Chapter 8 - THE BROTHER WHO LIED
The investigation uncovered something Audrey hadn't expected.
Ethan had known more than he'd admitted.
He had received commissions from Victor Hale for recruiting investors.
Including their father.
Audrey confronted him at his office.
"How much?"
Ethan stared at the documents.
"Audrey—"
"How much did Victor pay you?"
He looked away.
"Thirty thousand."
Audrey felt sick.
"You took thirty thousand dollars to convince Dad to risk his retirement?"
Ethan's eyes filled.
"I thought the investment was real."
"Did you disclose the commission?"
Silence.
Audrey stared.
"Ethan."
He shook his head.
"No."
For years, Ethan had laughed at her.
Called her difficult.
Mocked her relationships.
Made jokes about her arriving alone.
Now she understood something painful.
He hadn't merely underestimated her.
He'd relied on her being too embarrassed to challenge him publicly.
Audrey stood.
"You're going to tell Dad."
Ethan swallowed.
"He'll hate me."
She looked at him.
"He deserves the truth."
That evening, Ethan confessed.
Richard listened in silence.
Their mother began crying.
Caleb stared at his brother.
Audrey sat quietly.
For once, nobody asked her to make everything better.
After Ethan finished, Richard looked toward Audrey.
"I'm sorry."
She blinked.
"For what?"
Her father swallowed.
"For treating you like a joke."
Audrey looked down.
Richard continued.
"You were the only one asking the right questions."
She nodded.
May you like
It wasn't enough to erase years of humiliation.
But it was a beginning.
