CHAPTER 16: Tell Me the Truth
847 Words
Ariana’s POV
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I didn’t wait for him.
If I was already part of this mess, then I deserved the truth. Not pieces of it. Not the safe version. Everything.
I found him outside his house that evening, leaning against his car like he had been expecting me. That only made it worse.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.
I stopped in front of him. “We need to talk.”
His jaw tightened. “Ariana—”
“No.” I cut him off. “You don’t get to avoid this.”
Silence. Then he straightened, his expression turning serious.
“Fine. Talk.”
I stepped closer. “You said she still has something on you.”
His eyes darkened instantly. “That’s not what you should be focusing on.”
“Too late,” I said. “I am.”
He exhaled slowly. “Ariana—”
“What is it?” I demanded.
The question landed hard. He didn’t answer. Didn’t move. But I saw it—the hesitation, the tension he was trying to hide.
“You said it could destroy everything,” I continued, quieter now but firm. “That includes me now.”
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t know,” he said.
“That’s not your decision.”
“It is when it involves your safety.”
“I’m already involved!”
The words came out sharp, but I didn’t care. “I’ve been exposed, dragged into this, and now my family is part of it. So stop acting like I’m still outside.”
Silence fell. Heavy.
He looked at me like he was trying to decide something. Then he stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking for,” he said quietly.
“Then make me understand.”
That again. But this time I meant it.
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“It’s not just about the business issue,” he said finally.
My chest tightened. “Then what is it?”
His gaze dropped for a second before returning. “It’s about what happened that night.”
“What night?”
“The night everything went wrong.”
Something cold settled in my stomach. “What happened?”
He paused. Like even saying it was difficult.
“I wasn’t supposed to be there,” he admitted.
“Where?”
“At the meeting where the leak happened.”
I frowned. “But you said—”
“I was accused,” he cut in. “But not just because of the leak.”
My heart started racing. “Then why?”
Silence. Then his voice lowered.
“There was an incident.”
The word felt heavier this time.
“Ethan… what did you do?”
His eyes snapped to mine. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But something happened.”
Another pause.
“Someone got hurt,” he said.
The words hit hard.
My breath caught. “What?”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen,” he added quickly. “Things escalated. People were arguing. And then it just—happened.”
“And Vanessa saw it,” I said slowly.
“Yes.”
Of course she did.
“She saw everything,” he continued. “What happened and how it looked.”
“And she used it,” I said.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened. “So she framed you and then saved you.”
“Yes.”
Control. Always control.
“But what actually happened?” I pressed.
His expression hardened.
“That’s where it stops.”
Frustration rose instantly. “Ethan—”
“No.” His voice was firm now. “That part doesn’t concern you.”
I stared at him. “You’re still hiding it.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
The tension snapped again.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”
His eyes locked on mine. “And you don’t get to decide what I risk.”
Silence.
This wasn’t just about Vanessa anymore.
This was about us.
“You kissed me,” I said quietly. “You pulled me deeper into this. So don’t act like I’m still on the outside.”
That hit. I saw it clearly.
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then he stepped closer.
“You’re not outside of it,” he said softly.
“Then stop treating me like I am.”
Silence stretched again.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips. That same look. Stronger now. But mixed with something else. Conflict.
“You don’t know what you’re stepping into,” he murmured.
“Then stop hiding it from me.”
For a second, it felt like he might give in. Like he might finally say everything.
But then he stepped back.
Again.
Frustration hit instantly.
“This isn’t over,” I said.
“I know.”
And that was the problem.
Because whatever he was hiding…
Was bigger than I thought.
And sooner or later—
It would come out.
- Writer
