Chapter 11: Sarah’s Last Message
Ethan did not sleep.
Not because he couldn't.
Because every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sarah.
Not the memory of her funeral.
Not the hospital.
Not the moment doctors told him she was gone.
He saw her alive.
Writing that letter.
Knowing something was wrong.
Knowing she might not have much time.
And still thinking about protecting him.
Protecting Lily.
At 3:00 a.m., Ethan was still sitting at the kitchen table.
The letter remained in front of him.
Rachel arrived at sunrise.
She took one look at him and knew.
"You found something.""
Ethan handed her the letter.
She read it silently.
Then looked up.
"She knew.""
"Yes.""
"She knew someone close to you was involved.""
Ethan nodded.
Rachel sat down.
"Do you remember anyone acting differently before the accident?""
Ethan thought.
Three years ago.
His mind went back.
Meetings.
Conversations.
Small moments he ignored.
Then one memory appeared.
David.
Standing outside Sarah's hospital room.
Not crying.
Not shocked.
Just quiet.
Too quiet.
"What?""
Rachel noticed his expression.
"Something happened.""
Ethan looked at her.
"After Sarah's accident, David knew details before anyone told him.""
Rachel frowned.
"How?""
"I don't know.""
"And you never questioned it?""
"No.""
Because he was grieving.
Because David was his friend.
Because when someone you trust stands beside you during your darkest moment, you don't look for reasons to doubt them.
You look for reasons to believe them.
Rachel opened her laptop.
"I found something else.""
Ethan looked.
"A payment.""
"From whom?""
"An account connected to Victor Hale.""
"To who?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Sarah's lawyer.""
Ethan froze.
"What?""
"The payment happened two days before Sarah died.""
"Why would Victor pay her lawyer?""
Rachel looked at him.
"Maybe he wasn't paying her.""
A pause.
"Maybe he was trying to silence her.""
Ethan stood.
"No.""
Rachel looked surprised.
"You don't believe it?""
"I don't know what I believe.""
He looked toward the window.
"But I know one thing.""
"What?""
"Sarah trusted David.""
Rachel nodded.
"Then maybe David was helping her.""
"Maybe.""
"And Victor was against them.""
"Maybe.""
The problem was every answer created another question.
Later that day, they tracked Victor Hale to a private residence outside the city.
Ethan went alone.
Rachel wanted to come.
He refused.
"This is personal.""
"That's exactly why you shouldn't go alone.""
But Ethan had already made his decision.
Victor opened the door after Ethan knocked.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Victor smiled.
"Ethan.""
The smile disappeared quickly.
Because he saw Ethan's expression.
"You look like you've seen a ghost.""
Ethan stepped inside.
"Maybe I have.""
Victor became cautious.
"What does that mean?""
"It means I found Sarah's message.""
Everything changed.
The color disappeared from Victor's face.
Just for a second.
But Ethan saw it.
"You knew.""
Victor looked away.
"Ethan...""
"You knew something was wrong.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
The sentence made Ethan angry.
"Everyone says that.""
Victor sighed.
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
Victor walked toward the window.
"Your company became too big.""
Ethan stared.
"What?""
"People started seeing it as an opportunity.""
"Who?""
Victor didn't answer.
"Who?""
Finally:
"Your investors.""
Ethan frowned.
"My investors?""
"Not all of them.""
Victor looked exhausted.
"But some.""
"Who?""
Victor looked at him.
"The people who helped you build Vance Hospitality Group.""
A chill moved through Ethan.
"Why?""
"Because they didn't want to own a company.""
Victor whispered.
"They wanted to control one.""
The room became silent.
"And Sarah found out.""
Ethan's voice was barely audible.
"Yes.""
"What did she find?""
Victor looked terrified.
"That someone had been moving money through your company for years.""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Who?""
Victor looked toward the door.
Then lowered his voice.
"The same person who has been beside you since the beginning.""
Ethan froze.
"Tell me.""
Victor opened his mouth.
But before he could speak...
The sound of breaking glass came from outside.
Victor turned.
A bullet shattered the window.
Ethan dropped to the floor.
The room exploded into chaos.
Victor grabbed Ethan's arm.
"We have to go!""
They ran toward the back entrance.
As alarms started screaming through the neighborhood, Ethan realized something terrifying.
Someone had known he was coming.
Someone was watching him.
May you like
And whoever it was...
They were willing to kill to keep the truth buried.
