Khian’s POV
The moment I stepped into the building, everything felt off. It was late, way past the time anyone should be in here. The shadows from the hallway lights stretched across the floor, and my footsteps echoed as I walked toward my office. My mind was still spinning from everything, the accident, the police report, the missing pieces. But I had to stay focused. Something didn’t sit right, and I needed answers.
When I got to my office, I started pulling out all the files I could find. Papers were scattered everywhere, but none of them seemed to connect the dots. It was just business stuff, school forms, committee notes, nothing that could help me. I almost gave up, but then, something caught my eye. A black folder.
I hadn’t noticed it before, not when I was here with Lily earlier. It was the new arrival folder I’d asked someone to get for me, but I hadn’t opened it yet. Maybe this was the clue I needed.
Opening it, I expected to find papers, but there were none. Instead, inside were random pictures. At first glance, they didn’t make sense. Half-shown bodies, people wearing coats with some weird logo I didn’t recognize, illegal money exchanging hands, businessmen in dark corners. None of it fit together. 
I held one of the photos up to the light, trying to figure out what it meant. The logo on the coat looked strange, almost like a symbol of something. But I couldn’t place it. It was like a puzzle piece that didn’t fit anywhere. A cold chill crept over me as I realized this wasn’t just some random collection of images, these photos meant something, I just couldn’t figure out what.
As I was deep in thought, a loud noise from the hallway startled me. It was like a crash, or maybe someone bumping into something. I froze. No one should be here this late. What was going on?
I moved quietly, making sure I didn’t make a sound, and crept toward the door. I peeked out into the hallway, scanning for any movement. And then, I saw her.
Katherine.
She was standing by Ethan’s locker. And she wasn’t just standing there... she was breaking into it.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Why would Katherine be trying to break into Ethan’s locker? My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a rush of anger mixed with confusion. This wasn’t just some prank; this was something serious.
I stepped out into the hall, my voice low but cold. "Katherine, what the hell are you doing?"
She jumped, her hands shaking as she spun around to face me. Her eyes were wide, and for a second, I saw fear in them. "Khian... I... I can explain," she stammered, barely able to get the words out.
"Explain what?" I asked, my tone sharp. "Why are you breaking into Ethan’s locker?"
Katherine swallowed hard, her face pale. "I... I’m trying to help," she whispered.
"Help?" I repeated, not understanding what she meant. "What are you talking about?"
She glanced down at the floor, her hands still trembling. "I’m trying to help Ethan. I needed to find something."
My mind was racing. What did she mean, help Ethan? How did breaking into his locker have anything to do with that?
"Katherine, you’re not making any sense. What are you looking for?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though every part of me was ready to explode.
"It’s... it’s about his dad," she muttered, barely loud enough for me to hear.
I froze. His dad? That’s when it hit me. The thing I’d been keeping to myself for so long. The issue that had been haunting Ethan’s family for years. Katherine knew about it too. 
"What do you know about his dad?" I asked, my voice suddenly quieter, more serious.
She looked up at me, her eyes pleading. "Ethan’s dad... the things he was involved in. The business deals, the people he crossed... it’s dangerous, Khian. Ethan’s been caught in the middle of it, and now... now he’s in trouble because of it."
My mind flashed back to the pictures in the black folder, the strange logo, the businessmen exchanging money. Could it be connected? Could Ethan’s dad’s dealings be part of this whole mess?
Katherine must have seen the confusion on my face because she took a step closer. "I’m just trying to help him, Khian. I know he’s in trouble. His dad’s mess is catching up to him, and I thought maybe... maybe there was something in his locker that could explain what’s going on."
I didn’t know what to say. Everything was crashing down all at once, and I wasn’t sure what to believe. But one thing was clear, this wasn’t just about a car accident anymore. There was something bigger at play, something dangerous.
I looked at Katherine, trying to process everything. "You should’ve told me earlier," I said, my voice softer this time. "If Ethan’s in trouble because of his dad, we need to figure this out together."
She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "I’m sorry. I was just scared. I didn’t know who to trust."
I sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. "Let’s just... get out of here for now. We need to focus on Ethan. We can deal with the rest later."
Katherine nodded again, wiping her eyes. As I led her out of the school, my mind was spinning with questions. Who were the people in those photos? What did the logo mean? And most importantly, how was Ethan caught up in all of this?
Before we left the building, I knew I couldn’t just leave everything behind. The files, papers, and pictures I had found about Ethan’s dad, they were too important. I rushed back into the office, grabbing every folder, every document that might help me understand what was going on. My hands moved quickly, shuffling through the papers.
But then it hit me.
