Chapter 7: The Night Everyone Lied
I stared at Ethan.
For several seconds, I couldn’t understand the words.
Not because they were complicated.
Because they were impossible.
“I knew your mother.””
That sentence didn’t belong in my life.
Not in this moment.
Not from him.
My mother had been gone for years.
She was a memory.
A faded photograph.
A voice I struggled to remember sometimes.
She had nothing to do with Ethan Callahan.
Nothing to do with Daniel.
Nothing to do with the secrets that had followed me from Los Angeles to Chicago.
At least, that was what I thought.
“What did you say?””
Ethan looked away.
That was the first time I saw him avoid my eyes.
Not because he was hiding something.
Because he was afraid of what I would see if he looked at me.
“I knew your mother.””
My hands went cold.
“How?””
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
“I met her before I met Daniel.””
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
“Before Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He took a slow breath.
“She was involved in my father’s case.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Rachel—”
“No.””
I stepped backward.
“You’re telling me my mother knew your family, Daniel knew your family, and somehow I’m the only person who didn’t know?””
The silence was unbearable.
Because it was the answer.
Everyone had been carrying pieces of my life except me.
Ethan stood.
“I didn’t know who you were when I saw you on the plane.””
I looked at him.
“I don’t believe that.””
“It’s true.””
“Then why did you help me?””
His expression changed.
“Because I saw a mother struggling with her child.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That’s all?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did your face change when you learned my name?””
He hesitated.
And that hesitation was enough.
“Because?””
He looked down.
“Because your name was familiar.””
My throat tightened.
“From where?””
“My father’s files.””
I closed my eyes.
This couldn’t be real.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“What was she doing in those files?””
Ethan walked toward the desk and opened another folder.
This one was older.
The papers inside looked worn.
Like they had been touched thousands of times.
He pulled out a photograph.
A woman stood outside a building.
My mother.
I knew her instantly.
Even older.
Even with shorter hair.
I knew her.
My fingers trembled.
“Where did you get this?””
“My father kept it.””
“Why?””
Ethan looked at the picture.
“Because she was the last person who warned him.””
“Warned him about what?””
“Daniel.””
I stared at him.
“My mother knew Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“She never mentioned him.””
“She probably couldn’t.””
“Why?””
Ethan’s expression darkened.
“Because someone made sure she wouldn’t.””
A cold silence filled the room.
I looked at Sophie.
She was still sleeping.
Still innocent.
Still untouched by the mess adults had created.
“What happened to my mother?””
Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me.
“Ethan.””
He looked at me.
“She died in a car accident.””
I swallowed.
“I know.””
“But you don’t know everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at the photograph.
“The night she died, she was on her way to meet my father.””
The room spun.
“Why?””
“To give him evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Ethan’s voice lowered.
“Daniel’s first betrayal.””
I felt tears forming.
Not because I was sad.
Because I was overwhelmed.
My whole life had been built on things people never told me.
“My mother knew Daniel was dangerous?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Because you were sixteen.””
The number hit me.
Sixteen.
I remembered that time.
My mother had become distant.
Tired.
Secretive.
I thought she was sick.
I thought she was worried about money.
I never imagined she was afraid.
“She was trying to protect you.””
I looked away.
“But she died.””
Ethan didn’t argue.
“She did.””
“And Daniel?””
“He disappeared.””
My hands curled into fists.
“So everyone just moved on?””
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“Everyone tried to find the truth.””
“Everyone except me.””
Ethan looked at me.
“Yes.””
That honesty hurt.
More than a lie would have.
I wiped my eyes.
“I need to see Mia.””
“We need to find her first.””
“You said she was safe.””
“I don’t know if that’s true.””
The words scared me.
I grabbed my phone.
“I’m calling her again.””
Ethan didn’t stop me.
This time, she answered immediately.
“Rachel?””
I froze.
“Mia?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Oh my God.””
I held the phone tighter.
“Are you okay?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m sorry.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“I’m so sorry.””
“Mia, where are you?””
Another pause.
“Rachel, listen to me.””
“No.””
I stood.
“Where are you?””
“You need to leave.””
“Leave where?””
“Anywhere.””
Her voice cracked.
“Just get away from Ethan.””
I looked at him.
The same warning.
From Daniel.
From now Mia.
Everyone kept saying the same thing.
Don’t trust Ethan.
“Why?””
Mia went silent.
“Mia.””
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
“I can’t.””
“You owe me that.””
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then she whispered:
“I never wanted you involved.””
My heart sank.
“Involved in what?””
Mia started crying.
A sound I hadn’t heard from her in years.
“Rachel, Daniel didn’t choose you by accident.””
My grip tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“He knew about Mom.””
I stopped breathing.
“He knew about what happened.””
“What happened?””
Mia didn’t answer.
“Mia.””
Then she said:
“The night Mom died... Daniel was there.””
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
“What?””
Ethan looked at me.
I couldn’t speak.
Mia continued.
“He told me not to tell you.””
My voice was barely there.
“Why?””
“Because he said if you knew the truth, you would hate him.””
A thousand thoughts crashed together.
Daniel.
My mother.
Ethan.
The accident.
The lies.
“Mia, what truth?””
Her breathing became uneven.
“Rachel...””
“What?””
“I wasn’t the one who helped Daniel.””
I froze.
“What?””
“I was trying to stop him.””
The room became silent.
“Then why were you in the photograph?””
Mia gasped.
“You saw that?””
“Yes.””
A long pause.
Then:
“He forced me.””
My anger disappeared.
“What?””
“He threatened me.””
“With what?””
Mia started crying harder.
“With you.””
I closed my eyes.
My sister.
My mother.
Daniel.
Everyone connected.
Everyone hiding.
Everyone afraid.
“Where are you, Mia?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Mia.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because he’s listening.””
My blood went cold.
“Who?””
A sound came through the phone.
A door closing.
Mia whispered:
“Rachel, I need you to remember something.””
“What?””
“If Ethan tells you he saved you...””
I waited.
“Ask him what happened the night your mother died.””
The call disconnected.
I lowered the phone.
I couldn’t move.
Ethan watched me.
“What did she say?””
I looked at him.
The man who had protected me.
The man who had lied by omission.
The man who knew my mother.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were there?””
His face changed.
“I wasn’t.””
“Mia said—”
“Mia doesn’t know everything.””
“Neither do I!””
The words exploded out of me.
“I’m tired of everyone deciding what I deserve to know!””
Ethan stood silently.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then:
“Are you sure?””
Silence.
His eyes moved to me.
Then Sophie.
“Send the location.””
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
“What happened?””
He didn’t answer right away.
Then he said:
“We found Daniel.””
My heart stopped.
“Where?””
Ethan looked at me.
“At your mother’s old house.””
I felt a chill.
“That house was sold years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
Ethan’s voice became quiet.
“Because someone has been living there.””
I swallowed.
“Who?””
He looked at the photograph of my mother.
Then at me.
“Rachel...””
His voice lowered.
“The person living there has been keeping every piece of your life.””
My stomach twisted.
“What do you mean?””
Ethan looked at his phone again.
May you like
And the final message on the screen was only three words.
*She knows everything.*
