Chapter 9: What Sophia Knew
The room fell into darkness.
Sophia screamed.
“Ethan!””
“I’m here.””
He reached for her, then stopped.
Gloria's voice came from the other side of the room.
“Don't move.””
Ethan listened.
There was a faint electrical hum.
Then the security monitor flickered back on.
One image appeared.
A live feed of the living room.
Ethan could see himself standing beside Sophia.
Gloria stood behind them.
And in the doorway—
someone was standing there.
Ethan turned.
The doorway was empty.
He looked back at the monitor.
The figure was still visible.
Then the image changed.
The figure stepped closer to the camera.
Ethan's stomach tightened.
It was the same man from the video.
His father's former business partner.
Alive.
Sophia whispered, “He's here.””
Ethan turned toward her.
“You knew.””
“I knew he survived.””
“You told me he was dead.””
“He made everyone believe it.””
“Why?””
Sophia shook her head.
“Because disappearing was the only way he could keep control.””
Gloria moved toward them.
“What did he want from you?””
Sophia looked at her.
“Your son.””
Ethan stared.
“What?””
“He wanted access to Ethan's identity.””
“For what?””
“To move everything into his name.””
Ethan's face hardened.
“The accounts.””
Sophia nodded.
“The contracts. The properties. The money.””
“And the signatures.””
“Yes.””
“Mine.””
“Yes.””
Ethan took a step back.
“You helped him forge them.””
Sophia began crying.
“I didn't write them.””
“But you gave him access.””
“I gave him information.””
“What information?””
“My passwords.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You gave him my passwords?””
Sophia covered her face.
“He threatened my brother.””
Gloria stepped closer.
“Your brother?””
Sophia nodded.
“He disappeared two years ago.””
Ethan looked at her.
“You never told me you had a brother.””
“I was afraid.””
“Is he alive?””
Sophia couldn't answer.
Ethan's voice broke.
“Sophia.””
“Yes.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“He's alive.””
Gloria whispered, “Where?””
“I don't know.””
The monitor suddenly displayed another message.
*ONE MINUTE.*
Ethan looked at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
Sophia's face went pale.
“He's coming.””
“Who?””
“My father's partner.””
Ethan turned toward the door.
“Why?””
“Because the folder is open.””
Gloria tightened her grip on the black folder.
“What does he want now?””
“The last page.””
Ethan opened the folder.
He flipped through the documents.
Contracts.
Payments.
Photographs.
Then he reached the final page.
Nothing.
Blank.
He looked at Sophia.
“There's nothing here.””
Sophia shook her head.
“It isn't supposed to be in the folder.””
“Then where is it?””
She looked at Gloria.
Ethan followed her gaze.
“Mom?””
Gloria didn't move.
Sophia whispered, “Your father gave it to her.””
Ethan's face tightened.
“Gave her what?””
“The original ledger.””
Gloria's eyes closed.
Ethan stepped toward her.
“Where is it?””
She whispered, “Somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if he finds it, people will die.””
Ethan stared at her.
“What people?””
Gloria looked at Sophia.
“Her brother.””
Sophia broke down.
Ethan's expression changed.
“You know where he is.””
Gloria nodded.
“I've known for two years.””
Sophia covered her mouth.
“Where?””
Gloria walked toward the family photographs.
She removed a framed picture.
Behind it was another hidden compartment.
But this one was empty.
Gloria stared inside.
Her face drained of color.
“It was here.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“What was?””
“The ledger.””
Sophia shook her head.
“No.””
Ethan looked at the security monitor.
The live footage showed the three of them standing in the room.
Then the camera slowly shifted.
It pointed toward the coffee table.
A gloved hand entered the frame.
It placed a small envelope beside the folder.
Then disappeared.
Ethan rushed toward the table.
He grabbed the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Sophia's missing brother was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
His wrists were bound.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.
*Bring me the ledger, or he disappears forever.*
Sophia collapsed onto the sofa.
Ethan stared at the photograph.
Then he noticed something in the background.
A wall.
A clock.
And beneath it, a framed family photograph.
He recognized the room.
Not from the security footage.
Not from his father's records.
From somewhere much closer.
Ethan slowly looked at Gloria.
“Mom…”
She didn't answer.
“You said the ledger was hidden.””
“Yes.””
“You said nobody knew where.””
“Yes.””
Ethan turned the photograph around again.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“I know where this picture was taken.””
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
Ethan looked toward the living-room door.
“He's not hiding somewhere else.””
May you like
He raised the photograph.
“He's been in this house.””
