een helping me grabbed my arm, pulling me through the exit as Ethan led the way. We

ed, already unlocking the doo

one look at Ethan's face told me that now wasn't the time to hesitate. I scrambled into the back seat,

rms and chaos fading into the distance. My heart was still racing, the

ened?" I finally managed

heel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I should be ask

tigating you for fraud, and then this guy" I pointed to the man beside me, "tells me that Phoenix Corp

stead, he pressed down harder on the gas, the ca

me, my voice laced with suspicion. "And

you the truth about your parents and the syndicate. But there's

ubbling over. "I'm done with secrets.

nd tense. "He's right, Mia. There's

d, my head spinning with confusion.

uldn't quite place - fear, guilt, maybe even regret. "Mia, you need to understa

oice barely a whispe

the key to everything, Mia. Your parents were trying to protect you -

ked, my voice tremb

ou are, Mia. You were adopted as a baby, and your real parents were part of something much bigger - a project that could chang

pted? My parents weren't my real parents? And I was part o

?" I whispered, my v

just because of your parents," Ethan said, his voice tight

y heart pounding in my c

key to unlocking something that could change the course of history. But if the syndicate gets their hands on y

is wasn't just about a merger or a conspiracy - this was about me. My life, my identity, everythi

ere say my parents, which I've known all my life, aren't my real parents, huh?"

down..." Ethan s

some syndicate scandal, Claire is in serious danger, and now my parents are not my parents?" I scuffed clean

we might not be safe, so please, Mia, be ca

xplanation n

, without you my company

ou want me to help your company back to its survival?" I was taken aback a

t take it the

Ethan? How? Make me unders

appening now, Mia. Our relationship is far from this but can m

what? You weren't there when I needed yo

do this here. This isn't

uld play around like a ball, I am now brave, more intelligent and have a saying of my own. S

e asked s

g she sent me the Email concerning Phoenix financials a

ng. As a matter of fact, I don't

you said five years ago before leaving m

rakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. I was thrown f

artled, but Ethan cut

out.

confusion flood

of you," he ordered, his tone

ning the door, stepping out into the dark alleyway where Ethan had stopped. I followed, my legs trembling as I stumbled on

urning to face him as he remained seate

me, his expression grim. "I'm sorry, Mi

t as I took a step closer to the car. "You c

ut this is something you need to do on your own. You'