Chapter 11 - THE FRIEND WHO WANTED EVERYTHING
Ethan Cole had always been the person everyone trusted.
He was charming.
Successful.
Funny.
The kind of man who walked into a room and made everyone feel comfortable.
He was Adrian’s best friend since college.
The man who stood beside him during business failures.
The man who helped him rebuild the company.
The man Adrian once called his brother.
Now we knew why.
Because he actually was.
But not in the way anyone expected.
Adrian stared at the message.
“No.”
Beatrice looked at him.
“You always trusted him.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Because he earned it.”
“No.”
Her voice became softer.
“Because he knew exactly how to make you trust him.”
Those words hurt because they sounded true.
For years, Ethan had been everywhere.
At family events.
At company meetings.
Inside the Vale estate.
He knew passwords.
Security routines.
Private conversations.
Everything.
Including my pregnancy.
Including my mother’s secret.
Daniel quickly checked the security system.
His face changed.
“He had access.”
Adrian looked at him.
“How much?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Everything.”
Silence.
I felt sick.
The person hunting me wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone who had smiled at me.
Someone who had shaken my hand.
Someone who had congratulated Adrian when he learned he was going to be a father.
A man pretending to be family.
Adrian grabbed his phone.
Called Ethan.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
Come alone if you want the truth.
Location attached.
An abandoned Vale property outside the city.
Daniel immediately said:
“It’s a trap.”
Adrian looked at him.
“I know.”
“Then don’t go.”
Adrian looked at me.
And I knew.
He was going.
“No.”
My voice stopped him.
“You’re not going alone.”
His expression changed.
“Emma.”
“I’m part of this.”
“You’re carrying our child.”
“And this started with my mother.”
He stared at me.
I saw the conflict in his eyes.
Finally, he nodded.
“But you stay behind me.”
Two hours later, we arrived at the abandoned property.
The old Vale factory.
A place that had been closed for years.
The building looked forgotten.
Broken windows.
Rusting metal.
A place where secrets could disappear.
Inside, Ethan was waiting.
He stood near the old machines.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Like he wasn’t the reason our lives were falling apart.
Adrian walked forward.
“Why?”
Ethan smiled.
“That’s your first question?”
“Yes.”
Ethan laughed.
“After everything I did, you want to know why?”
Adrian’s voice was cold.
“Why did you destroy my family?”
Ethan looked at me.
Then smiled.
“Because it was never your family.”
The words hit hard.
He stepped closer.
“Everything you have came from my father’s sacrifice.”
Adrian froze.
“Your father?”
Ethan nodded.
“Richard Vale destroyed my family.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
Another secret.
Another victim.
“My mother was Sarah Carter’s closest friend,” Ethan said.
“She knew the truth.”
Adrian stared.
“You’re not Beatrice’s brother.”
Ethan smiled.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I’m the person your mother trusted.”
The room went silent.
Then Ethan revealed the truth.
“My mother was the one who helped Sarah escape.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“And Richard killed her too.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Then why hurt Emma?”
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
“Because Sarah left something behind.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“The proof.”
My heart raced.
“What proof?”
Ethan pointed at me.
“Your mother hid it with you.”
I froze.
“What are you talking about?”
Ethan smiled.
“The necklace you’ve worn since you were a child.”
My hand immediately went to my necklace.
The old silver pendant my mother gave me.
The one thing I never removed.
May you like
Ethan whispered:
“She hid the evidence inside it.”
