CHAPTER 16 — The Son He Chose Over Me
We found Ethan beside the railway tracks.
He was lying on his back, clutching his shoulder.
Blood seeped between his fingers.
My father was gone.
The notebooks lay scattered nearby.
I dropped beside Ethan.
“Stay with me.”
“I’m not dying.”
“You don’t know that.”
“It’s my shoulder, Emily. Very dramatic, though.”
Even then, he tried to joke.
His face was white.
Paramedics carried him away.
The bullet had passed cleanly through his upper shoulder.
He would recover.
My father had escaped through a drainage tunnel.
Dean Grant was rescued.
At the hospital, he communicated through writing.
He confirmed Richard had forced him to write the confession.
He also admitted accepting bribes and altering digital records.
The university cleared me of every allegation the following morning.
My degree was restored.
The fellowship committee offered me the position.
I declined.
Professor Hughes looked surprised.
“You earned it.”
“I know.”
“Then why refuse?”
“Because the fellowship is still connected to all of this. I need to choose something that belongs to me.”
For the first time, saying no didn’t feel like losing.
Sarah visited Ethan in the hospital.
It was awkward.
He apologized for helping my parents.
She surprised him by taking his hand.
“You were raised inside their lies too.”
Later, Ethan asked me, “Do you hate me?”
“Sometimes.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
“But I don’t want you dead.”
“Very touching.”
I almost smiled.
Then Daniel entered carrying a phone recovered near the railway tunnel.
My father’s phone.
There was one unsent message on the screen.
It was addressed to a contact saved as L.H.
THE GIRL KNOWS TOO MUCH. FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.
Sarah saw the initials.
Her entire body stiffened.
“Who is L.H.?” I asked.
May you like
She whispered the answer.
“My sister.”
