I Thought My Fiancée Was Choosing Her Male Best Friend — Then I Discovered She Was Protecting Him From a Deadly Secret
Chapter 2
Sophia didn’t come home that evening.
At seven, Ethan received a message.
Working late. Don’t wait for me.
At eight thirty:
Still at the office.
At ten:
Nothing.
Ethan tried calling.
Straight to voicemail.
He didn’t panic.
Not immediately.
He told himself she was busy.
But then he noticed something on the kitchen counter.
Sophia’s engagement ring wasn’t there.
She always removed it before showering.
But never before leaving the apartment.
He checked the bedroom.
Her jewelry box was empty except for a pair of earrings.
Her passport was missing too.
Ethan stood in the middle of the room.
Something was very wrong.
He called her again.
No answer.
He called Daniel.
No answer.
That was when fear became anger.
At midnight, Ethan finally heard the front door open.
Sophia walked inside.
She looked exhausted.
Her hair was wet from the rain.
She stopped when she saw him sitting in the dark.
“Ethan.”
“Where were you?”
“Working.”
“For sixteen hours?”
She looked at him.
“I needed time.”
He stood.
“Where is your ring?”
Her eyes dropped to her bare hand.
“I took it off.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t know if I should keep wearing it.”
The words hit harder than any accusation.
Ethan stared.
“Are you ending the engagement?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know if we can fix this.”
“Fix what?”
“The trust.”
He laughed bitterly.
“I told you I was uncomfortable.”
“And I heard you.”
“You went silent.”
She looked away.
“Because I didn’t know what to say.”
“Why?”
Sophia remained silent.
He stepped closer.
“Is there something going on with Daniel?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
But she didn’t answer.
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
“You can’t stay silent forever.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
She whispered:
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not my secret.”
That sentence stopped him.
“What does that mean?”
Sophia wiped her eyes.
“Daniel is hiding something.”
Ethan stared.
“About you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I promised him.”
“You promised him?”
She nodded.
“I can’t tell you.”
Ethan felt betrayed all over again.
“So you can keep secrets from me because he’s your friend?”
“That’s not what this is.”
“Then what is it?”
Sophia looked at him.
“It’s the reason I’ve been spending so much time with him.”
Ethan waited.
She still said nothing.
He was furious.
But beneath the anger was something else.
Confusion.
He had spent days believing Daniel might be the threat to his relationship.
Now Sophia was telling him the truth was connected to Daniel.
But not in the way he thought.
“Are you in love with him?”
Sophia’s face crumbled.
“No.”
“Then why?”
She looked toward the window.
“Because someone is trying to ruin his life.”
Ethan stared.
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I can’t tell you.”
Then she walked into the bedroom and closed the door.
Ethan stood alone.
He had wanted honesty.
Now he had it.
Or at least part of it.
But somehow, the mystery had only become worse.