The first file, the very first one I got from my connection, the one that had everything on Ethan’s dad’s shady deals... it wasn’t here. My eyes scanned my desk, the drawers, every inch of space. But it was gone. Panic set in for a second as I stood there, trying to remember where I’d left it. 
And then, it clicked.
I had left it at home. The folder was in my room, back at the house. That one file had all the details I needed to piece this together, and I couldn’t believe I’d left it behind.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, frustration boiling up inside me.
Katherine was standing in the hallway, waiting for me. I quickly closed the folders and stuffed everything into a bag. I had no choice now but to head back home and grab the file. I needed to connect all of this, the pictures, the papers, the logo. Nothing made sense yet, but I was sure that file held the missing piece.
"We need to change plans," I told Katherine, my voice tense. "I left the most important file at home. We have to go get it."
She nodded without question, sensing my urgency. “Okay, let’s go.”
As we hurried out of the building, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were getting closer to the truth, but it also felt like we were running out of time. The police had hinted that Ethan’s accident might not have been an accident at all, and the more I thought about it, the more everything started to feel connected.
The drive back to the house was quick, but it felt like an eternity. My mind was racing, running through all the possibilities. Was someone trying to hurt Ethan because of his dad’s mistakes? Was this about revenge, or something else entirely?
When we pulled up to the house, I parked the car quickly and turned to Katherine. "Wait here. I’ll be back in a minute. I just need to grab the file."
She nodded, looking around cautiously. “What should I do with the files we got?”
"Try to connect everything we found at school. Look at the pictures, the papers. Maybe there’s something we’re missing. I’ll be right back." I hopped out of the car and rushed inside.
The house was quiet, too quiet. Everyone was still at the hospital with Ella, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. I should be there with her, making sure she’s okay. But I couldn’t ignore this. Ethan was my best friend, and whatever was going on, it could be dangerous for him, and for all of us.
As I stepped into the house, I felt the silence wrap around me, thick and heavy. I rushed upstairs, heading straight for my room where I knew the file would be. It had to be here. I found it, just sitting on my desk. I grabbed it, ready to head back to Katherine and put all the pieces together.
But just as I was about to leave, I stopped dead in my tracks.
The front door is now wide open.
I had closed it when I came in. I was sure of it. My heart started racing as I stood frozen, staring at the open door. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Katherine?” I called out, hoping she had somehow followed me in without me knowing. But there was no response. The house was still. Quiet. Too quiet.
I started walking through the house, checking every room one by one. First Ella’s room, nothing. Then the guest room, empty. Finally, I moved to my parents’ room, my hand hovering on the doorknob for just a second before I pushed it open.
That’s when I saw him.
My dad. Standing there, his shadow looming in the dim light, talking to someone. I couldn’t tell who it was talking through the phone, but I could hear them. And as I listened closely, one word cut through the air like a knife.
Ethan.
My blood turned cold. My dad was talking about Ethan. I stepped closer, listening, my body stiffening with each word. It didn’t take long before I understood the full weight of what they were discussing. Illegal gambling. Business deals. And then, my heart sank, Ethan’s accident.
I felt something snap inside me.
Without thinking, I shoved the door open hard. It banged against the wall with a loud crash, but I didn’t care. I was too furious, too blinded by the storm of emotions boiling inside me. My dad looked up, his cold eyes locking with mine. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even seem surprised. His expression was hard as stone, but so was mine. 
I glared at him, my chest heaving with anger. “Explain,” I demanded, my voice cold, cutting through the quiet of the room. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared back at me, his face unreadable. But then, he spoke.
“It’s not what you think,” he said, his tone calm, almost too calm for what he was about to admit. “It was a decision I had to make, back then. To save your sister. To save Ella.”
The mention of Ella’s name made my blood boil even more. I could feel my fists clenching at my sides. “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice trembling with barely contained rage. 
“The money,” he continued, his voice steady as if what he was saying made any sense. “I did what I had to. I needed the money for her surgery. For her heart condition. You know how expensive it was. The business deals, the gambling, it was all for her. To keep her alive.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My own father... involved in illegal gambling? To save Ella? The words felt like poison, sinking deep into my veins.
The air between us felt like it could snap at any moment. I couldn’t stop shaking, and the anger boiling inside me was almost too much to handle. I took a step closer to my dad, my fists clenched tight. His eyes were locked on mine, just as cold and hard as ever. Neither of us was backing down.
"Does Mom know?!" I yelled, my voice louder than I meant it to be, but I couldn’t hold back. 
He didn’t even flinch. He shook his head, his voice firm. “No. She doesn’t know. She never knew anything about this. I kept it from her... from all of you.” 
