Page 75 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

“First, we'll confront him and find out exactly what he’s holding over you. But we have to be subtle. If he knows we’re investigating, he might act out of desperation.”

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. “I’ll talk to him. Maybe I can get him to reveal more without realizing it.”

Rafael frowned, clearly not thrilled with the idea. “I'm not sure that's a good idea.”

“I can handle it,” I said firmly, though I wasn’t entirely sure. “I need to do this. This is my mess. I should be the one to clean it up.”

He sighed. "I really don't think it matters if this is your mess or not. We're a team, a family. We're in this together. Besides your dad would murder me if he thought I didn't try to stop you."

I felt terrible that Ethan was once again proving to be a problem, and now I was even more nervous to find out what was in the letter he sent me. The constant stress gnawed at me, my thoughts tangling into knots as I tried to focus on anything but the sealed envelope. Ethan had always known how to twist the knife, and this felt like another one of his cruel games.

Rafael's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "Yasmin, are you okay?" His tone was gentle but laced with worry.

Without a word, I got up, ignored Rafael's concerned questions, and reached for the letter in my suitcase. The envelope felt heavier than it should have as if it carried the weight of every anxious thought since I'd had it. I turned it over in my hands, the edges slightly worn from my nervous handling.

Rafael was watching me, his eyes a mix of concern and curiosity. I walked over to him and held out the letter. "It's from Ethan," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to accept it, but Amirah took it anyway when Ava and Cheryl cornered us. I've kept it until now because... I was afraid of what was inside."

Rafael’s expression softened. He reached out and took my hand, his touch warm and grounding. "It's okay, Yasmin. Whatever is in there, we'll deal with it together. You don’t have to do this alone."

His reassurance gave me a sliver of courage. I nodded, taking a deep breath. With Rafael by my side, I felt a little braver, a little stronger. I slid my finger under the envelope flap and carefully pulled out its contents.

Inside, there were photographs. The first few were innocent enough—me sleeping, lounging by the pool. But then my breath caught in my throat. The next set of photos was the same with one stark difference. They were expertly edited, showing me in compromising positions, supposedly naked. My hands began to tremble as I handed them to Rafael.

Rafael’s jaw clenched as he looked at the photos. "This is sick," he muttered, his anger barely contained. "Why would he do this?"

There was also a note. My stomach churned as I unfolded it and read Ethan's scrawled handwriting:I hope this shows you how serious I am when I say you need to take me back, or else these photos will make the 7 o'clock news.

I felt a cold wave of dread wash over me. I handed the note to Rafael, unable to speak. His eyes scanned the words, and I saw the anger build in him.

"This is blackmail," Rafael said, his voice tight. "That son of a bitch! We can't let him get away with this."

I sank onto the couch, feeling overwhelmed. "But what can we do? He's already proven he can get create a false narrative. What if he has more? What if he follows through on his threats? I didn't even know he took these photos."

Rafael sat beside me, taking both my hands in his. "Listen to me, Yasmin. I won't let him intimidate you, not while I am alive."

His determination was comforting, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on me. "I just don't understand why he can't let go. Why he has to keep hurting me."

Rafael squeezed my hands, his eyes softening with empathy. "Some people can't stand the idea of losing control. Ethan seems like one of those people. But his behavior is not your fault. You have every right to live without worrying about what he'll do."

"What are we going to do now?"

"We're going to have dinner with our family," he announced. "Khalid finally broke the news to your dad and he's out for blood."

-50-

Rafael

I couldn’t believe it when I saw the contents of the letter. Ethan had to be the dumbest villain I had ever encountered. He sent us the proof we needed to expose him for the scum he was. I stared at the photos in disbelief, shaking my head.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath.

“What is it?” Yasmin asked, her curiosity piqued by my reaction.

“It’s Ethan. He sent us everything we need to nail him.”

She laughed. “I don't think he thought this through.”

“That's obvious,” I said, putting everything back into the envelope. “Let’s go. We’re late for brunch.”

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