Chapter 6: The Truth About Ethan
The phone slipped slightly in Daniel’s hand.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he was trying to understand.
The man on the phone knew Ethan.
He knew the plan.
And he knew Daniel was never supposed to hear the truth.
Daniel pressed the phone closer.
“Who is this?””
Silence.
Then the call ended.
The screen went black.
Everyone stared.
Vanessa looked like she wanted to disappear.
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
“Who was that?””
She said nothing.
“Vanessa.””
Her lips trembled.
“I don’t know.””
Daniel stared.
“You expect me to believe that?””
She looked at Victor.
And Daniel saw it.
The hesitation.
The fear.
She wasn’t protecting herself.
She was protecting someone else.
“Who are you afraid of?””
Vanessa looked down.
Nobody answered.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Dad…”
Daniel turned.
“What?””
Ethan looked at Laura.
“She knows.””
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
“My mother.””
The room became quiet.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Ethan, your mother passed away.””
The boy shook his head.
“Not my mom.””
Daniel froze.
“What are you saying?””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“She told me I wasn’t supposed to tell you.””
Daniel felt a wave of anger.
“Again?””
Ethan shook his head quickly.
“No. Not Vanessa.””
He looked at Laura.
“The other woman.””
Laura’s face changed.
“What other woman?””
Ethan reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I found this in Grandma’s old box.””
Daniel took it.
The handwriting wasn’t his mother’s.
It was someone else’s.
A woman named Emily.
Daniel read the first line.
“Daniel, if you ever discover this letter, it means I failed to protect you.””
His heart tightened.
“Who is Emily?””
Laura’s face became pale.
“Daniel…”
He looked at her.
“Who?””
Laura slowly answered.
“Your father had a daughter.””
Daniel stopped.
The words didn’t register.
“What?””
“A daughter.””
The room went silent.
“My father?””
Laura nodded.
“She was born before you.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
He looked around.
“This is impossible.””
Laura’s voice softened.
“Your father kept it secret because he was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“Of losing everything.””
Daniel looked back at the letter.
His hands trembled as he continued reading.
The letter explained that Emily had discovered the hidden archive.
She had discovered the real reason people wanted Carter Holdings.
And she had discovered that someone inside the family was working against them.
Daniel looked up.
“Where is she now?””
Laura looked away.
That scared him.
“Where is she?””
Laura answered quietly.
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
Daniel felt cold.
The same time Vanessa entered his life.
The same time Victor returned.
The same time everything started.
He turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“You knew someone was looking for my father’s secret.””
“No.””
“Then why did you start dating me?””
She cried.
“Because Victor told me you were the key.””
Daniel stared.
There it was.
The truth.
Not love.
Not fate.
A mission.
A plan.
But then Ethan stepped forward.
“Dad.””
Daniel looked at him.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
Ethan looked nervous.
“I heard Vanessa talking to someone before the wedding.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
“Who was she talking to?””
Ethan hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
“Where?””
“Your office.””
Daniel froze.
“My office?””
Ethan nodded.
“She was looking through your desk.””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“What did you take?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did you take?””
Finally, she whispered:
“A key.””
Laura’s eyes widened.
“A key?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Yes.””
Daniel frowned.
“What key?””
Laura slowly stood.
Her expression had changed.
Because she knew.
And whatever it opened was more important than anything they had discovered tonight.
“Vanessa,” Laura said quietly.
“Where is that key now?””
Vanessa looked toward the ballroom entrance.
Daniel followed her eyes.
A man was standing there.
Watching.
Waiting.
The same man from the recording.
The mysterious man.
But Daniel had never seen him before.
Until now.
The man smiled.
And then he said:
“I think it’s time Daniel learns the truth about who his father really was.””
Nobody moved.
Because the man wasn’t looking at Daniel.
He was looking at Ethan.
And Daniel realized something terrifying.
The entire wedding had been a trap.
But Ethan…
May you like
had never been the target.
He had been the reason.
