Chapter 5: The Lie I Was Hired to Uncover
Ethan didn’t speak.
That was somehow worse than anger.
I had prepared myself for shouting.
For accusations.
For him to look at me the way everyone eventually did when they discovered I had secrets.
But Ethan only stood there.
Silent.
Watching me.
And I wished he would yell.
Because silence gave me too much room to hear my own guilt.
“I know how it sounds,” I said.
His eyes never left mine.
“Do you?””
The question was quiet.
Almost gentle.
That hurt more.
I looked down.
“I came to Carter Industries because of Lucas.””
Ethan’s expression tightened.
“Who sent you?””
I swallowed.
“I wasn’t sent.””
A pause.
“Not exactly.””
His face hardened.
“Not exactly?””
I walked toward the window, unable to look at him.
“The first time I heard about Lucas Carter, I was twenty-four.””
Ethan said nothing.
“I was working as a research assistant at a private medical investigation firm.””
His eyes narrowed.
“Investigation firm?””
“Yes.””
“Doing what?””
“Looking into medical misconduct.””
The room became colder.
“Andrew.””
I nodded.
“Andrew was one of the names we were researching.””
Ethan stared at me.
“You were investigating him before you met him.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Because I was afraid.
Because I had spent months trying to find the right moment.
Because every time Ethan smiled at me, every time he trusted me, the truth became harder to say.
But those weren’t the only reasons.
The real reason was much uglier.
“I didn’t know if you were involved.””
Ethan went still.
The pain on his face was immediate.
“You thought I was involved?””
“I didn’t know.””
“That’s different.””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“That’s why I stayed.””
He frowned.
“Explain.””
“When I discovered Andrew had connections to your company, I needed access.””
The words sounded terrible out loud.
“I thought if I got close enough, I could find proof.””
Ethan looked away.
“So every conversation we had…”
“Was real.””
He looked back.
I stepped closer.
“Ethan, listen to me. The investigation was real. The reason I came here was because of Lucas, but everything after that…”
I stopped.
Because I didn’t know how to explain feelings that had become real inside a lie.
“I didn’t plan to care about you.””
His expression shifted.
“I didn’t plan to trust you.””
A small, painful smile appeared.
“I definitely didn’t plan to fall in love with you.””
The words escaped before I could stop them.
The room went completely silent.
I regretted saying them immediately.
Not because they weren’t true.
Because they were.
Ethan stared at me.
“Ava…”
I shook my head.
“Don’t.””
“Why?””
“Because I don’t want you to say something just because you feel sorry for me.””
His expression changed.
“Do you really think that’s what this is?””
“I don’t know.””
The honesty hurt.
“I don’t know what anything is anymore.””
Ethan walked closer.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“You should have trusted me.””
“I know.””
His voice broke slightly.
“Do you know how many times I almost told you about Lucas?””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Do you know how many times I sat in my office after midnight trying to figure out how to explain everything?””
His eyes were filled with frustration.
“With you, I was finally starting to believe I could stop carrying this alone.””
My chest tightened.
“And I lied.””
“Yes.””
The word hurt.
But he continued.
“And so did I.””
I froze.
“What?””
Ethan walked back to the desk and picked up the file.
“You think you’re the only person who hid something?””
He opened the folder.
“I knew Andrew was dangerous before tonight.””
I stared at him.
“How?””
“Because three months ago, I found evidence he manipulated Lucas’s records.””
My breath caught.
“Then why did you keep him around?””
“Because I needed him.””
The answer shocked me.
Ethan looked at the old documents.
“I spent twelve years searching for my brother. Andrew was the only person who knew what happened that night.””
“You trusted the man who hurt me because you needed answers.””
His face fell.
“Yes.””
The honesty was brutal.
“But I was wrong.””
I looked away.
Because I understood.
And somehow that made it worse.
Two people.
Both hiding the truth.
Both believing they had no choice.
Both letting Andrew control the story.
A knock interrupted us.
Daniel entered again.
His expression was serious.
“Mr. Carter.””
Ethan turned.
“What now?””
Daniel held a small envelope.
“This was delivered to the front desk.””
Ethan frowned.
“From who?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Dr. Vaughn.””
My stomach tightened.
Ethan took the envelope.
There was no address.
No signature.
Only one word written on the front.
*Ava.*
Ethan looked at me.
“Open it.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Ava.””
“I know him.””
I stared at the envelope.
“He wants a reaction.””
“Maybe.””
“He wants us angry.””
Ethan looked at the envelope.
“Then we don’t give him one.””
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Old.
Faded.
My hands went cold.
Because I knew that photograph.
It was taken twelve years ago.
Before Lucas Carter disappeared.
Before Ethan became the billionaire everyone knew.
Before Andrew Vaughn became a respected doctor.
The picture showed three people outside a private medical facility.
Lucas.
Andrew.
And a woman.
A woman I recognized.
Ethan noticed my reaction.
“You know her?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because I did.
I knew her better than anyone.
“She’s my mother.””
Ethan looked at me.
“What?””
I picked up the photo with trembling fingers.
“My mother worked at that facility.””
The room went silent.
“She was one of the nurses.””
Ethan stared at the photograph.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because all the staff records were destroyed.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Ethan looked at the picture again.
“After Lucas disappeared, the hospital claimed there was a fire in the archive room.””
I felt sick.
“My mother always said she saw something that night.””
“What?””
I closed my eyes.
“I never knew if I believed her.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“What did she see?””
I looked at him.
“A patient being moved.””
“Lucas?””
I nodded.
“And Andrew was there.””
The truth hung between us.
For years, both of us had been chasing the same mystery from different directions.
And neither of us knew it.
Ethan looked at the photograph.
Then flipped it over.
There was writing on the back.
A message.
His face changed as he read it.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
Slowly, he handed me the photo.
The handwriting was Andrew’s.
*You were both looking for the same person. You just didn’t realize he was closer than you thought.*
My heart raced.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan looked toward the door.
Then toward the file.
Then at me.
Before he could answer, the lights in the office flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out.
The emergency lights turned on.
A second later, Ethan’s security alarm activated.
Daniel’s voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Carter…”
The fear in his voice made us freeze.
“What happened?”” Ethan asked.
A pause.
Then Daniel answered:
“Someone entered the restricted archive room.””
Ethan grabbed the file.
“Who?””
Another pause.
“The cameras caught the person.””
I felt my heartbeat stop.
“Who was it?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“It was someone who has access to the entire Carter building.””
Ethan looked at me.
May you like
And then Daniel said the name.
“Lucas Carter.””
