Chapter 3 - THE BRACELET MY FATHER HID
“Then who is?”
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
He watched the man disappear through the ballroom doors.
I stepped around him.
“Who is he?”
“Someone who should be dead.”
“You said my father was involved.”
“I said your father's name is connected.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“It isn't.”
For the first time, I saw genuine fear in Ethan's eyes.
Not fear for himself.
For me.
“Take me home,” I said.
He nodded.
Neither of us spoke during the drive.
Chicago passed outside the windows in streaks of yellow light.
When we reached the estate, Ethan didn't take me toward the east wing.
He led me into his study.
The room I had never been allowed to enter alone.
He locked the door.
Then placed my mother's bracelet on the desk.
“You're going to tell me everything.”
I stared at him.
“You first.”
His jaw tightened.
“I heard you.”
“What?”
“Three months ago.”
My stomach dropped.
“You heard me outside the study?”
“Yes.”
“So you know.”
“I know what you heard.”
“And?”
“And you heard what I wanted my men to believe.”
I stared at him.
“That isn't an explanation.”
“No.”
He walked toward the fireplace.
“When I said I didn't want you, I meant it.”
The words still hurt.
He continued before I could react.
“I didn't want a wife chosen by your father. I didn't want a marriage arranged around territory. And I didn't want a woman brought into my house because two families needed an alliance.”
I swallowed.
“Then why did you marry me?”
“Because if I refused, your father would have started a war.”
I looked at him.
“And you thought marrying me was better?”
“I thought keeping you alive was better.”
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
“Alive?”
Ethan looked toward the windows.
“Your father wasn't simply negotiating territory.”
“What was he doing?”
“He was preparing to sell information about my organization to the Russo family.”
My heart stopped.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
My father stood beside a man I recognized from old family gatherings.
Russo.
Between them sat a black leather briefcase.
On the back was a date.
Three weeks before my wedding.
“He planned to use you as collateral,” Ethan said.
I shook my head.
“My father loved me.”
“I believe he did.”
That answer surprised me.
Ethan continued.
“He also believed that sacrificing one person could save everyone else.”
I looked down at the bracelet.
“What does this have to do with my mother?”
“Everything.”
He turned the bracelet over.
There was a tiny clasp I had never noticed.
Ethan opened it.
A folded piece of paper was hidden inside.
My hands began trembling.
I unfolded it.
One sentence.
Jane must never know what happened at Harbor 19.
I looked up.
“What is Harbor 19?”
Ethan's expression changed.
“Your mother died there.”
I froze.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
“That is what your father told you.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“You're saying he lied about how she died?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother witnessed something.”
“What?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he opened another drawer.
Inside was an old photograph.
My mother stood beside a young Ethan.
I stared.
My mouth went dry.
“You knew my mother?”
“I was nineteen.”
“She knew you?”
“She came to my father's office.”
“Why?”
“She was trying to save someone.”
“Who?”
Ethan looked at the photograph.
“Me.”
I stared at him.
He continued.
“My father had decided I was becoming a liability. Your mother learned he planned to have me killed.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My mother saved you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would my father hate her?”
“Because she discovered something your father had done.”
“What?”
Ethan's face hardened.
“Harbor 19.”
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
He shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not ready.”
Anger surged through me.
“You don't get to decide that.”
“I do when knowing the truth could get you killed.”
“I've been living inside a lie for twenty-two years.”
“I know.”
“Then stop protecting me with another one.”
His eyes met mine.
Something broke across his face.
“You think I don't know what that feels like?”
I went quiet.
Ethan turned away.
“My father taught me that information was power. He used secrets to control everyone around him.”
He looked back at me.
“I promised myself I would never do that to you.”
The words hit differently.
I wasn't sure what to believe anymore.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
“Where?”
Another pause.
He hung up.
“What happened?”
He looked at me.
“The man from the gala was found dead.”
My heart stopped.
“Who killed him?”
Ethan shook his head.
“We don't know.”
Then he placed his phone on the desk.
“The police found something beside his body.”
“What?”
He opened the photograph on his phone.
It showed the silver watch.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
ONE WIFE. ONE LIE. ONE FAMILY THAT NEVER FORGOT.
I stared.
Then Ethan whispered:
“Harbor 19 isn't the secret.”
“What is?”
May you like
He looked at me.
“The person who survived it.”
