Chapter 9 - Nathan Finally Tells His Version
Nathan called back twenty minutes later.
Ethan answered immediately.
“Did you hit Sarah’s car?”
Silence.
“Answer me.”
Nathan’s voice was rough.
“Yes.”
Madeline closed her eyes.
Ethan gripped the phone.
“You killed her.”
“No.”
“You hit her car.”
“I hit the rear panel.”
“Why?”
“She was driving toward Claire’s safe house.”
“Yes.”
“I thought Claire was taking her to Richard.”
Claire stared at the phone.
Nathan continued.
“I tried to stop her.”
“With a car?”
“I panicked.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“Another family tradition.”
Nathan’s voice broke.
“I clipped the side. Sarah lost control.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
There it was.
The terrible simplicity of it.
No assassin.
No grand plan.
A frightened man making one reckless choice.
But Nathan continued.
“She didn’t die from the crash.”
Everyone froze.
Ethan opened his eyes.
“What?”
“I got to the car.”
Nathan was crying now.
“She was alive.”
Claire stepped closer.
“So was I.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
Claire’s voice shook.
“We pulled her out.”
Madeline stared.
“Then why did police say she died at the scene?”
Claire and Nathan went silent.
Ethan felt dread.
“Where did you take her?”
Nathan answered.
“To a private clinic.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire said Richard controlled the local hospital.”
Claire nodded.
“That was true.”
Ethan’s voice rose.
“Then how did Sarah die?”
Claire looked away.
Nathan answered.
“She didn’t.”
Silence.
Lily dropped Sarah’s jewelry box.
The sound cracked through the room.
Ethan stared at the phone.
“What did you say?”
Nathan’s breathing shook.
“Sarah survived.”
Madeline sat down.
Claire closed her eyes.
Ethan’s mind refused the words.
He had buried Sarah.
He had watched a coffin lower into the ground.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Where is she?”
Nathan went silent.
Ethan screamed.
“WHERE IS SHE?”
Lily began crying.
Ethan immediately lowered his voice.
But the damage was done.
Nathan answered.
“She left.”
“Where?”
“She said Lily would never be safe while Richard believed she was alive.”
Madeline looked at Claire.
“You let Ethan think she was dead?”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
Ethan stared at her.
“And Lily?”
Claire looked at the child.
“Sarah chose that.”
Lily’s face crumpled.
“My mommy left me?”
Madeline moved toward her.
Lily backed away.
Ethan knelt.
“No, sweetheart.”
But he did not know what truth he could safely give her.
Nathan spoke again.
“Sarah planned to come back.”
“When?”
“After Richard died.”
Ethan laughed brokenly.
“He’s been dead four years.”
No answer.
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
Something had stopped Sarah.
Or someone had.
Then Claire said quietly, “There’s more.”
Ethan looked at her.
“I received a message from Sarah three months ago.”
Lily stopped crying.
May you like
Ethan stared.
Claire whispered, “She’s still alive.”
