Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

Chapter 40 – When the Door OpensAriana’s POVI didn’t move.If I moved, it would become real.Ethan’s voice echoed again from downstairs, sharper this time, edged with confusion and something close to panic.“Ariana?”Dr. Hargreaves rose slowly from the bed. “Do you want me to answer that?”“No,” I said too fast. Then softer, “Please… don’t.”Her eyes flicked to the door. She understood more than she was letting on.The footsteps on the stairs were heavier now. Faster.Victor’s voice followed, calm but unmistakably strained. “Ethan, this isn’t a good time.”“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan snapped. “Where is she?”My heart hammered so violently I thought I might pass out.The door handle moved.Victor didn’t knock.The door opened—and Ethan froze.His eyes found me instantly.I’d never seen that look on his face before. Shock. Relief. Fury. Fear. All colliding at once.“Ariana…” His voice broke. “What are you doing here?”I stood slowly, my legs weak. “I—”Victor stepped

Chapter 42 – The One Who Came BackAriana’s POVI didn’t open the door.Not at first.My heart was beating too fast, my hands trembling as I stood there staring at the handle like it might explode if I touched it.“Ariana,” the voice whispered again. “Please.”I knew that voice.I hated that I knew it.Slowly, I stepped closer. “If this is a trick—”“It’s not,” he said quickly. “I swear. I wouldn’t do that to you.”I unlocked the door.Ethan stood there.Not calm. Not confident. Not the Ethan who always seemed in control.This Ethan looked wrecked.His hair was messy, his shirt wrinkled like he’d pulled it on in a hurry. There was a faint cut on his knuckle, dried blood along his skin. His eyes—those dark eyes that always saw too much—searched my face like he was afraid I might disappear.“How did you—” My voice broke. “How did you find me?”“I followed him,” he said simply. “I’ve been watching this place for hours.”Fear rushed through me. “You shouldn’t be here.”“I know.”“Victor w

Chapter 44 – The Truth He Never Meant to TellAriana’s POVThe sound of Victor’s phone ringing felt louder than the shouting had been. Like fate interrupting a confession it wasn’t ready to allow.Victor glanced at the screen, then back at me, and slowly declined the call.“Not yet,” he said calmly. “This deserves your full attention.”My knees felt weak. “You said my mother—”“She’s alive,” he cut in. “Upset. Confused. Asking questions.” His eyes flicked to Ethan. “Questions he forced me to answer.”Ethan took a step toward him. “Don’t put this on me.”“Oh, I will.” Victor straightened his cuffs, unbothered, controlled. “You’ve been lying to her since the beginning.”I turned to Ethan. “Lying about what?”He didn’t look at me.That hurt more than any answer could have.“Ethan,” I whispered. “Look at me.”Slowly, he did. His eyes were dark, conflicted, like a man standing on the edge of something he couldn’t come back from.“I didn’t come back because I couldn’t forget you,” he said q

Chapter 46 – What He BuriedAriana’s POVThe car didn’t stop until the city thinned out and the lights grew farther apart. My chest felt tight the entire drive, like something heavy was sitting on it, pressing down harder with every mile.“Luca,” I said quietly. “You need to tell me what Ethan meant.”He didn’t answer.The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. I watched his reflection in the windshield—jaw clenched, eyes fixed on the road, shoulders stiff like he was bracing for impact.“Luca,” I repeated. “Please.”He finally pulled into a narrow side street and killed the engine. The quiet hit all at once. No traffic. No voices. Just us and the faint hum of the city far away.He leaned back in his seat and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I didn’t want you finding out like this.”“Finding out what?” My voice cracked. “Everyone keeps talking around me like I’m a child.”“You’re not,” he said quickly. “That’s the problem.”My stomach twisted.He turned to face me fully. “Your fat

Chapter 48 – The Voice in the DarkAriana’s POVThe message burned into my screen.He’s lying. Your father is alive.For a second, I forgot how to breathe.Victor noticed immediately. His eyes dropped to my hand, sharp and calculating. “Who just contacted you?”“No one,” I said too fast.Ethan stiffened beside me. Luca’s gaze flicked from my face to the phone, then back again, suspicion tightening his features.Victor stepped closer. Too close. “Give me the phone.”My fingers curled around it instinctively. “Why?”His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Because secrets don’t end well in this family.”Something in his tone snapped the last thread of fear holding me still. I took a step back. “You don’t get to control everything.”For the first time, Victor looked genuinely annoyed.“Careful,” he warned. “You’re standing on ground you don’t understand.”“Then explain it,” I shot back. “Explain why someone just told me my father is alive.”The room went dead silent.Ethan’s head whipped toward