Chapter 5 — The Phone Call After Midnight
# The Birthday Surprise
## Chapter 5 — The Phone Call After Midnight
Emily stared at the glowing phone on the coffee table.
**Lucas Calling...**
The ringtone echoed through the silent mansion.
Neither she nor Ethan moved.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Finally, Ethan nodded toward the phone.
"Answer it."
Emily looked at him in disbelief.
"I... I can't."
"Why not?"
She swallowed hard.
"I'm afraid."
Ethan's expression remained calm.
"Afraid of what he'll say?"
Emily couldn't answer.
Ethan picked up the phone and handed it to her.
"If there's nothing left to hide..."
"...then answer it."
Her trembling fingers slid across the screen.
"Hello?"
Lucas's voice came immediately.
"Emily, listen carefully."
His breathing was heavy.
"I don't have much time."
Emily frowned.
"What happened?"
"I made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"My second phone."
Emily felt her stomach tighten.
"What second phone?"
"The black one."
"I left it in your BMW."
Her face instantly lost all color.
"I thought it was in my apartment."
"It isn't."
"It's under the passenger seat."
Emily whispered,
"Lucas... what's on that phone?"
There was a long pause.
Then he answered.
"Everything."
"The messages."
"The photos."
"The recordings."
"Our conversations."
Emily nearly dropped the phone.
"You told me you deleted all of it."
"I thought I had."
"But that phone..."
"...I forgot."
Ethan watched every change in her expression.
He already knew the answer wasn't good.
Lucas continued speaking rapidly.
"You have to find it before anyone else does."
Emily's voice shook.
"Why?"
"Because it isn't just proof of the affair."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
Emily whispered,
"What else is on it?"
Lucas hesitated.
Then quietly said,
"Things that can destroy much more than your marriage."
Before Emily could ask another question...
The call suddenly disconnected.
The screen went black.
Emily slowly lowered the phone.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence.
"What was he talking about?"
Emily looked at him with frightened eyes.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
"He said there's another phone hidden in my car."
Ethan frowned.
"And?"
"He said..."
"...it contains everything."
Just then...
Bright headlights swept across the mansion windows.
Both of them turned toward the front entrance.
A black SUV had stopped outside.
Moments later...
Three firm knocks echoed through the front door.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A calm male voice called from outside.
"Mr. Ethan Harrison?"
"This is Special Agent David Mercer."
"Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"We need to speak with you immediately."
Emily's heart stopped.
