Chapter 9 - THE SECRET ETHAN NEVER KNEW
Ethan had spent his entire life believing he knew who he was.
A good son.
A successful businessman.
A loving husband.
But now…
Everything had cracks.
He sat in the living room with the old file in his hands.
Ava sat across from him.
“Are you sure you want to open that?”
Ethan looked at the cover.
“No.”
Ava looked surprised.
He gave a bitter smile.
“But I need to.”
He opened it.
The first page was a medical report.
The second was a legal document.
The third…
Stopped his heart.
Birth records.
Ethan stared.
“This isn’t possible.”
Ava moved closer.
“What is it?”
He couldn’t answer.
His hands were shaking.
Because the name listed as his biological mother…
Was not Margaret.
“What?”
Ava whispered.
Ethan looked up.
“My whole life…”
His voice cracked.
“She lied about everything.”
Suddenly, the front door opened.
Margaret walked inside.
She stopped when she saw the file.
For the first time…
She looked defeated.
“Where did you get that?”
Ethan slowly stood.
“You knew.”
Margaret said nothing.
“You knew I wasn’t your son.”
Silence.
Ava covered her mouth.
Margaret looked at Ethan.
“I raised you.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I loved you.”
“Did you?”
The question hurt.
Because Ethan didn’t know anymore.
Margaret’s eyes filled with tears.
“You think blood is what makes a family?”
“No.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“I think honesty does.”
Margaret looked away.
And that was enough.
Ethan understood.
“How long?”
She whispered:
“Since you were born.”
His face changed.
“Who am I?”
Margaret didn’t answer.
“WHO AM I?”
His voice echoed through the house.
Then Margaret finally spoke.
“There is something else you need to know.”
Ava stepped closer.
“What?”
Margaret looked at her.
Then Ethan.
“The night of the accident…”
A pause.
“I wasn’t the only person there.”
Ethan froze.
“What are you saying?”
Margaret opened another file.
Inside was a photograph.
A person standing near Ava’s crashed car.
A person Ethan recognized immediately.
His face turned pale.
Because the person in the picture…
Was someone he trusted.
Someone who had been helping him uncover the truth.
Someone who had been standing beside him the entire time.
May you like
Lena.
TO BE CONTINUED…
