Chapter 7: The Man Who Controlled the Game
The footsteps stopped outside the apartment.
My mother held her breath.
I moved toward the door.
“Ethan, don’t.””
Her voice was urgent.
“Who is it?””
She didn’t answer.
That told me enough.
Someone dangerous was standing on the other side.
A knock came.
Three slow knocks.
Then a voice.
“Clara.””
My blood turned cold.
My mother stepped backward.
She knew that voice.
“Open the door.””
I looked at her.
“Who is it?””
She whispered:
“William Reed.””
Marcus’s father.
The man who was supposed to be connected to my father’s betrayal.
The man who was supposed to be gone.
The door opened before we could respond.
An older man stepped inside.
He carried himself with confidence.
Not fear.
Not surprise.
Like he belonged there.
His eyes moved from my mother to me.
“So you finally know.””
I stared.
“Know what?””
He smiled.
“That everyone lied to you.””
I wanted to hate him.
But something about his calmness bothered me.
People who were afraid made excuses.
William Reed didn’t look afraid.
He looked prepared.
“You sent the message.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because you deserved the truth.””
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
He looked at my mother.
“Clara knows why.””
I turned.
“Mom?””
She looked devastated.
William sat down.
“Your father wasn’t betrayed by me.””
My jaw tightened.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to look at the evidence.””
He placed a folder on the table.
I didn’t touch it.
“What is it?””
“The original contracts.””
My mother looked at him.
“You kept them?””
“I had no choice.””
I opened the folder.
The first page was a partnership agreement.
The second was a transfer document.
Then I saw something impossible.
My father’s signature.
And beneath it…
My mother’s.
I looked at her.
“You signed this?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because your father asked me to.””
“For what?””
She whispered:
“To protect you.””
William leaned forward.
“Your father discovered something about Bennett House.””
“What?””
“That someone inside his company was stealing.””
“Who?””
William looked at me.
“You already know.””
I froze.
Marcus.
“No.””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“Marcus was my friend.””
“Your father knew that.””
“Then why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because Marcus was your brother’s best friend.””
I frowned.
“My brother?””
Silence.
I looked at my mother.
“What brother?””
Her face changed.
And I understood.
There was another secret.
Another piece of my life hidden from me.
“Mom.””
She started crying.
“You had a brother.””
The room spun.
“What?””
“He died when he was young.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
“Because your father believed the truth would destroy you.””
I stepped back.
My entire life was becoming a collection of secrets.
William spoke quietly.
“Your brother discovered what Marcus was doing.””
I looked at him.
“And then?””
“He tried to tell your father.””
“What happened?””
Nobody answered.
But I already knew.
The silence was the answer.
My phone rang.
Richard.
I answered immediately.
“Richard?””
His voice was frantic.
“Ethan, Vanessa knows.””
“Knows what?””
“Everything.””
My grip tightened.
“How?””
“She found out you met your mother.””
I looked at William.
“How?””
Richard lowered his voice.
“She has someone following you.””
I looked around the apartment.
The darkness.
The old building.
The hidden past.
Then Richard said:
“Ethan… there’s something else.””
“What?””
“I found out who has been funding Vanessa.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Your own company.””
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
Richard’s voice shook.
“Someone has been moving money through Bennett House accounts.””
I looked at William.
Then my mother.
Then the folder.
Someone wasn’t just attacking me.
Someone had been inside my life for years.
And then Richard said the words that destroyed the last piece of trust I had left.
“The person approving those transfers…”
He stopped.
May you like
“Richard.””
“It was your mother.””
