Chapter 12: The Woman Holding The Final Secret
Nobody moved.
The house felt frozen.
Another copy of the evidence.
Another person.
Another secret.
I was exhausted from being surprised.
But somehow, I knew this was not over.
“Who has it?”” I asked.
Ethan didn’t answer.
That was the first time I saw genuine fear on his face.
Not the fear of losing money.
Not the fear of being exposed.
Something deeper.
The fear of someone else having control.
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Ethan.””
He looked at her.
“Tell him.””
Ethan laughed quietly.
“You really think he can handle it?””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Handle what?””
Ethan looked at all of us.
Then said:
“Your family’s first lie.””
My mother went pale.
“What are you talking about?””
Ethan smiled.
“You thought I was the beginning.””
Nobody spoke.
I felt a cold sensation.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Your grandfather knew this family was broken long before I entered the picture.””
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
I noticed.
“You know what he means.””
She didn’t deny it.
My heart sank.
“Rebecca?””
She sighed.
“There are things your grandfather discovered before his death.””
“Like what?””
She looked at my mother.
Then my father.
Then me.
“Your family’s wealth was built on a secret.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
Rebecca looked at him.
“You never knew.””
Nobody spoke.
The room became unbearable.
I looked at my mother.
“What secret?””
She looked away.
That was enough.
“Mom.””
Her lips trembled.
“I wanted to protect you.””
I almost smiled.
Everyone used those words.
Protect.
Always protect.
But nobody ever asked if I wanted to be protected.
They just decided.
“What secret?””
My mother sat down.
“When your grandfather built the company, there was a partner.””
My father frowned.
“A partner?””
She nodded.
“Someone who helped him in the beginning.””
Rebecca continued.
“And that partner was Ethan’s grandfather.””
I looked at Ethan.
He smiled.
“Now you understand.””
My stomach tightened.
“This is about revenge.””
“Partly.””
“Then what else?””
Ethan looked at me.
“The company was supposed to be shared.””
My mother whispered:
“But your grandfather changed the agreement.””
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
Then Rebecca said:
“Because he discovered the partner was stealing from the company.””
Silence.
Ethan’s face darkened.
“He ruined my family.””
“No,” my father said.
“He exposed them.””
Ethan looked at him.
“And then your family took everything.””
I looked around.
Every person in the room carried a different version of the truth.
Everyone believed they were the victim.
Everyone had a reason.
But innocent people were the ones who suffered.
Grace.
Ava.
Me.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
A woman’s voice came through.
My heart stopped.
Because I knew that voice.
“Hello?””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Who is this?””
The voice was quiet.
“You don’t remember me.””
My grip tightened.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“The woman who was supposed to be your wife before Brooke.””
I froze.
Everyone saw my expression.
Grace looked confused.
My father stepped closer.
“What is it?””
I couldn’t answer.
The woman continued.
“I have the final evidence.””
My heart raced.
“Evidence of what?””
Her voice became softer.
“The truth about why Grace disappeared.””
I looked at Grace.
She immediately became afraid.
The woman continued.
“And the truth about who Ava’s father was supposed to be.””
My blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
A long silence.
Then she whispered:
“Because before Grace, there was another woman.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Then Brooke asked the question everyone was thinking.
“Who was that?””
I looked at the screen.
No number.
No name.
Nothing.
Only one thing.
A message that appeared after the call ended.
*Meet me alone if you want the truth.*
And underneath it was an address.
May you like
An address I recognized.
The abandoned house where Grace disappeared.
