Chapter 12 - THE DAY THE EMPIRE STOPPED MATTERING
The Sullivan Group board held an emergency meeting after the scandal involving Margaret and Nathan became public.
Investors were nervous.
Reporters wanted answers.
Ethan's reputation was under scrutiny.
For the first time, the man who had spent ten years building an empire faced the possibility of losing control of it.
I expected him to panic.
Instead, he called me.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you think I'm a good father?”
I sat down.
“Ethan.”
“I know I'm late.”
His voice broke.
“I know I missed everything.”
I looked toward the living room.
Noah was reading.
Sophie was painting.
They were safe.
Happy.
Loved.
I took a breath.
“Being a good father isn't about what you missed.”
He was silent.
“It's about what you do now.”
He exhaled.
I continued.
“Show up. Keep your promises. Listen when they say no. Don't make them responsible for your guilt.”
Ethan was quiet for a long time.
Then he whispered:
“Thank you.”
A week later, he announced he would step back from day-to-day operations at Sullivan Group.
He appointed Rachel Monroe as interim CEO while the board conducted its review.
The news shocked Chicago's business community.
Reporters called it a crisis.
Analysts called it a strategic retreat.
Ethan called it something else.
A choice.
He told me:
“I spent ten years believing the company was all I had.”
I looked at him.
“And now?”
He smiled.
May you like
“Now I know I was wrong.”
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