Chapter 12 - The Missing Passenger
The final file contained a police reconstruction report that had never been submitted.
Ethan watched it appear on the screen.
A witness had seen someone leave the wrecked vehicle before emergency crews arrived.
The witness had never been contacted.
Because Richard had paid him to remain silent.
Then the man's name appeared.
Samuel Reed.
Ethan remembered him.
His father's former driver.
Samuel stepped into the ballroom.
Guests moved aside.
Alexander's expression changed.
“You.”
Samuel nodded.
“I should have spoken sooner.”
Ethan looked at him.
“What happened that night?”
Samuel took a breath.
“Richard asked me to drive behind you.”
“Why?”
“To make sure the accident looked real.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Ethan's eyes hardened.
“Who was in the car?”
Samuel looked at Alexander.
Then at Vanessa.
“Your fiancée.”
The ballroom went silent.
Ethan stared at Vanessa.
“You were there?”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know they were going to kill you.”
“You knew about the brakes.”
“I knew they were trying to scare you.”
“That's not what I asked.”
She broke down.
“I knew.”
Ethan looked away.
For the first time, pain crossed his face.
Not because he was surprised.
Because hearing her admit it made the betrayal real.
Vanessa whispered:
“I thought they'd only force you to sell.”
“You watched the car crash.”
“I panicked.”
“And you left me there.”
She couldn't answer.
Alexander tried to interrupt.
“This is irrelevant.”
Ethan looked at him.
“No.”
He pointed at the screen.
“This is the reason my life changed.”
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“And this is the reason I stopped loving you.”
The room fell silent.
Vanessa removed the engagement ring.
Her hand shook.
She placed it on the floor.
“I am sorry.”
Ethan looked at the ring.
Then away.
May you like
“You should have been sorry before I woke up.”
👉 Vanessa had finally confessed, but Ethan still had to face the man who had ordered the accident.
