Chapter 9 - THE LAST NIGHT OF THE LIE
Ethan stood inside the abandoned observatory beneath a broken glass dome.
Vanessa was beside him.
She looked exhausted. Her burgundy gown had been replaced by a dark coat, and her hair was tied back.
Adrian entered with the ledger in his hand.
“You wanted this.”
Ethan smiled.
“You always were easy to predict.”
“Why did you involve Vanessa?”
“She wanted security. I wanted control. We made an arrangement.”
Vanessa looked at Adrian.
“I never wanted you dead.”
“You paid the mechanic.”
“I thought you'd be injured. I thought you'd step aside.”
“You told him it would be better if I didn't come back.”
Her face tightened.
“I was angry.”
“You were willing to gamble with my life.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Stop pretending this is about love. It was business.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You tried to kill your own brother for a board seat.”
“You were given everything.”
“I was given responsibility.”
“You were given the company.”
“And you were given a choice.”
Ethan laughed.
“Choice? You think Father ever intended to give me anything?”
Adrian opened the ledger.
“His note says he knew you were asking questions about the succession clause. He was trying to stop you.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“He was going to remove me.”
“He was going to protect the company.”
“From me?”
“Yes.”
Ethan reached inside his coat.
Detective Harris shouted from the doorway.
“Don't move!”
Ethan pulled a gun.
A shot rang out.
The bullet struck a support beam. Daniel tackled Ethan to the floor while officers rushed in from the rear entrance.
Vanessa dropped to her knees.
Adrian stood frozen.
Then Emma appeared beside Detective Harris.
“Adrian!”
He turned.
She ran toward him, but stopped when she saw the weapon on the floor.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
She looked at his face.
“You're shaking.”
He hadn't noticed.
Daniel restrained Ethan while officers secured Vanessa. Ethan continued shouting that the company belonged to him.
Adrian watched as his half-brother was led away.
For years, he had imagined confronting the person responsible for the crash. He had imagined anger, satisfaction, even revenge.
Instead, he felt only exhaustion.
Vanessa paused at the doorway.
“Adrian.”
He looked at her.
“I did love you once.”
He answered quietly.
“Then you should have left when you stopped.”
She lowered her eyes.
The officers took her away.
Emma stood beside Adrian.
“It's over,” she said.
May you like
He looked at the broken dome above them.
“The lies are over.”
