Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHINGVictor stood in the doorway.
His gun was pointed toward Ethan.
Ariana screamed,
"You shot him!"
Victor looked at her calmly.
"He'll live."
Brianna stopped.
"What do you want?"
Victor smiled.
"The same thing I've always wanted."
He raised the gun.
"Your trust."
Ariana stepped in front of Brianna.
"You'll have to kill me first."
Victor stared at her.
Then he lowered the weapon.
"You misunderstand."
He turned toward Brianna.
"I don't want either of you dead."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because I need both of you."
Brianna frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Victor opened another file.
Inside was a birth certificate.
But it wasn't for Brianna.
It was for Damian.
Brianna stared.
The father's name was Victor Hale.
Her heart stopped.
Ariana looked at the document.
"That's impossible."
Victor smiled.
"Is it?"
Brianna shook her head.
"Damian is your brother."
"Half-brother."
Victor's face hardened.
"Your mother had another child."
Brianna felt dizzy.
"Damian?"
Victor nodded.
"Before she married your so-called father."
Ariana stepped backward.
"So Damian is..."
"Your half-brother."
Brianna stared at the document.
"No."
Victor laughed softly.
"He doesn't know."
"You're lying."
"Ask him."
Brianna's mind raced.
Could this explain everything?
Why the families had manipulated the marriage?
Why the trust had required Damian?
Why their mother had looked terrified?
Victor stepped closer.
"The trust wasn't created simply for you."
"For who?"
"For all of you."
"That makes no sense."
"It will."
He turned toward Ethan.
"Your brother discovered the truth."
Ariana looked at Ethan.
"You knew?"
Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
Blood stained his shirt.
He whispered,
"I knew."
Brianna rushed toward him.
"Are you okay?"
Ethan nodded weakly.
"Damian doesn't know."
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"Because our father threatened to kill him."
Victor scoffed.
"Your father was a liar."
Ethan stared at him.
"You were worse."
Victor ignored him.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"What?"
A pause.
His expression changed.
"He's escaped?"
Brianna looked at Ariana.
"Who?"
Victor ended the call.
His eyes filled with fury.
"Damian."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"I told you."
Victor suddenly turned toward Brianna.
"You need to understand something."
"What?"
"Damian is coming here."
Brianna's heart jumped.
"Where is he?"
Victor smiled.
"He doesn't know who he can trust."
Ariana looked frightened.
"What do you mean?"
Victor answered:
"He just found out that someone inside his own family betrayed him."
Then another sound came from outside.
Car doors.
Multiple vehicles.
Victor looked toward the entrance.
"They're here."
Brianna whispered,
"Who?"
Victor smiled.
"The police."
Ariana stared at him.
"You called them?"
"No."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Someone else did."
The doors burst open.
Armed officers stormed inside.
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Everyone froze.
Then Damian walked into the room.
His hands were free.
His shirt was torn.
His face was bruised.
Brianna nearly collapsed with relief.
"Damian!"
He looked at her.
But he didn't smile.
Instead, he said:
"Brianna, don't come near me."
She stopped.
"Why?"
Damian looked at Victor.
Then at Ariana.
Finally at Brianna.
May you like
"I know the truth."
:::
