You deserve the truth.
I folded the letter against my chest.
Then I heard a noise.
Footsteps.
Elena immediately pulled me behind the desk.
Someone entered the warehouse.
Slowly.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
A man’s voice called out.
“Mara.”
I froze.
I knew that voice.
“Ethan?”
He stepped into the office.
He looked exhausted.
His face was bruised.
There was a cut above his eyebrow.
But he was alive.
I ran toward him.
He caught me in his arms.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
I hit his chest.
Hard.
“You idiot.”
He held me tighter.
“I know.”
“You disappeared.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe you abandoned me.”
“I know.”
“You made me hate you.”
“I know.”
I pushed away.
“Then why?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because I couldn’t bury another person I loved.”
I stared at him.
“What happened?”
“I found Arthur.”
My blood went cold.
“Where?”
“He found me first.”
Ethan looked at Elena.
“Did you bring the file?”
She nodded.
He looked at me.
“Your parents weren’t the only people he killed.”
“What?”
“Anyone who helped expose him disappeared.”
He paused.
“My father was one of them.”
“Daniel?”
Ethan nodded.
“Daniel didn’t run away.”
“What happened to him?”
“He was murdered.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“By Arthur?”
“Yes.”
“Then how are you alive?”
Ethan smiled sadly.
“Because my father had one thing Arthur didn’t.”
“What?”
“Someone willing to protect his son.”
Samuel suddenly appeared in the doorway.
Ethan froze.
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then Samuel walked toward him.
“I thought you were dead.”
Ethan looked down.
“I almost was.”
Samuel’s eyes filled with tears.
“I failed your father.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You tried to save him.”
“I should have done more.”
