Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT ETHAN

Ethan stared at the document.

His hands were shaking.

His name was printed across the top.

Not Noah’s.

Not his father’s.

His.

For years, Ethan believed Noah was the reason everything happened.

The reason his mother disappeared.

The reason his father vanished.

The reason their family broke apart.

But now…

his own name was hidden in the files.

He read the first page.

“Ethan Miller was exposed to the same genetic research as Noah.”

He stopped.

“What?”

He kept reading.

“Unlike Noah, Ethan showed no physical symptoms.”

His heart pounded.

“No…”

The next sentence made him sit down.

“Ethan’s emotional response and protective behavior indicate unusual psychological adaptation.”

He didn’t understand.

But one thing was clear.

Someone had been studying him.

His whole life.

A sound came from behind him.

“Ethan?”

He quickly closed the file.

His father stood at the doorway.

“You found it.”

Ethan looked up.

“You knew?”

His father’s silence was enough.

“You knew.”

His father stepped inside.

“I was trying to protect you.”

Ethan stood.

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

His voice cracked.

“But nobody ever protects me by telling me the truth.”

His father looked down.

“You were involved because of me.”

“How?”

His father sighed.

“When Noah was born, Richard believed the research only mattered because of the children.”

Ethan froze.

“Children?”

His father nodded.

“You and Noah.”

Ethan felt cold.

“But I’m normal.”

“Yes.”

His father looked at him.

“That’s why Richard was afraid.”

“Why?”

“Because you proved his theory wrong.”

Ethan stared.

“What theory?”

His father took a breath.

“That people could be controlled by their genetics.”

The room went silent.

Ethan looked toward Noah’s bedroom.

His little brother.

The kid who cried when animals got hurt.

The kid who shared his food even when he was hungry.

The kid everyone called a problem.

“Noah isn’t dangerous.”

His father shook his head.

“He never was.”

“Then why did Richard keep saying that?”

“Because fear is easier to control than truth.”

Suddenly, the lights went off.

Again.

Everyone froze.

A phone rang.

Not Ethan’s.

His father’s.

He looked at the screen.

His face changed.

“What?”

Ethan stepped closer.

“Who is it?”

His father didn’t answer.

Then the voice on the other side spoke.

A voice they all recognized.

Richard.

“You found the files.”

Ethan grabbed the phone.

“Where are you?”

Richard laughed.

“You still think this is about your family.”

Ethan’s anger rose.

“Stop hiding.”

Richard became quiet.

Then he said:

“Ask your mother why she never told you about the night you were born.”

Ethan looked at Laura.

Her face went pale.

Richard continued.

“Ask her what really happened in that hospital room.”

The call ended.

Nobody spoke.

Ethan slowly turned toward his mother.

“Mom?”

Laura looked terrified.

And for the first time…

she looked afraid of him knowing the truth.

“What happened when I was born?”

Laura’s eyes filled with tears.

Then she whispered:

“The night you were born…”

A pause.

“Your father wasn’t the first person who held you.”

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Ethan froze.

“Then who was?”