Chapter 120
Elara's POV
I looked at Ethan. My brother. Standing there with his arms crossed and that stubborn set to his jaw I knew too well.
He wasn't going to back down.
My chest got tight. Wild Hunt. Professional killers. The kind of people who'd gutted me in my previous life without breaking a sweat.
And he wanted to walk right into that.
"Ethan." I kept my voice calm. "You don't need to worry. I'm not going alone."
His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The school program. There are several students going together." The lie came out smooth. Easy. "We'll look out for each other."
I thought of Cole. My Beta. The one person I could trust with my life.
Not exactly a student exchange program.
Ethan's shoulders relaxed a fraction. But his jaw stayed tight. "That's still not the same as having family there."
Mom made a small sound. Almost like a sob.
Dad's hand tightened on the back of his chair.
Ethan stood up. "I can take time off. Come with you guys."
No.
Absolutely not.
I needed him here. Safe. Away from whatever mess I was about to walk into.
"The program has strict rules." I looked him in the eye. "Only selected students can participate. No exceptions."
"That's bullshit." His voice rose. "You're talking about going to another country to look for a sister I didn't even know existed until five minutes ago."
"And you have finals coming up." I kept my tone gentle but firm. "You can't miss them because of me."
Dad cleared his throat. "Elara's right. Your education is important too."
Ethan turned to Dad. The betrayal on his face made my stomach twist.
But he didn't argue. Just sat back down. Jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscle jumping.
I'd won.
It didn't feel like winning.
I needed to change the subject. Fast.
"There's something else Jack said."
Three pairs of eyes locked on me.
"He mentioned that the fees you've been paying all these years. He said it's enough now." I watched their faces carefully. "He's going to refund some of it. And you don't need to send him any more money."
Silence.
Mom's hand flew to her mouth.
Dad just stared at me. "Refund? Jack never mentioned anything about refunding."
"He told me this afternoon." Another lie. "Said he appreciates your trust all these years. But the retainer you've paid is more than sufficient."
I thought of Jack in that alley. Broken ribs. Shattered knee. The way he'd screamed when I'd made it clear what would happen if he didn't return every cent.
Mom's eyes were wet. "The money doesn't matter."
Dad waved his hand. "She's right. Money isn't important. Finding Lynette is."
Mom grabbed my hand. Her palm was shaking. Sweating. "Do you really think you can find her?"
Her hope was so raw it hurt to look at.
I squeezed her fingers. "I'll do everything I can. I promise."
The weight of that promise settled on my shoulders like a physical thing.
Dad leaned forward. "When do you leave? What do you need us to prepare?"
I opened my mouth to answer.
"Wait."
Ethan's voice cut through the room like a knife.
He stood up again. This time his hands were fists at his sides.
"I need to know something first." His voice shook. Not with fear. With anger. "Why didn't you ever tell us about Lynette? All these years. Not one word."
He looked at Mom. Then Dad. "We had a right to know!"
I felt my own chest tighten.
He was right.
I wanted to know too.
The room went completely silent.
Mom and Dad looked at each other.
It was one of those long married couple looks. The kind that said a thousand things without words.
Dad's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
Nothing came out.
Mom's grip on my hand got tighter. So tight it almost hurt.
I watched Dad's jaw clench. Watched Mom's eyes fill with tears that didn't fall.
There was something here. Something big.
Something they'd been hiding for a very long time.
The silence stretched. Ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty.
I could hear the kitchen clock ticking. The hum of the refrigerator. My own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Finally Mom took a deep breath.
Her hand was still gripping mine. Like she needed the anchor.
"You're right." Her voice came out rough. Broken. "You both deserve to know the truth."
She looked at Dad. He gave a tiny nod.
His hand covered hers. Squeezed.
"About what happened." Mom's voice got stronger. Still shaking but determined. "About how Lynette disappeared."
My breath stopped.
Ethan went completely still beside me.
I felt like the whole room was holding its breath. Waiting.
Dad's hand tightened on Mom's. His knuckles went white.
The air felt thick. Heavy.
Like we were standing on the edge of something that would change everything.
Mom opened her mouth.