Chapter 3

**The Price of Secrets**

Sophia walked briskly through the garden that sprawled behind the reception hall, the cool night air stinging her cheeks. The garden lights cast a soft glow on the manicured hedges and blooming roses, but the beauty of the place only deepened her sense of isolation. Her thoughts whirled chaotically, the weight of Ethan’s words pressing down on her. Who could be watching her, and why? She felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she tried to piece together the fragments of Jason’s betrayal, Ava’s involvement, and Ethan’s cryptic warnings.

Ethan’s footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind her, his presence a constant reminder of the dangers she faced. He was close now, close enough that she could feel his breath, but Sophia kept her eyes forward, unwilling to acknowledge him.

“Still think you’re safe out here?” Ethan asked, his voice low, almost mocking. “If I were you, I’d be looking over my shoulder. People have a habit of disappearing when they dig too deep.”

Sophia spun around, her patience wearing thin. “Why are you telling me this, Ethan? If you’re trying to scare me, it’s working. But I don’t need more fear—I need answers.”

Ethan smirked, his eyes flickering with a mixture of amusement and something darker. “Fear’s the only thing keeping you alive right now, Sophia. You think you know Jason, Ava, and everyone around you, but trust me, they’ve got secrets. Big ones. And secrets have a nasty way of biting back.”

Sophia clenched her fists, her frustration boiling over. “Enough with the riddles, Ethan! What do you know? If you really want to help, tell me who’s behind all this.”

Ethan stepped closer, his expression turning serious. “Alright, but you’re not going to like it. It’s not just about you and Jason. This goes deeper—into the family, into business deals that should’ve never happened. Jason got involved in something dangerous, something that could ruin more than just a wedding.”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “Business? What kind of business?”

Ethan glanced around, as if the garden itself might be listening. “Illegal deals, money laundering. He got in too deep with the wrong people, and now they’re using you to keep him in line.”

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. Jason had always been ambitious, but she never imagined he could be involved in something so reckless. “You’re lying. Jason wouldn’t—”

Ethan interrupted her, his voice sharp. “You think I’m lying? Why do you think he left you at the altar? It wasn’t just the baby or cold feet. He’s scared, Soph. Scared of what’ll happen if he doesn’t play along.”

Sophia took a step back, her mind reeling. “Play along? With what? Why am I in the middle of this?”

Ethan hesitated, his expression softening slightly. “Because you’re leverage, Sophia. They think they can control him through you. And if Jason won’t play ball, well… let’s just say accidents happen.”

Sophia’s knees felt weak, the implications of Ethan’s words sinking in. She turned away, staring out at the garden, her mind racing. This wasn’t just about a broken promise or a runaway groom—it was about survival. She was a pawn in a game she didn’t understand, and the stakes were higher than she’d ever imagined.

“Why are you telling me this now?” Sophia asked, her voice barely a whisper. “What do you get out of it?”

Ethan’s gaze hardened, his jaw clenching. “Because I’m not the only one keeping secrets. I know things, too—things that could hurt them. But I can’t do it alone. I need you to help me bring Jason down.”

Sophia turned to face him, shock and disbelief written all over her face. “Bring Jason down? You’re his brother!”

Ethan stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Brother or not, I’m not letting him drag us all into his mess. But you need to decide, Sophia. Are you going to keep being the victim, or are you going to fight back?”

Before Sophia could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows of the garden, moving swiftly towards them. It was Ava, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. She glanced nervously between Sophia and Ethan, her breath coming in quick, ragged gasps.

“Ava?” Sophia said, startled. “What are you doing here?”

Ava grabbed Sophia’s arm, her grip tight and frantic. “Sophia, you need to leave—now. They’re coming. They found out you were talking to Ethan.”

Sophia’s heart pounded as she looked at Ava, then back at Ethan, whose expression had shifted from confident to alarmed. “Who’s coming?” Sophia demanded, her voice rising in panic.

“The people Jason owes,” Ava said, her voice breaking. “They think you know too much. They’re not going to let you walk away.”

Ethan cursed under his breath, his eyes darting towards the darkened edges of the garden. “Damn it, we need to move. Now.”

As they hurried through the garden, Sophia’s mind raced. She was caught in a web of lies, surrounded by people she couldn’t fully trust, each with their own motives and secrets. And now, the threat was no longer just a whisper—it was a reality, closing in fast.

