Chapter 5 - Ethan's First Lie
Ethan didn't look surprised.
"You should have stayed away."
Daniel held the flash drive.
"You knew."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Knew what?"
"Everything."
Ethan laughed.
"You always thought you were smarter than everyone."
Daniel stepped forward.
"You were there that night."
"I was fourteen."
"You knew why my father threw me out."
Ethan said nothing.
Daniel watched him.
"You knew."
Ethan's silence answered him.
Daniel's voice became colder.
"What was in the medal?"
Ethan looked away.
Daniel noticed.
"The medal."
Ethan finally looked back.
"You don't understand what your father was trying to do."
"Then explain it."
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
Ethan stepped closer.
"Both."
Daniel raised the flash drive.
"What's on this?"
Ethan's face tightened.
"Give it to me."
"No."
"You don't know what you're holding."
"Then tell me."
Ethan looked toward the door.
"Your father wasn't the only person protecting a secret."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Who else?"
Ethan hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"Your mother."
Daniel froze.
Ethan walked away.
Daniel followed.
"What did my mother do?"
Ethan stopped at the door.
"You should ask her why she lied about the night you left."
Then he disappeared.
Daniel stood alone.
He looked down at the flash drive.
For fifteen years, he had believed his mother was simply cruel.
May you like
Now he wasn't sure.
And that frightened him more than hatred ever had.
