Chapter 5: The Truth Ethan Left Behind
Marcus stood beside Naomi, staring at the black SUV parked along the curb.
The city moved around them.
People crossed the street.
Cars passed.
A delivery driver carried boxes into a nearby building.
Everything looked normal.
But Marcus knew better now.
Normal was just what things looked like before the truth appeared.
Adrian leaned toward the open window.
His expression wasn’t angry.
That was what bothered Marcus most.
He looked calm.
Confident.
Like he already knew how this conversation would end.
“Marcus,” Adrian said again.
“You have no idea what kind of woman you’re standing next to.””
Naomi stepped forward.
“Adrian, stop.””
Adrian smiled.
“There she is.””
“What do you want?””
“I wanted him to hear the truth.””
Marcus looked between them.
“You’ve been watching us?””
Adrian ignored him.
“Do you know how many times I heard that exact sentence?””
“What sentence?””
“‘You don’t understand.’”
Adrian laughed quietly.
“Everyone always thinks Naomi is misunderstood.””
Naomi’s expression hardened.
“Because I am.””
“No,” Adrian replied.
“Because you’re good at making people believe that.””
Marcus felt the tension between them.
This wasn’t a normal disagreement.
This was years of anger trapped inside a few sentences.
“Get out of here,” Naomi said.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“You should ask her where she was the night Ethan disappeared.””
Marcus’s eyes moved to Naomi.
She looked away.
That small movement was enough.
“Naomi.””
“Marcus…”
“Answer him.””
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Then opened them.
“I already told you.””
“You told me Ethan disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“But you didn’t tell me everything.””
Her silence confirmed it.
Adrian leaned back.
“Exactly.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Why should I believe you?””
Adrian smiled.
“Good question.””
He reached into the car and pulled out a small envelope.
Then he handed it to Marcus.
“Because I brought proof.””
Naomi immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t open that.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because it’s not what you think.””
Adrian laughed.
“That’s what she always says.””
Marcus took the envelope.
His hands felt heavier than they should have.
He opened it slowly.
Inside was a printed photograph.
A photograph of Naomi.
And Ethan.
Together.
Standing outside a motel.
Marcus looked at the date.
Three days after Ethan’s supposed disappearance.
His stomach tightened.
“Explain this.””
Naomi’s face changed.
She looked defeated.
Not guilty.
Defeated.
“Marcus…”
“Explain.””
She looked at Adrian.
Then back at him.
“I found Ethan.””
The words hit harder than anything else.
“You found him?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three days after he left.””
Marcus stared.
“You told me he disappeared.””
“He did.””
“But you found him.””
“Yes.””
“And you didn’t tell anyone?””
Naomi’s eyes filled with frustration.
“It wasn’t that simple.””
“Then make it simple.””
She took a breath.
“Ethan contacted me.””
“Why?””
“He was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked at Adrian.
“Of him.””
The air changed.
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“Don’t do this.””
Naomi ignored him.
“Ethan told me Adrian was stealing money from the company.””
Marcus looked at Adrian.
The calm expression was gone.
Just for a moment.
But Marcus saw it.
“He lied,” Adrian said.
Naomi continued.
“Ethan found documents. Bank transfers. Things that didn’t make sense.””
Marcus looked back at her.
“And you believed him?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Ethan wasn’t the kind of person who made accusations without proof.””
Adrian laughed.
“That’s convenient.””
Naomi turned toward him.
“You know it’s true.””
“No. What’s true is you helped him run away.””
Marcus froze.
“Run away?””
Adrian looked at him.
“That’s what she doesn’t want to tell you.””
Naomi’s voice became sharp.
“I did not help him run away.””
“Then what did you do?””
“I helped him hide.””
Silence.
Marcus looked at her.
The words sounded impossible.
“You helped him hide?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he was afraid.””
“Of Adrian?””
“Yes.””
Adrian shook his head.
“This is unbelievable.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You were his business partner.””
“And his friend.””
“Then why would he be afraid of you?””
Adrian stared at him.
For the first time, Marcus saw something behind his confidence.
Fear.
Small.
Quick.
But real.
“He wasn’t afraid of me.””
Naomi laughed bitterly.
“Then why did you spend three years trying to destroy me?””
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Because you know what happened.””
“Because I know what Ethan discovered.””
Marcus looked at Naomi.
“What happened after you helped him hide?””
Her expression changed.
The anger disappeared.
Leaving only pain.
“I never saw him again.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“I put him in a safe place. A place no one knew about.””
“Where?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because I don’t know if he’s safe.””
Marcus stared.
Three years.
Three years and Ethan might still be alive?
That didn’t make sense.
“Naomi, you’re saying he disappeared by choice?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t he come back?””
Her eyes lowered.
“I don’t know.””
Nobody spoke.
Even Adrian was quiet.
Finally, Marcus looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell the police?””
Adrian looked away.
That was the first time Marcus noticed something.
Adrian wasn’t angry at the question.
He was uncomfortable.
“I tried.””
Naomi immediately responded.
“No, you didn’t.””
“Yes, I did.””
“You tried to make me look guilty.””
“Because you were hiding him.””
“Because he asked me to.””
Marcus raised his hand.
“Enough.””
Both of them stopped.
He was tired of hearing two different versions.
He needed facts.
Not emotions.
“Where is Ethan now?””
Naomi shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“Then who knows?””
She didn’t answer.
Marcus looked at her.
“Naomi.””
She whispered:
“One person.””
“Who?””
Her eyes moved toward Adrian.
Marcus understood.
Adrian knew.
“You know where he is.””
Adrian said nothing.
That silence was louder than any confession.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Where is Ethan?””
Adrian looked at him.
Then smiled.
A cold smile.
“You really think you’re the hero here?””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“You met her two days ago and you already think you’re saving her.””
“I asked a question.””
“And I’m giving you an answer.””
Adrian leaned forward.
“You don’t know Naomi.””
Marcus looked at Naomi.
Then back at Adrian.
“Maybe not.””
Adrian smiled.
“But you’re about to.””
The SUV started moving.
Naomi stepped forward.
“Adrian!””
But he didn’t stop.
The car disappeared into traffic.
Marcus stood there silently.
Then his phone buzzed.
Another message.
From Adrian’s number this time.
A video.
Marcus opened it.
The screen showed a dark room.
A man sitting in a chair.
His face barely visible.
But Marcus recognized him immediately.
Ethan.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
Marcus looked at Naomi.
Her face went pale.
“No…”
The video played.
Ethan looked directly into the camera.
And said five words:
“Naomi, he found me.””
The video ended.
Marcus looked at Naomi.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer.
Because she was staring at the screen with tears in her eyes.
Then she whispered something that made Marcus’s entire body go cold.
“He wasn’t hiding from Adrian.””
May you like
She looked toward the empty street.
“He was hiding from me.””
