Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside the Family
I stared at Teresa.
"Silenced?""
She nodded slowly.
"I heard Julian arguing with someone two nights before the accident.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"You don't know or you won't tell me?""
Her eyes filled with fear.
That was the first time I saw it.
Teresa Whitmore was afraid.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Afraid.
"Clara, there are people involved who are more powerful than you realize.""
I crossed my arms.
"That doesn't scare me.""
"It should.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"What scares me is spending eight years loving people who were lying to me.""
She looked away.
"I wanted to protect you.""
"By hiding the truth?""
"I thought if you knew, you would leave.""
I gave a bitter smile.
"Maybe I should have.""
The words hurt.
Even saying them hurt.
Because a part of me still remembered Julian before all this.
The man who made me laugh.
The man who held my hand.
The man who promised he would never become like everyone else.
But promises are easy.
Actions reveal people.
"Who wanted Julian silenced?""
Teresa whispered:
"I don't know.""
Then she added:
"But I think Serena knows.""
My eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
"Because Julian was going to tell you something.""
"What?""
"I don't know.""
"Teresa.""
She looked at me.
"He said he made a mistake years ago. A mistake that could destroy Serena's family.""
I froze.
That didn't make sense.
Serena wasn't only a victim.
She was hiding something too.
I needed answers.
Immediately.
I went back to the hospital.
Julian was awake.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
He knew I wasn't there to forgive him.
"Clara.""
I walked closer.
"I know about the Hale Foundation.""
His face went pale.
"I know about my research.""
He closed his eyes.
"I know you controlled my emails.""
He looked destroyed.
"Clara...""
"And now I know someone tried to silence you.""
That made him look up.
"What?""
"Don't pretend you don't know.""
"I don't.""
For the first time, he looked genuinely confused.
I studied him carefully.
Was this another performance?
Or was he telling the truth?
"I need everything.""
He swallowed.
"Everything?""
"No more protecting people.""
A long silence.
Then Julian nodded.
"Okay.""
He looked exhausted.
"Six years ago, when Serena and I separated, it wasn't because I stopped loving her.""
I felt nothing.
Strangely, I felt nothing.
"Why?""
"Because I discovered something about her family.""
"What?""
"The Hale Foundation wasn't just developing medical technology.""
He lowered his voice.
"They were buying stolen research.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you give them mine?""
His face collapsed.
"Because I thought I could control it.""
I laughed once.
"You thought you could control criminals?""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"I thought I could control Serena.""
The honesty was painful.
"She threatened me.""
My expression changed.
"With what?""
Julian looked terrified.
"With the truth about my past.""
"What truth?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered:
"The reason Serena and I really broke up.""
I waited.
And finally...
He told me.
"Because I found out Serena was responsible for my father's financial collapse.""
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
"Then why is she still here?""
Julian looked toward the door.
And when he spoke...
His voice was barely audible.
"Because she isn't trying to get me back.""
A pause.
"She's trying to destroy everyone who knows the truth.""
At that exact moment...
The ICU monitor suddenly started alarming.
Doctors rushed inside.
And before they pushed me out of the room...
I saw something through the glass.
Serena standing at the end of the hallway.
Watching.
Smiling.
May you like
And I knew...
The real battle had just begun.
