Chapter 10 - ETHAN
Ethan told them the truth.
He had been raised under another name.
Their father had hidden him after the Hale family was threatened.
“Why didn't Dad tell me?”
“He wanted to.”
Ethan looked at Martha.
“Mom stopped him.”
Martha whispered, “I was trying to keep you alive.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You kept us apart.”
Julian stepped between them.
“Enough. We can blame each other later.”
Ethan nodded.
“Then listen.”
He explained that their father had discovered a network moving stolen company money through foreign accounts.
Evelyn managed the network.
Victor helped her.
But someone above them controlled everything.
“Who?” Julian asked.
Ethan handed him a photograph.
Julian stared.
His grandfather.
Still alive.
Julian's face went blank.
“He died twelve years ago.”
“No,” Ethan said. “He disappeared.”
Martha sat down.
“Oh God.”
Julian looked at her.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
Ethan continued.
“He's been using the name Arthur Vale.”
Julian remembered the name.
A mysterious investor who had recently tried to buy shares in Hale Industries.
“He's coming for the company.”
“And for us,” Ethan said.
A car screeched outside.
Gunfire erupted.
Ethan pulled Julian behind a wall.
Men surrounded the church.
Julian grabbed a fallen flashlight.
“Exit?”
“Basement.”
They ran.
Bullets tore through the wooden doors.
Martha stumbled.
Julian caught her.
“Keep moving!”
They reached the basement.
Ethan opened a hidden hatch.
A tunnel led toward the river.
They crawled through as gunfire echoed behind them.
At the riverbank, a boat waited.
A woman stood inside.
Clara.
Julian stared.
“You're alive.”
She smiled through tears.
“I told you I would be.”
He hugged her.
For the first time in years, Julian felt like his family might actually become whole.
Then Clara whispered:
“Evelyn has Martha's medical records.”
Julian's smile disappeared.
“What?”
“She changed them.”
Martha looked confused.
“Why?”
Clara answered.
“To make everyone believe you're dying.”
Julian understood.
The entire plan had depended on making Martha look unstable and ill.
He looked at Bianca.
She had gone pale.
“Then the wedding…”
Clara nodded.
“They planned to kill her after the wedding.”
Julian clenched his fists.
“They won't get that chance.”
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Ethan answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Bring Julian to the Hale estate at midnight.”
Ethan said, “Who is this?”
The voice laughed.
“His grandfather.”
The call ended.
Then the boat engine suddenly died.
Clara looked toward the shore.
May you like
Someone had cut the fuel line.
And in the darkness, a red laser appeared on Julian's chest.
