the lights flickered once, twice and went out completely.
Ariana froze. “Ethan?”
From the darkness came a sound the soft creak of a door opening.
Ethan’s hand found hers instantly, pulling her close. “Stay behind me.”
A shadow moved in the dim hallway. Then a voice low, unfamiliar, dangerous whispered:
“Mr. Knight… your brother sends his regards.”
Someone has broken into the penthouse under Alexander’s orders.
- Writer
