Chapter 3 - THE NAME FROM THE PAST
Ethan stared at Rebecca.
“You know where her brother is?”
Rebecca folded her arms.
“I know what happened to him.”
Vanessa's breathing became uneven.
“Don't listen to her.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows exactly how to use the truth.”
Rebecca laughed.
“You still think you can protect everyone.”
Vanessa stood.
“I've been protecting Lily.”
“And hiding Marcus.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Enough.”
He looked at Rebecca.
“Where is he?”
“You won't get answers tonight.”
Ethan moved closer.
Rebecca didn't retreat.
Instead, she smiled.
“Because you still don't understand who Vanessa really is.”
Vanessa looked at Ethan.
“Please.”
He turned toward her.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“When?”
“When I had proof.”
Rebecca laughed.
“You always need proof.”
Vanessa ignored her.
“Marcus worked for a company that Ethan's father owned.”
Ethan froze.
“My father?”
“He discovered financial records that weren't supposed to exist.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What records?”
“Money was being moved through shell companies.”
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because the people involved threatened Marcus.”
“And you?”
“They threatened Lily.”
Ethan's expression changed.
Suddenly, the last two years made sense.
Vanessa's secrecy.
Her fear.
The strange phone calls.
The nights she had disappeared.
The arguments Rebecca had used against her.
Rebecca hadn't been comforting Ethan.
She had been isolating him.
Vanessa reached for Lily.
Lily grabbed her hand.
“I thought keeping quiet would keep you safe.”
Ethan swallowed hard.
“You should have trusted me.”
“I tried.”
The words were almost inaudible.
Rebecca interrupted.
“Beautiful.”
Everyone turned.
“You two can repair your marriage later.”
She pointed toward Vanessa.
“But Marcus is still missing.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Tell me where he is.”
Rebecca smiled.
“Ask your father.”
Daniel's face suddenly changed.
Ethan noticed.
“Daniel?”
His brother looked away.
“Don't.”
“Why are you telling me not to?”
Daniel remained silent.
Ethan stepped toward him.
“What do you know?”
Daniel finally whispered,
“Marcus came to me three years ago.”
Vanessa's face went white.
“What?”
“He was afraid.”
“Where is he?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I thought he was dead.”
Vanessa nearly collapsed.
Ethan caught her.
Lily began crying again.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His blood drained from his face.
“What is it?” Ethan asked.
Daniel turned the phone around.
There was one message.
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS OR LILY WILL BE NEXT.
Ethan's expression became cold.
May you like
The attack had not been the end.
It had been a warning.