As the three of them reached the edge of the garden, headlights suddenly illuminated the path, blinding them. A car screeched to a halt, blocking their escape. The doors flew open, and men in dark suits stepped out, their faces shadowed and menacing. Sophia’s breath hitched as she realized the full extent of the danger she was in. The game had changed, and the price of secrets was about to be paid.

Sophia stormed through the lush garden behind the reception hall, her heels sinking slightly into the damp earth with each step. The ornate fountains and blooming roses, usually so serene, now felt like the backdrop to her own unraveling. Her heart pounded with every word Ethan had uttered. She could hardly believe the turn her life had taken in just a few hours. Jason’s betrayal, Ava’s involvement, and now Ethan’s ominous warnings had her head spinning.

Ethan followed her closely, his footsteps crunching on the gravel path, keeping pace as if he sensed she was on the verge of breaking. He had always been the troublemaker in Jason’s life, the one who knew how to dance on the edge of danger. But tonight, his usual cocky demeanor was tempered with an urgency that unsettled her.

“Running isn’t going to help, Sophia,” Ethan said, his voice cutting through the night’s silence. “You’re in deep whether you like it or not. If you want to survive this, you need to stop pretending everything’s fine.”

Sophia whirled around, her eyes blazing with fury. “Stop pretending? How dare you? I didn’t ask to be part of this nightmare. I thought I was marrying the man I loved, not stepping into some twisted game!”

Ethan held her gaze, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “Believe me, I wish it was just a game. But Jason got involved with some dangerous people—people who don’t care about your wedding or your happy-ever-after. To them, you’re just leverage.”

Sophia’s breath hitched. “Leverage? For what?”

“Money, power. Jason’s been laundering cash for a syndicate that’s way out of his league. When he tried to pull out, they started using you as collateral,” Ethan explained, his voice edged with frustration. “And now, they think you’re a liability.”

Sophia’s world spun, her knees nearly giving out as she clutched the garden’s stone railing for support. “A liability? I don’t even know these people!”

“Doesn’t matter,” Ethan said grimly. “They’ve been watching you for weeks. Your movements, your meetings—everything. Jason thought he could protect you by keeping you in the dark, but that just made you a bigger target.”

Sophia felt a wave of nausea. Everything she thought she knew about her life with Jason had been a lie. The man she loved, the life she envisioned—it was all a facade, paper-thin and crumbling. As the implications sank in, she heard footsteps approaching from behind, quick and urgent.

Sophia turned to see Ava rushing toward them, her face pale and eyes wide with panic. “Sophia! Ethan! We need to go. Now.”

Sophia stepped back, confusion mixing with dread. “Ava, what’s going on?”

Ava’s voice wavered, her gaze darting nervously around the garden. “They’re coming. The syndicate—they know you’ve been talking to Ethan. They think you’re planning something. We have to leave before they find us.”

Sophia’s pulse quickened, her mind scrambling to keep up. “Who told them? How did they find out so fast?”

Ethan’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is getting you out of here before they make an example of you.”

Sophia looked between Ethan and Ava, the two people she least expected to rely on, and yet here they were, her unlikely allies in a night gone terribly wrong. She could see the fear in Ava’s eyes, the determination in Ethan’s, and a bitter resolve hardened within her. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s pawn, not anymore.

They hurried through the maze of hedges, the moonlight casting long shadows that stretched like ghostly fingers across the path. The sound of their breathing, quick and ragged, mingled with the distant murmur of the party still carrying on, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking just beyond the garden walls.

As they neared the exit, headlights suddenly flooded the path, blinding them. A sleek black car screeched to a halt, blocking their escape. The doors burst open, and four men stepped out, dressed in dark suits, their faces obscured by the harsh glare. Each carried the unmistakable posture of someone accustomed to intimidation and violence.

Sophia’s heart raced as she clung to Ethan’s arm, her mind screaming for an escape that wasn’t there. The men moved closer, their expressions unreadable but their intent clear. Ethan pushed Sophia behind him, his stance tense and ready.

“Stay behind me,” Ethan whispered urgently. “Whatever happens, don’t let them take ......

The lead man stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. “Ethan, Sophia, you’ve made a very costly mistake tonight. You’re coming with us, now.”

Sophia’s eyes darted to Ethan, her breath catching. She had been pulled into a world of secrets and shadows, and now, standing at the brink of no return, she realized there was no going back. The only choice left was to fight—and survive.