Chapter 14: The Truth Behind the Face

Ava stood frozen.

Ethan was alive.

Her husband was standing across from her, held at gunpoint by his own father.

Yet only moments ago, she had believed she was looking at Ethan when Adrian had appeared in the darkness.

Her mind struggled to process everything.

Adrian had his face.

His voice.

His mannerisms.

He had even known exactly how to hold her hand.

How could two people look so much alike?

How could one be her husband and the other be the man who had deceived her?

“Give me the key,” Richard repeated.

Ava looked at the tiny silver key in her palm.

Then she looked at Ethan.

He shook his head slightly.

“No.”

Richard pressed the gun harder against Ethan’s head.

“Ava, don’t.”

“I can’t watch them kill you.”

Ethan’s eyes softened.

“You have to trust me.”

She almost laughed.

“Trust you?”

Tears filled her eyes.

“You let me believe you were dead.”

“I know.”

“You let me bury a stranger.”

“I know.”

“You let me think I had lost my husband forever.”

“I know.”

His voice cracked.

“I know, Ava.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Adrian stepped forward.

“You always were good at making her feel sorry for you.”

Ethan looked at his twin.

“You haven’t changed.”

Adrian smiled.

“Neither have you.”

Ava looked between them.

“Why?”

Both men looked at her.

“Why did you do this?”

Adrian’s smile faded.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me.”

He remained silent.

Ava stepped closer.

“You pretended to be my husband.”

“Yes.”

“You knew I would believe you were Ethan.”

“Yes.”

“You knew I loved him.”

Adrian’s eyes hardened.

“Yes.”

“Then why?”

He looked away.

“Because I needed something only you could give me.”

“The key.”

He nodded.

Ava tightened her grip around it.

“What does it open?”

No one answered.

Richard finally spoke.

“Enough questions.”

Ava looked at him.

“No.”

Her voice was steadier now.

“You’re all hiding something from me.”

Richard smiled coldly.

“You’re beginning to sound like your mother.”

Ava froze.

“My mother?”

Adrian’s expression changed.

Even Ethan looked uncomfortable.

Ava noticed.

“You know her.”

Richard said nothing.

“You all know my mother.”

Still nothing.

“Why?”

Richard’s eyes remained fixed on her.

“Because your mother was involved with this family long before you were born.”

Ava’s heart pounded.

“Involved how?”

Richard didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned toward Ethan.

“Tell her.”

Ethan shook his head.

“Not here.”

Richard laughed.

“Still protecting her?”

“Always.”

Ava looked at Ethan.

“What are you protecting me from?”

He looked into her eyes.

“The truth.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“It will.”

“Then tell me.”

Ethan glanced at Richard.

Then at Adrian.

Finally, he looked back at Ava.

“Your mother knew about the Black Ledger.”

Ava’s breath caught.

“She helped create it.”

“What?”

“She discovered what my father was doing years ago.”

Richard’s expression hardened.

“She betrayed this family.”

Ethan shook his head.

“She tried to expose it.”

“And failed.”

Ava looked at Richard.

“What happened to her?”

Richard was silent.

Ava’s voice became desperate.

“Where is my mother?”

Richard smiled.

“You should be asking yourself why she never came looking for you.”

Ava’s eyes filled with tears.

“She was dead.”

“Was she?”

Ava stared at him.

“What does that mean?”

Before Richard could answer, a loud crash came from the warehouse entrance.

Everyone turned.

Damien appeared through the smoke.

His shoulder was bleeding, but he was still standing.

“Let him go.”

Richard raised an eyebrow.

“You’re becoming a nuisance.”

Damien raised his gun.

“And you’re becoming predictable.”

The guards immediately aimed their weapons at him.

Ethan looked at his brother.

“Damien, don’t.”

“I’m not leaving you here.”

Richard sighed.

“Such loyalty.”

Damien’s eyes hardened.

“You’re not taking anyone else from this family.”

Richard smiled.

“Your brother already chose his side.”

Damien looked at Ethan.

“What does he mean?”

Ethan didn’t answer.

Ava noticed.

“Ethan?”

Before he could respond, Damien fired into the ceiling.

Everyone ducked.

The warehouse erupted into chaos.

Ethan pushed Richard away and ran toward Ava.

“Ava!”

She reached for him.

Their hands met.

For the first time since the funeral, she was standing beside her husband again.

He pulled her toward the side exit.

“Run!”

They rushed outside.

Behind them, gunshots echoed through the warehouse.

Ava ran until her lungs burned.

Finally, Ethan pulled her into an alley.

They stopped.

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.

Ava touched his face.

He closed his eyes.

“You’re real.”

He opened them again.

“Yes.”

She slapped him.

He didn’t move.

“You deserved that.”

“I know.”

She slapped him again.

“And that.”

“I know.”

Ava began crying.

“Why didn’t you come home?”

Ethan’s expression broke.

“I tried.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Because they were watching you.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then how do you know?”

“Because every time I got close, someone sent me proof that they could reach you.”

Ava wiped her tears.

“And Adrian?”

Ethan’s face hardened.

“He was part of it.”

“Was?”

“I don’t know anymore.”

Ava stared at him.

“You don’t know if your own twin is working against you?”

“No.”

“Then we’re not safe.”

Ethan nodded.

“No.”

He reached toward the necklace around her neck.

“Keep the key hidden.”

Ava stepped back.

“What exactly does it open?”

Ethan hesitated.

“The second vault.”

Her eyes widened.

“There is another vault?”

“Yes.”

“What is inside?”

Ethan looked at her.

“The truth about your mother.”

Before Ava could ask another question, headlights appeared at the end of the alley.

A black car stopped.

The rear door opened.

A woman slowly stepped out.

Ava stared at her.

Her heart stopped.

She knew that face.

She had seen it in the photograph inside the vault.

The woman looked directly at her.

Her eyes filled with tears.

Then she whispered,

“My daughter.”