Chapter 5: The Enemy Behind the Name
The darkness lasted only twelve seconds.
But twelve seconds was enough.
Enough time for panic.
Enough time for people to reveal who they truly were.
The emergency lights flickered on one by one, painting the hallway in a weak red glow.
Brooke was still standing in front of me.
Her face had lost all the arrogance she carried at the gala.
For the first time in months, she looked like someone who was afraid.
Not afraid of losing money.
Not afraid of losing status.
Afraid of what was coming.
“Your father?”” I repeated.
Brooke swallowed.
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“Chad Reynolds’ father planned my accident?””
She looked away.
“Not exactly.””
I almost laughed.
“Not exactly?””
“Ethan, you don’t understand.””
“No. I understand perfectly.””
My voice was colder than I expected.
“The woman who said she loved me left me when I was injured. Her new fiancé’s family was connected to the accident. And now you’re telling me your future father-in-law was involved.””
Brooke flinched.
“Don’t make it sound simple.””
“Simple?””
I pointed toward the documents.
“My life was almost destroyed.””
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“I know.””
“You know?””
“Yes.””
That answer stopped me.
Because I expected excuses.
I expected denial.
I expected her to blame someone else.
I didn’t expect guilt.
“When did you find out?”” I asked.
Brooke looked down.
“Two weeks after the accident.””
The room became silent.
Two weeks.
She knew.
And she still left.
She still stood in front of hundreds of people and called me useless.
“You knew,” I whispered.
“I was scared.””
The anger inside me rose.
“You were scared?””
She nodded.
“My father threatened me.””
“Your father?””
She closed her eyes.
“My real estate company was failing. He promised Chad’s family would save it if I stayed close to them.””
I stared at her.
“So you chose money.””
“No.””
Her answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
“I chose survival.””
I looked at her.
“Those are not the same thing.””
Brooke had no response.
Daniel stepped closer.
“We need to leave. Now.””
But I didn’t move.
Not yet.
I needed answers.
“Why tell me this now?””
Brooke looked toward the dark hallway.
“Because they know you found out.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
“Brooke.””
Her voice became smaller.
“Chad.””
The name hung between us.
I remembered his smile at the gala.
The way he stood beside her while she humiliated me.
The way he watched.
Not shocked.
Not uncomfortable.
Enjoying it.
“What does Chad want?””
Brooke laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because she was terrified.
“He wants everything your father built.””
I looked at Daniel.
“The inheritance.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Your father’s trust.””
Brooke continued.
“Your father was negotiating a merger with Reynolds Global before he died.””
I frowned.
“That was never completed.””
“Because your father refused.””
“Why?””
Brooke looked directly at me.
“Because he discovered Chad’s father was stealing from the company.””
The pieces started connecting.
The accident.
The pressure.
The betrayal.
My father had discovered the truth.
And someone wanted him silent.
But there was something missing.
“Why didn’t my father tell me?””
Brooke hesitated.
“Because he didn’t trust anyone.””
That hurt.
More than I wanted to admit.
Even me?
Especially me?
Daniel placed the documents into his briefcase.
“We need to secure these.””
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at it.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a voice.
A voice I recognized.
Chad.
“Congratulations, Ethan.””
My grip tightened.
“You finally figured it out.””
Brooke’s face turned white.
“You knew?””
Chad laughed softly through the phone.
“You always were smarter than people gave you credit for.””
Daniel immediately motioned for me to put it on speaker.
I did.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“Somewhere you can’t reach me.””
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then:
“What your father refused to give me.””
“My company?””
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“Your trust.””
I said nothing.
Chad continued.
“You see, Ethan, your father made one mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“He thought you were stronger than everyone else.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he underestimated how easy it would be to break you.””
Brooke whispered:
“Chad, stop.””
The line went silent.
Then Chad spoke again.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“You’re still there.””
Brooke froze.
Chad laughed.
“I wondered how long it would take before she betrayed me.””
Brooke stepped back.
“What are you talking about?””
“You always were weak, Brooke.””
Her face changed.
The pain was immediate.
“You used me.””
“No.””
Chad’s voice became emotionless.
“You allowed yourself to be used.””
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
The silence afterward felt heavier than the conversation.
Then Daniel looked at me.
“We have a bigger problem.””
“What?””
He held up his phone.
“The documents from your father’s estate.””
“What about them?””
“They were accessed remotely.””
My stomach tightened.
“By who?””
Daniel looked at the screen.
And slowly turned it toward me.
May you like
The name appeared.
Brooke Reynolds.
