Chapter 4: The Brother They Buried
"Ethan was my brother.""
Ryan's words remained in the air between us.
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.
Then I looked at Diane.
She wasn't angry.
She wasn't offended.
She was terrified.
And that scared me more than anything Ryan had done before.
I placed the photograph back on the table.
"Start talking.""
Ryan didn't move.
"Maya...""
"No.""
My voice surprised even me.
A week ago, I would have softened when he said my name like that.
A week ago, I would have searched his face for the man I loved.
Now I searched for the lie.
"You don't get to protect me from the truth anymore.""
Diane looked at Ryan.
"She shouldn't be involved.""
I turned toward her.
"Interesting.""
She frowned.
"What?""
"Last week, I wasn't important enough to sit at your dinner table.""
Her face tightened.
"Now suddenly I'm involved.""
Nobody answered.
Because they knew I was right.
Ryan walked toward the window.
"Ethan died five years ago.""
"How?""
His shoulders lowered.
"Car accident.""
I waited.
There was something missing.
People didn't become afraid when they mentioned someone who died in an accident.
They became sad.
Diane looked haunted.
"What aren't you telling me?""
Ryan closed his eyes.
"My brother was investigating Bennett Holdings.""
The room went silent.
My heartbeat changed.
"Why?""
"Because he believed someone inside the company was stealing money.""
I stared at him.
"The eighteen million dollars.""
Ryan nodded.
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
"So your dead brother was investigating my company, and then you happened to meet me?""
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then explain it.""
Ryan turned around.
His face looked exhausted.
"Ethan found something. He thought someone was using a network of fake investment accounts to move money.""
"Who?""
He looked at Diane.
Then away.
"I don't know.""
That was the first thing he said that I believed.
Because Ryan looked genuinely afraid.
I crossed my arms.
"Why did Ethan's investigation stop?""
Ryan didn't answer.
Diane did.
"Because he died.""
The way she said it was too fast.
Too rehearsed.
I noticed.
"So you accepted that?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"What are you suggesting?""
"I'm suggesting that people who lose someone they love usually want answers.""
Diane looked away.
That reaction told me everything.
Ryan stepped between us.
"Maya, my family has been dealing with this for years.""
"No. Your family has been hiding this for years.""
He flinched.
The old Ryan would have defended himself.
This Ryan just stood there.
And somehow that hurt more.
"Why me?"" I asked.
His expression changed.
"What?""
"Why did you choose me?""
"Maya...""
"Don't avoid the question.""
He sat down slowly.
"I didn't choose you because of your money.""
"But you knew about it.""
"Yes.""
"When?""
He looked at his hands.
"Two months after we met.""
My stomach tightened.
Two months.
Two months of dates.
Two months of conversations.
Two months of me believing I was finally loved for myself.
"And you stayed.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Ryan looked at me.
"Because by then, it wasn't about the company.""
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
A piece of me still wanted to.
But trust wasn't something I could simply turn back on.
"What happened with Ethan?""
Ryan swallowed.
"He left me one message before he died.""
I froze.
"What message?""
Ryan walked to a drawer.
He pulled out an old phone.
My instincts screamed.
Don't trust him.
But I still watched.
He unlocked the phone.
There was one saved recording.
One.
Ryan pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
"Ryan, if you're hearing this, something went wrong.""
The voice was tired.
Afraid.
"Ethan?""
Ryan closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
"Don't trust the people around Bennett Holdings. Someone close is involved. I found proof, but I don't know who I can trust.""
A pause.
Then:
"Protect Mom.""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Ryan.
"That's it?""
"That's all he sent.""
"Five years ago?""
"Yes.""
"And you never went to the police?""
His face hardened.
"You don't understand.""
"Then make me understand.""
Ryan stood.
"Ethan was accused of stealing from investors.""
"What?""
"My father was dead. My mother was drowning in debt. Ethan became the easiest person to blame.""
I looked at Diane.
She looked down.
Ryan continued.
"He was trying to clear his name.""
"And he died.""
"Yes.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"Ryan, where was Ethan's car accident?""
He hesitated.
"Outside Chicago.""
"Where exactly?""
His silence lasted too long.
"Near one of Bennett Holdings' properties.""
Everything inside me went still.
My father.
My company.
My family.
All connected.
I walked toward the door.
"Maya, wait.""
I stopped.
Ryan's voice cracked.
"I know how this looks.""
"No.""
I looked back.
"You don't.""
He stared at me.
"You think I'm the villain because I lied.""
"You did lie.""
"Yes.""
"But the truth is worse.""
I opened the door.
"Because I don't know if you were protecting me...""
I looked at Diane.
"...or protecting yourself.""
I left.
Outside, I called my father.
He answered immediately.
"Did you find something?""
"Yes.""
"What?""
I looked back at the Whitmore house.
"I found out Ryan had a brother.""
Silence.
Then my father's voice changed.
"Maya.""
"What?""
"Ethan Whitmore wasn't just investigating us.""
"Who was he?""
My father took a breath.
"He was the person who almost exposed the person who stole the money.""
My grip tightened.
"Almost?""
"Because the night before he died, Ethan sent me a message.""
My heart stopped.
"You knew him?""
Another silence.
A terrible silence.
Then my father said:
"Maya, there are things I never told you about that night.""
I stared at the house.
"Why?""
His answer was barely audible.
"Because I was trying to protect you.""
May you like
The call ended.
And for the first time, I wondered if the person I trusted most had been hiding something too.
