Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT ETHAN'S FATHER
Richard didn't confess to everything.
Not immediately.
But the investigation continued.
Rebecca discovered evidence that Richard had been diverting foundation funds for years.
Ethan's father had begun asking questions shortly before his death.
Then he was murdered.
The timing was impossible to ignore.
Richard had used the chaos after the murder to consolidate control over several companies.
He'd also worked to separate Ethan from me.
A vulnerable young woman with no powerful family was easier to threaten than a Caldwell heir.
And when I disappeared, Richard encouraged Ethan to focus on the empire.
Years later, he arranged the engagement between Ethan and Victoria.
It was never about love.
It was about control.
One evening, Ethan sat alone in the parlor.
The grand piano stood silent.
I approached.
He didn't look up.
"My father knew."
I sat beside him.
He swallowed.
"He knew Richard was stealing."
I nodded.
"And he died trying to stop it."
Ethan covered his face.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered:
"I thought becoming like him was the only way to honor him."
I looked at him.
"Maybe honoring him means becoming the man he hoped you'd be."
He turned toward me.
His eyes filled.
"Do you still believe I can?"
May you like
I took his hand.
"Yes."
