Truth Revealed
Ashley hesitated at the top of the stairs, her hand hovering over the banister. Two weeks had passed since she’d locked herself away in her room, drowning in an ocean of despair.
But today, something felt different. She was tired of the endless cycle of grief and anger. It was time to reclaim her life.
With a deep breath, she descended the stairs. The sound of the television drifted into the hallway, accompanied by hushed murmurs.
As she entered the living room, her parents sat frozen on the couch, their faces pale and their jaws slack as they stared at the screen.
“Mom? Dad?” Ashley called out, her voice hoarse from disuse.
Her mother turned sharply, her eyes lighting up in surprise. “Emerald!” She rushed to her daughter, grabbing her hands. “You’re out of your room! Come here, quickly. You need to see this.”
Ashley frowned, allowing her mother to pull her closer. She followed her gaze to the television, where a breaking news headline flashed across the screen: “ETHAN DREY APPREHENDED: ACCOMPLICE ELENA DEAD.”
Her breath hitched as the images on the screen shifted to show Ethan in handcuffs, flanked by two officers. A photo of Elena followed, her lifeless body lying on the ground, her face pale and bloodied. The reporter’s voice droned on, but Ashley barely heard it.
“Elena,” Ashley whispered, her voice trembling. “She’s... dead?”
Her father, who hadn’t looked away from the screen, nodded grimly. “One of Ethan’s men turned on her. Shot her point-blank. The news said she was helping Ethan keep a prisoner...”
Ashley’s heart pounded in her chest as the screen showed another image—a man being dragged out of a dimly lit tunnel. Though disheveled, his identity was unmistakable.
“Demitri,” she whispered, her knees buckling.
Her mother caught her before she could collapse. “Emerald, listen to me,” her mother urged, her voice breaking. “Demitri didn’t leave because he wanted to. He was kidnapped. He was being held captive by Ethan and Elena.”
The words echoed in Ashley’s ears, but she couldn’t process them. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, that can’t be true. I thought—” Her voice faltered. “I thought he left me. I thought he betrayed me.”
Her mother’s grip tightened. “He’s been through hell, Emerald. And he never gave up on you. He’s been here—”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “He was here?”
Her mother hesitated. “Yes. He’s been trying to see you. But... your father told him to stay away. He thought it’s what you wanted.”
A sharp pain lanced through Ashley’s chest. “What?”
“I’m so sorry, Emerald. Your father told him to move far away. He thought it was best for you and the baby.”
Ashley stumbled backward, her mind reeling. “No,” she whispered. “No, this can’t be happening.”
Her mother reached for her again. “Emerald, please—”
“I need to see him,” Ashley said, her voice rising in urgency. She darted toward the door, her heart racing. “I need to find him and tell him I’m sorry.”
Her mother followed, panic in her voice. “Emerald, wait! He’s not at the penthouse or the mansion. He’s gone. Your father asked him to leave town.”
Ashley froze at the threshold, the weight of her mother’s words crashing down on her.
“Gone?” she whispered, turning back to face her mother. “You’re saying... he’s gone?”
Her mother nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. “He didn’t want to leave. He begged to stay. But your father insisted. He said you needed peace, that Demitri would only cause more pain.”
Ashley’s hands clenched into fists. “How could you let him do that? How could you let him send Demitri away without telling me?”
Her mother broke down, sobbing. “I’m so sorry, Emerald. We thought we were protecting you. We didn’t know—”
Ashley didn’t wait to hear the rest. She bolted out of the house, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She had to find him. She had to make things right.