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “So she has no idea what kind of mess you’re in? What kind of disaster you’ve dragged us into?!”
His jaw clenched, his face hardening. “I did what I had to do, Khian!” he shouted back, his voice rising. “You think this was easy?! You think I wanted this?!” He threw his hands in the air, his frustration boiling over. “I had no choice!”
“You LIED to her! To all of us!” I yelled again, my heart racing, the blood pounding in my ears. “You lied for years and let us live in this nightmare! How could you do that?!”  
He looked at the floor, his fists shaking. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far,” he muttered under his breath, but his voice still held that anger beneath the surface. Then he looked up at me, his eyes sharp. “After we found out about Ella’s heart condition, we didn’t have any other options! You were too young to understand, but we didn’t have the money for her surgery!”
“So, what did you do, huh?!” I shot back. “Throw yourself into illegal gambling like some kind of FOOL?!” The words came out in a bitter laugh, but there was nothing funny about it. “You risked everything, and for what?!”
“I didn’t have another choice, Khian! I did it for her! For Ella okay!!” he shouted, slamming his fist on the table so hard it shook. “You don’t get it! We were desperate! I had to get money fast, or we’d lose your sister!”
“And so you dragged Ethan’s dad into this?! How the hell does that fit into your plan to save Ella, huh?! Explain that to me!” My voice broke, and I felt like my head was spinning.
He gritted his teeth, his hands trembling. “We were business partners. We needed money... fast. He needed it to keep his family afloat, I needed it to save mine. We worked together, but things went too far. I had to keep pushing him... or we’d lose everything.”
I stared at him, feeling like my chest was about to explode. “You’re the reason Ethan’s dad is gone... Aren’t you?!” I screamed, the words tasting like poison in my mouth. 
“I didn’t have a choice!!” He shot back, his face full of fury and pain. “He made his own decisions, but I couldn’t afford to let go! I couldn’t let everything fall apart!” His voice shook now, his anger just as wild as mine.
“You let them suffer!! Ethan... his mom... you let them fall apart! You used their pain to fix your mess!” My voice cracked, and my vision blurred with the hot tears welling up.
“I had to save Ella! How many times I need to put it out to you?!” he bellowed, slamming his hand down again, louder this time. “You think I wanted to watch their family fall apart?! I didn’t! But I had no choice!” He took a step toward me, his eyes dark. “And I’d do it all again if I had to!”
I felt my breath catch in my throat. My heart felt like it was being ripped out. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that my own father was capable of this. “You destroyed us,” I whispered, but it came out in a broken yell. “You destroyed Ethan... you destroyed everything.”
He looked me dead in the eye, his face stern, no regret. “I did what was needed,” he said, but his voice was softer now, though still sharp. “Ella’s alive, isn’t she?! You wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for my decisions!”
“No!!” I shouted, my voice shaking with rage. “You don’t get to say that! You don’t get to justify the hell you’ve put us through! Ethan’s lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life! And you’re sitting here acting like you’re some kind of hero?!”
He opened his mouth, but I wasn’t finished.
“You let me think Ethan was the problem! You let me HATE him, while you were the one pulling all the strings!! You let me tear my best friend apart!” My voice cracked, and I could feel the tears threatening to spill over.
His fists unclenched, and he took a deep breath. “I didn’t want you involved, Khian,” he said quietly, but his tone still had that hard edge. “I wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me?!” I laughed bitterly. “You didn’t protect anyone! You ruined everything!!”
He shook his head, his eyes dark. “You don’t understand, Khian! I did what I could... I did what I had to do. There was no other way.”
“And now look where we are!” I yelled back, feeling the anger boil up again. “Look at the mess we’re in! Ethan’s in the hospital because of you! Ella is getting worse because of you!”
His face twisted in pain, but he didn’t say a word. He knew I was right.
“You think this is over?” I said, my voice lowering. “You think I’m going to let you just walk away from this?”
He stared at me, his face hard again. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Khian. I made decisions that saved this family. You can hate me all you want, but I did it for you... for her.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t you dare show your face at the hospital,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice deadly quiet. “Ella will never forgive you for this. I will never forgive you for this. If you even try to see her, you’ll lose everything.”
He didn’t flinch. He just looked at me, eyes cold, matching my own.
I stormed out of the room, my heart pounding, my blood burning. But before I slammed the door behind me, I turned back for one last shot.
“And don’t think I won’t tell her what you’ve done,” I spat, my voice full of venom. “She’ll know everything.” 
I didn’t wait for a response. I slammed the dooor shut behind me, echoing through the quiet house. I wanted to burst my tears to cry, it's just too much. And I'm so tired keeping it all together for the sake of the important people around me. I need someone to be there for me too...