Chapter 9: The Enemy Nobody Saw Coming
Nobody spoke after the call ended.
My mother stared at me.
My father stared at the phone.
Grace looked terrified.
But the person who looked the most shocked was Brooke.
Because she had arrived behind us.
Nobody noticed her enter.
Nobody noticed how long she had been listening.
“You heard that?””
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I turned.
“Yes.””
She looked like she had seen a ghost.
“What did they say?””
I watched her carefully.
“The person controlling you is still out there.””
Brooke closed her eyes.
And that reaction told me everything.
“You know who it is.””
She didn’t answer.
“Brooke.””
Her shoulders dropped.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
“Who?””
She looked at my mother.
Then away.
“It’s not your mother.””
My father frowned.
“What?””
Brooke swallowed.
“She thought she was in control.””
My mother’s face changed.
“What are you saying?””
Brooke looked at her.
“You weren’t the only one making decisions.””
For the first time that night, my mother looked afraid of someone else.
“Who?””
Brooke didn’t speak.
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
She looked at me.
“I was threatened too.””
I almost walked away.
Almost.
Then I saw her expression.
Not the calculated expression I had seen all day.
Real fear.
“By who?””
She whispered:
“My brother.””
Nobody moved.
The name landed like a stone.
The man whose name had appeared in the documents.
The man who had been connected to Grace’s disappearance.
The man who had stayed hidden behind everyone else.
“Your brother planned this?””
Brooke nodded.
“At first, I thought he was helping me.””
“And then?””
“Then I realized I was helping him.””
My mother looked confused.
“You’re blaming him now?””
Brooke looked at her.
“I’m telling the truth.””
I stared at Brooke.
“Why should I believe you?””
Her eyes filled.
“You shouldn’t.””
That answer surprised me.
“I know what I did.””
She looked down.
“I know I hurt people.””
She looked at Grace.
“I know I took your choices away.””
Then she looked back at me.
“But if you want to stop him, you need me.””
I hated that she might be right.
Because trusting Brooke felt impossible.
But ignoring her could put everyone in danger.
My father walked toward the window.
“He’s been playing everyone against each other.””
My mother sat down.
For the first time, she looked old.
Not powerful.
Not untouchable.
Just a person who had made terrible choices.
“Where is he now?”” my father asked.
Brooke hesitated.
“He knows we’re here.””
My blood ran cold.
“How?””
She looked at the security camera near the front door.
“Because he installed them.””
Everyone turned.
My father immediately moved toward the system.
“He’s been watching.””
The realization was terrifying.
Every conversation.
Every move.
Every secret.
Someone had been watching from the beginning.
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
No name.
No number.
Just one sentence.
*You should have married Brooke when you had the chance.*
I stared at it.
Another message appeared.
*Now you’ll lose everything.*
Grace saw my face.
“What is it?””
I looked up.
“He knows.””
My father took the phone.
His expression hardened.
“This is him.””
“Who?””
My father looked at all of us.
Then said the name.
“Ethan.””
Brooke went pale.
“My brother.””
Before anyone could react, the lights in the house shut off.
Complete darkness.
Ava screamed.
Grace immediately held her.
My father reached for his phone flashlight.
Then we heard something.
A slow clap.
Coming from downstairs.
Someone was inside.
Someone who wanted us to know he was there.
A man’s voice echoed through the house.
“You all spent so much time blaming each other.””
A pause.
Then:
“You never noticed the person who was winning.””
My father moved toward the stairs.
“Ethan!””
The voice laughed.
“Hello, Dad.””
Brooke covered her mouth.
My heart stopped.
Because the voice wasn’t just dangerous.
It was familiar.
And I realized the truth.
The person destroying our family had been standing close to us the entire time.
Pretending to help.
May you like
Pretending to care.
Waiting for us to destroy each other.
