Page 76 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

We made our way down to the first floor. The restaurant was predictably empty, save for our family members. I could already feel the tension in the air, thickening with each step we took. My father was the first to speak as we entered the room.

“Rafael,” he said, his tone stern. “Why didn’t you mention that Yasmin’s ex was Ethan Williams, your ex-best friend?”

I sighed inwardly, knowing this confrontation was inevitable. I hadn't exactly had time to explain everything to my parents, but they understood that one of Yasmin's exes was being difficult. I glanced at Ivan, hoping he wouldn't think too deeply about it, but he rolled his eyes and changed the topic.

“Dad, I’ll explain everything later,” I said quickly, wanting to defuse the situation. “Right now, we have bigger issues to deal with.”

"Fine," he mumbled. "But we will talk about it."

I tuned back into the conversation just in time to catch the moment Yasmin handed Ivan the letter from Ethan. Her hands were shaking slightly, and I could see the worry etched on her face. Ivan's expression shifted from curiosity to fury as he read the note and looked through the photos. His grip on the paper tightened, and for a moment, I almost felt a flicker of fear for everyone here. He passed the letter to everything, his jaw clenched tightly.

"I can't believe this," Ivan muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "The audacity of that man."

Yasmin bit her lip, looking down. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble I've caused. I never meant for any of this to happen. If I had known-"

Ivan cut her off, shaking his head. "Yasmin, none of this is your fault. Ethan is to blame for all of it, and he will pay for what he's done."

Khalid nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing. "Absolutely. We've been looking into him, and we have some information that might interest everyone."

Roman took a deep breath, stepping forward. "I've been suspicious of Ethan's financial status for a while now. There were rumors that he's bankrupt and there's some truth to it. Ethan is broke, or very close to it. His father didn't prepare him to run the business efficiently, and Ethan has refused to listen to the advice of those around him. The company is on the brink of collapse and the shareholders are preparing to abandon the ship."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. Ivan's expression didn't change, but I could see the wheels turning in his head as he processed this information.

"That's not all," Roman continued. "Ethan has been seeing a woman recently, the one he was flaunting on Instagram. She's the daughter of a wealthy businessman willing to invest in Ethan's company, but there's a catch- he wants Ethan to marry his daughter."

"That explains why he dumped me," Yasmin pointed out. "He didn't know I was a Rashid, so he found someone with the money he needed, and now that he knows who I am he wants me back."

Ivan let out a bitter laugh. "If that is the case then I'm sure her father wouldn't take kindly to what we have to tell him. No sensible man would agree to such a deal if he knew what kind of person Ethan was."

"Knowing Ethan, he probably lied through his teeth to get that deal."

"That sounds like something he would do."

"Okay, son, what did you find out?"

Khalid leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied us. His eyes gleamed of satisfaction, as if he found the best dirt on him. "Ethan has a gambling problem," he began, his voice steady. "He's amassed a great debt in Vegas and with the mafia. It's a miracle he's still alive, but it explains why he's so desperate."

The room fell silent. I exchanged a glance with Ivan, who had a smirk playing on his lips. The news was both shocking and oddly satisfying. Ethan, my ex-best friend, had dug his own grave in more ways than one. If he's as broke as we suspect him to be then there's no way he can pay off all his debt and if the debt collectors get their hands on him, he would certainly be beaten to a pulp. Not to mention what the mafia would do once they got their hands on him.

Ivan's smirk widened into a grin. "Well, I think we should give the debt collectors a little push to collect their money. Speed things up a bit."

Murmurs of agreement filled the room. I could feel the tension ease slightly, a collective exhale of relief and vindication. But when I glanced at Yasmin, my heart sank. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock. She looked like she was about to crumble under the weight of this new revelation.

Before I could say anything, Yasmin held up a hand, halting all communication. "Wait," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "Before anything happens, I want to speak with Ethan. Nothing you say will stop me."

A silence heavier than before settled over the room. All eyes turned to Yasmin. Her expression was resolute, her gaze unwavering as she met each of our stares.

I stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Yasmin," I began softly. "Do you think that's a good idea? He's desperate which makes him dangerous. He could try anything."

She shook her head, her curls bouncing with the motion. "I need to do this, Rafael. I need closure. I need to look him in the eye and understand why he did all this."

Ivan scoffed. "Closure? Yasmin, he's a snake. You don't need closure from someone like him."

Yasmin's eyes flashed with determination. "Maybe not. But I need to hear it from him. I need to confront him face-to-face."

Khalid sighed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Yasmin, you have to understand. Ethan is in deep with dangerous people. Meeting him could be risky."

She squared her shoulders. "I understand the risks, Khalid. But I need to do this. Please."

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