Chapter 6 - The Hidden PassengerThe train suddenly slowed.
Everyone noticed.
The vibration beneath their feet changed.
The assistant looked toward the control panel near the cabin entrance.
“That’s strange.”
Ethan turned.
“What?”
“The train was supposed to continue nonstop for another hour.”
Victoria immediately looked away.
Too quickly.
Ethan noticed.
“Mom.”
No response.
“Why did the train slow down?”
Victoria remained silent.
Emily walked toward the door.
“I’ll check.”
Before she could reach it.
The door opened.
A man entered.
Everyone froze.
He was wearing a dark coat.
Older.
Around sixty.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Victoria looked at him.
And for the first time.
Ethan saw something he had never seen before.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Charles.”
The man smiled.
“Victoria.”
Nobody spoke.
Ethan looked between them.
“You know him?”
Victoria answered immediately.
“No.”
The man laughed.
A quiet laugh.
“You always were a terrible liar when you were nervous.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“Leave.”
Charles ignored her.
He looked at Ethan.
“So.”
“You finally found out.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“Found out what?”
Charles stepped into the cabin.
“The truth about your mother.”
Victoria moved toward him.
“Do not say another word.”
Charles looked at her.
“You spent twenty years controlling everyone.”
“You really thought nobody would ever speak?”
Ethan felt his heartbeat increase.
“Who are you?”
The man looked at him.
“My name is Charles Whitmore.”
“I was your father’s attorney.”
The entire cabin became silent.
Ethan froze.
“My father’s attorney?”
Charles nodded.
“And I was the last person who spoke to him before he died.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Charles.”
He ignored her.
“Your father didn’t die because of an accident.”
Clara covered her mouth.
Emily stared.
Ethan felt the world shift beneath him.
“What are you saying?”
Charles looked directly at him.
“I’m saying…”
“Your father was trying to escape your mother.”
A terrible silence followed.
And Victoria finally whispered.
“Stop.”
But Charles continued.
“Because he discovered what she was doing.”
Ethan looked at his mother.
And Victoria looked back.
Not like a mother.
Not like a wife.
May you like
But like someone whose biggest secret had just returned from the grave.
TO BE CONTINUED…
