Chapter 6 - The Girl Who Took the Wrong Road
The truth about Ethan's accident began with a road nobody was supposed to remember.
According to the files Bella had hidden, she had been investigating a medical charity that appeared to be paying for rehabilitation treatments.
But the money wasn't reaching the patients.
Instead, millions were being redirected through shell companies.
Bella had discovered evidence linking the scheme to Victoria Sterling's family.
She planned to meet a journalist.
That night, someone followed her vehicle.
Ethan had been biking home from his evening shift at a grocery store when a silver SUV forced him off the road.
Bella's car was several blocks ahead.
The SUV had mistaken Ethan's bicycle light for the signal Bella was supposed to display during the planned meeting.
That was what the investigative documents suggested.
And it made me furious.
"My brother almost died because somebody got confused?" I demanded.
Adrian stood beside the window of his office.
"We don't know every detail yet."
"Then find out!"
He didn't argue.
"I intend to."
Ethan was safe in a private rehabilitation facility under temporary protection arranged through the police.
I had insisted he receive proper medical evaluations before any transfer.
Adrian had respected that.
Still, every new discovery made me feel more helpless.
I hated that feeling.
I hated knowing powerful strangers had been making decisions about our lives.
And I especially hated that I had unknowingly kissed a man connected to all of it.
"Why did you agree to marry Victoria?" I asked.
Adrian turned.
"I didn't."
"Your family expected it."
"That doesn't mean I consented."
"Then why didn't you stop them?"
His expression became distant.
"Because my father's last business partner controls information about Isabella."
I folded my arms.
"Victoria's father?"
Adrian nodded.
"Charles Sterling."
I thought about the photograph.
The missing woman.
The stolen money.
My brother's accident.
"Then Charles is involved."
"Almost certainly."
"Why haven't the police arrested him?"
"Because suspicion isn't evidence."
For the first time, Adrian sounded frustrated.
Not powerful.
Not dangerous.
Just a brother desperate to find his sister.
I approached him.
"Adrian?"
He looked at me.
"What?"
"Did Bella ever tell you she was afraid of your father?"
His entire body stiffened.
"Why?"
"Because she told Ethan that families sometimes hide their worst secrets behind the nicest photographs."
Adrian turned toward his desk.
He opened a drawer and removed an old family photograph.
His father stood in the center.
Adrian on one side.
Bella on the other.
And beside them stood Charles Sterling.
I studied the image.
Then noticed something.
Bella wasn't looking at the camera.
She was staring at Charles.
Her expression was frightened.
Adrian whispered, "I never noticed."
Suddenly, his office phone rang.
Evelyn's voice came through.
"Sir, Victoria Sterling is here."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Tell her I'm unavailable."
A woman's voice interrupted.
"Oh, Adrian. I think you'll want to see me."
The doors opened.
Victoria stood there in a white designer suit.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect smile.
Then she looked at me.
Her smile widened.
"Well," she purred. "The waitress."
I lifted my chin.
"Hello."
Victoria approached Adrian.
"I brought you a wedding gift."
She placed a small silver box on his desk.
Inside was Bella's necklace.
Adrian went pale.
May you like
Victoria leaned closer.
"And if you don't announce our engagement tonight, Adrian, the next thing I send you will be your sister's body."
