Chapter 4 - The Secret Lily Had Kept
Ethan closed the door.
“You saw me?”
Lily nodded.
“Three nights ago.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because I don't work for Vanessa.”
Ethan stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Lily reached into her apron pocket.
She pulled out a folded photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a man Ethan didn't recognize.
The picture had been taken outside a private medical clinic.
Ethan studied it.
“Who is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why keep this?”
“Because he came here twice.”
“When?”
“Before your accident.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Who took the photograph?”
“My brother.”
Lily hesitated.
“He works security at the clinic.”
Ethan looked at the date.
Six days before the accident.
The man beside Vanessa was holding a folder.
Ethan recognized the logo.
It belonged to a rehabilitation center.
His rehabilitation center.
“What were they doing there?”
“I don't know.”
Ethan looked up.
“Lily, I need you to do something.”
“What?”
“Find out his name.”
She nodded.
Before leaving, she turned.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“Vanessa isn't the only person meeting him.”
Ethan's stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Lily looked toward the hallway.
“Your uncle.”
Ethan went still.
His uncle, Richard Cross, had been running the family's company since Ethan's father died.
Richard had always acted like Ethan's protector.
Now everything looked different.
The following morning, Ethan watched Richard enter the study.
Vanessa followed him.
The door closed.
Ethan remained in his wheelchair outside.
He waited.
Twenty minutes later, Vanessa emerged.
Richard stayed behind.
Ethan noticed something in Vanessa's hand.
A small key.
She slipped it into her purse.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
That key belonged to his father's old safe.
He had searched for it for years.
Now Vanessa had it.
That evening, Ethan asked her casually:
“Where did you go today?”
Vanessa kissed his cheek.
“Shopping.”
“With my uncle?”
She froze.
Only for half a second.
Then she smiled.
“You're becoming suspicious.”
Ethan smiled back.
“Maybe.”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Don't worry about things you can't control.”
She walked away.
Ethan watched her disappear.
Then he quietly whispered:
May you like
“That was exactly what I wanted you to say.”
👉 Because Ethan now knew Vanessa had access to his father's safe—and he intended to find out what she was desperate to hide.
