chapter 4

Chloe's footsteps echoed through the cold corridors of the first law firm she visited that morning. The receptionist glanced up from her desk, her polite smile freezing the moment Chloe mentioned her father's name.

"I'm sorry," the woman said, her tone hesitant. "But Mr. Brantley won't be able to take your case."

Chloe frowned. "I haven't even explained the situation yet."

"It's not about the situation," the receptionist replied carefully. "It's...complicated."

Complicated. That word followed her throughout the day, spoken in hushed tones by one lawyer after another. Each meeting ended the same way—polite refusals or feigned excuses, all hinting at a larger, unspoken truth.

By the time she reached her fifth firm, Chloe's patience was wearing thin. She sat in a cramped office across from a middle-aged attorney who adjusted his glasses nervously as she explained her father's arrest and the charges brought against him.

When she finished, the attorney sighed heavily. "Miss Gray, I understand your frustration, but this isn't a case my firm can take on."

"Why not?" Chloe demanded, her voice rising. "My father is innocent. Isn't that what the law is supposed to protect?"

"It's not about innocence," he said, his gaze darting to the door as if expecting someone to burst in. "It's about who you're up against. Nathan Hill is a powerful man, and his connection to the Foster family makes this...untenable."

"The Foster family?" Chloe repeated, her stomach sinking.

The attorney leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Sophia Foster isn't just anyone. Her influence stretches far beyond this city. Going up against her and her fiancé would be career suicide for most lawyers."

Chloe left the office with a heavy heart, the weight of rejection pressing down on her. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink as she trudged through the city streets.

---

By evening, Chloe had visited nearly every law firm in the city, each meeting ending in the same frustrating way. She sat on a bench in a small park, her notebook filled with crossed-out names of firms and lawyers.

"What do I do now?" she whispered to herself.

Her phone buzzed in her bag. It was her stepmother again.

"Any luck?" the older woman asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.

"No," Chloe admitted, her voice cracking. "Everyone's too scared of Nathan and Sophia. They won't even hear me out."

There was a pause on the other end before her stepmother spoke again. "Chloe, there's one person who might be able to help."

Chloe frowned. "Who?"

"Ethan Foster."

The name sent a jolt through her. She hadn't thought of him since their chance encounter at the bar, but now the memory of that night came rushing back—the kiss, the way he had looked at her, the confidence he exuded.

"I can't," Chloe said quickly. "He's Sophia's brother."

"I know," her stepmother replied. "But from what I've heard, Ethan isn't exactly close to his sister. He's known for taking on impossible cases and winning. If anyone can stand up to Nathan, it's him."

Chloe bit her lip, torn. The idea of going to Ethan felt like trading one impossible situation for another. But as she stared at her notebook filled with dead ends, she realized she had no other choice.

---

The next day, Chloe found herself back at the bar where she had first met Ethan. She had decided against calling his office—she didn't want to risk being turned away without a chance to plead her case in person.

The bar was quieter than it had been the last time she was there, the soft hum of jazz music filling the space. Chloe slid onto a stool, ordering a drink to calm her nerves as she waited.

She didn't have to wait long. Ethan walked in not twenty minutes later, his presence commanding attention even in the dimly lit room. His sharp gaze swept across the bar, landing on her with a flicker of recognition.

"Well, this is a surprise," he said, approaching her with a smirk. "Back for round two?"

Chloe stood, squaring her shoulders. "I need to talk to you."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Talk away."

"Not here," she said, glancing around at the other patrons.

Ethan considered her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Follow me."

---

They stepped outside, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling tension inside the bar. Ethan leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he looked at her expectantly.

Chloe took a deep breath, launching into an explanation of her father's arrest and the charges Nathan had brought against him. She spoke quickly, her desperation bubbling to the surface as she detailed her failed attempts to find legal representation.

When she finished, Ethan was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

"You want me to go up against my sister and her fiancé," he said finally.

"Yes," Chloe replied, her voice firm. "You're the only one who can help."

Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But do you have any idea what you're asking?"

"I'm asking for justice," Chloe said, her voice rising. "My father is innocent, and he doesn't deserve to be thrown under the bus because of some vendetta Nathan has against me."

Ethan's gaze softened slightly, but he quickly masked it with his usual smirk. "You're bold, Chloe. I like that. But this isn't about right or wrong

his tone sharp. "But going against Sophia means more than just a fight in the courtroom. It's a fight against everything our family has built."

Chloe's shoulders slumped, the weight of his words sinking in. She had hoped Ethan would be different, that he would see the injustice and want to fight for her father.

"Then I guess I was wrong about you," she said quietly.

Ethan's jaw tightened, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He stepped closer to her, his voice low. "Be careful, Chloe. You're playing a dangerous game."

"I don't have a choice," she shot back, her eyes meeting his. "My father's life is on the line."

Ethan stared at her for a long moment before stepping back. "I'm sorry," he said finally. "I can't help you."

Chloe watched as he turned and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet night. She stood there for a moment, the cool breeze brushing against her skin as tears filled her eyes.

She had gambled everything on Ethan Foster, and now she was out of options.