Chapter 8: His Father's Voice
Ethan grabbed Daniel's wrist.
“Put him on speaker.””
Daniel didn't move.
“Put him on speaker!””
Daniel pressed the button.
The voice filled the room.
“Ethan.””
Ethan stopped breathing.
It had been twelve years.
But he knew that voice.
“Dad?””
A pause.
Then Marcus said, “I'm sorry.””
Ethan's eyes filled instantly.
He turned away.
Gloria covered her mouth.
Sophia began crying.
Marcus spoke again.
“I didn't want you to hear me like this.””
Ethan turned toward the phone.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere you can't reach.””
“Then come here.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I come back, people die.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You always say that.””
Marcus ignored him.
“Ethan, listen carefully.””
“No. You listen.””
His voice broke.
“You let me think you were dead.””
“I know.””
“You watched me grow up without you.””
“I know.””
“You watched Mom bury you.””
“I know.””
“And you did nothing?””
Marcus was silent.
Ethan's tears fell.
“You don't get to say you’re sorry.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you calling?””
“Because the agreement has been opened.””
Everyone looked at the folder.
Marcus continued.
“You weren't supposed to find it yet.””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You've been controlling everything.””
“No.””
“Then who has?””
A pause.
Marcus answered quietly.
“Gloria.””
Ethan looked at his mother.
She lowered her eyes.
Marcus continued.
“She made the first move.””
Gloria whispered, “Marcus, stop.””
“You made a deal with them.””
“I was protecting Ethan.””
“You were protecting yourself.””
Ethan stepped closer to Gloria.
“What deal?””
Marcus said, “She promised them the trust.””
Gloria shook her head.
“I never gave them anything.””
“You promised them access.””
“To save you.””
“To save Ethan,” Marcus corrected.
The room fell silent.
Ethan looked at Gloria.
“From what?””
Marcus said, “From me.””
Ethan's expression tightened.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“Then tell me what you did.””
Marcus exhaled.
“Your mother arranged for Daniel to disappear.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't.””
Ethan looked at him.
“Is it true?””
Daniel's eyes met Gloria's.
“She didn't know they would try to kill me.””
Gloria sobbed.
“I thought they would frighten you into leaving.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You hired them?””
“No.””
“You gave them his location.””
“I gave them the location because they promised they wouldn't hurt him.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“They put three bullets in me.””
Gloria collapsed onto the sofa.
“I didn't know.””
Ethan stood motionless.
Marcus spoke again.
“And that's why I left.””
Ethan looked at the phone.
“You abandoned me because of her?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I realized the people around us were using you.””
“Everyone?””
“Yes.””
Ethan looked at Sophia.
She couldn't meet his eyes.
Marcus said, “Including Sophia.””
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“What was her real assignment?””
Sophia whispered, “Get you to sign.””
Marcus said, “No.””
Sophia looked at the phone.
“What?””
“You were supposed to make him trust you.””
Sophia began shaking.
“And then?””
“You were supposed to make him sign over control of the trust.””
Ethan's face hardened.
“But she didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Marcus was silent.
Sophia looked at Ethan.
“Because I couldn't do it.””
“You almost did.””
“I know.””
“You lied for years.””
“I know.””
“You watched me sign papers.””
“I never made you sign anything.””
“Someone forged my signature.””
Sophia looked toward the document.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
She closed her eyes.
“I don't know.””
Daniel suddenly said, “I do.””
Everyone looked at him.
Daniel walked to the coffee table.
He picked up the flash drive from the safe.
“Your father recorded everything.””
Marcus's voice became urgent.
“Daniel, don't.””
Daniel smiled.
“You're too late.””
He plugged the drive into the security monitor.
The screen went black.
Then a video appeared.
Marcus sat behind a desk.
Beside him stood another man.
Ethan leaned toward the screen.
“Who is that?””
Daniel whispered, “The person who financed everything.””
The man turned toward the camera.
Ethan's breath caught.
He knew him.
Not personally.
But from photographs.
From family albums.
From stories his mother had told him since childhood.
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“Your uncle.””
Ethan shook his head.
“My mother said he died.””
Gloria whispered, “He did.””
Daniel looked at her.
“No.””
The video continued.
Marcus placed a stack of documents on the desk.
His brother picked up a pen.
He signed the first page.
Then Marcus said something that made Ethan's blood run cold.
“Once Gloria signs, Ethan becomes the legal owner.””
Ethan looked at his mother.
She was crying.
“But why?”” he whispered.
The video froze.
Daniel pointed toward the signature.
“Because the trust wasn't protecting your family.””
Ethan stared.
“What was it doing?””
Daniel's phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
*STOP WATCHING.*
Then another.
*OR GLORIA DIES FIRST.*
Everyone froze.
The lights in the living room flickered.
Sophia whispered, “They're here.””
Daniel turned toward the hallway.
“No.””
Ethan looked at him.
“What?””
Daniel's face had gone pale.
“They're not here.””
May you like
He pointed toward the security monitor.
“They're already inside.””
