Chapter 4: The Truth My Brothers Hid
The call ended.
But Adrian's words stayed.
Your brothers know exactly why your parents died.
I looked at Marcus.
He didn't look away.
That scared me more than anything.
"Tell me.""
Nobody answered.
"Marcus.""
My oldest brother closed his eyes.
A thousand emotions crossed his face.
"I wanted to tell you.""
"But you didn't.""
"No.""
"Why?""
The silence was painful.
Julian stepped forward.
"Because we promised our parents.""
I stood.
"My parents are dead. Their promises don't matter more than my right to know.""
Caleb looked down.
He hated this.
I could see it.
He had always been the emotional one.
The protector.
The little brother who used to follow me around the house asking if I needed anything.
"Elena," Marcus said softly.
"No.""
My voice shook.
"But I need you to understand something.""
I pointed toward the folder.
"Adrian spent years lying to me.""
I touched my chest.
"I defended him.""
"I chose him.""
"And now I find out my own family hid something from me too?""
Marcus looked broken.
"We were trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Protect me from what?""
Marcus sat down.
"The night our parents died wasn't an accident.""
The room became colder.
I couldn't breathe.
"What?""
Julian spoke quietly.
"Our father discovered someone inside the company was stealing from him.""
"Who?""
Marcus looked at me.
"The person responsible was connected to Adrian's family.""
My heart stopped.
"No.""
"It gets worse," Marcus said.
I stared at him.
"Adrian knew.""
The words didn't make sense.
"No.""
"He knew when he married you.""
I shook my head.
"You're wrong.""
"We investigated after the gala.""
Julian placed another file on the table.
Inside was a report.
A name.
A connection.
My hands trembled.
Adrian's father had worked with mine.
And after my parents died, Adrian's family gained everything.
I felt sick.
All these years.
Was my marriage just another move in a game I didn't know I was playing?
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
*You want the truth? Meet me alone.*
Attached was a photo.
A woman.
Older.
Terrified.
Marcus saw the image.
His expression changed.
"Who is that?""
I looked at him.
"You tell me.""
Nobody answered.
Then Caleb whispered:
"That's our mother's assistant.""
My heart raced.
"But she's dead.""
Marcus grabbed the phone.
"No.""
He stared at the message.
"She's alive.""
The room fell silent.
Because if she was alive...
May you like
Then the story we had believed for years was a lie.
And someone had spent eight years making sure I never found out.
