collateral damage

It was a text from Ethan, though Mr. Caldwell didn't recognize the number. Yet, the message was clear, beginning with Ethan's name.

"Sir, it's me, Ethan. I need to see you about something very important. I think I can help you."

Mr. Caldwell sighed as he read the message. "What could this poor boy possibly do to help me?" he muttered under his breath before returning his attention to the pile of documents on his desk.

Hours later, weariness finally took over. His eyes were strained, and his heart began to signal its discomfort. Setting his glasses aside, he stood and decided to head home, leaving the chaos of work behind for the night.

When Mr. Caldwell arrived home, the sight of Mr. Greyson waiting in his living room nearly stopped his heart.

"Mr. Greyson…" he began, his voice faltering.

David quickly rose to greet him. "Dad, welcome home. We've been trying to reach you all day, but you didn't answer any of our calls or texts."

"Welcome, Dad," Lila added casually as she ascended the stairs.

"I was busy with urgent work at the office," Mr. Caldwell replied, steadying his voice.

Mr. Greyson's face darkened as he spoke, his tone laced with menace. "Mr. Caldwell, I respect you for our long-standing friendship. But that's the only reason I'm here to warn you. You have two days—two days to either repay the money you owe me or honor the deal. Your daughter, Sophia, is to marry my son, Alex."

Mr. Caldwell swallowed hard, but his voice remained composed. "Sophia escaped. I've spent all day trying to locate her. Please give me more time. I'll find her or sort out the money after stabilizing my company."

Mr. Greyson's expression turned colder. "Don't test my patience. I've been good to your family in your times of need. This betrayal won't go unanswered. If I don't get my money or your daughter in two days, you'll regret it. You know what I'm capable of."

As Mr. Greyson stood to leave, Mr. Caldwell's voice grew icy. "You'll get your money in two days."

The resolve in his tone gave Mr. Greyson pause, but without another word, he stormed out.

Exhausted, Mr. Caldwell sank into the couch, his head in his hands. His thoughts raced.

If I pay Greyson, I won't have enough to fight for Caldwell Horizon. But if I don't… my family will be in danger.

Moments later, Olivia emerged from her room. Her voice was unusually soft, trembling with fear. "Honey, how are we going to get through this? I'm scared."

Her tone surprised Mr. Caldwell. She had always been confrontational, often raising her voice. This vulnerability was new.

"I heard you promise Greyson you'd pay him back in two days. How will you do that? The banks won't loan us anything—we're still drowning in debt," Olivia whispered as she sat beside him.

Mr. Caldwell sighed. "I'll use the money I set aside for John's equipment. I'll figure out the contract with him later."

"Even if you have some money, shouldn't you invest it in the company? Letting James take Caldwell Horizon will destroy us. If we rebuild the company, we can recover everything we've lost," Olivia reasoned, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I thought of that too, but Greyson won't give me the time. I can't risk my family's safety," he replied, gently stroking her back.

"This is all my fault," Olivia murmured, tears welling in her eyes. "I was too greedy. If I hadn't accepted Greyson's money or arranged Sophia's marriage without her consent, none of this would have happened."

Mr. Caldwell held her close. "Don't blame yourself. We need to work together to fix this. No matter what happens to Caldwell Horizon, we're still a family. And I won't let James take what's ours."

Meanwhile, Sophia and Elena were hard at work securing a piece of land for planting. Sophia took the lead, handling all payments and paperwork. Despite funding the project herself, she ensured everyone felt included, listening to their suggestions to foster collaboration.

Later that evening, they gathered at their usual riverside spot to unwind, roasting meat and sharing laughter.

Sophia sat apart from the group, lost in thought. The image of the newspaper she'd seen earlier lingered in her mind—James's attempt to tarnish her father's reputation.

Does Ethan know I ran away? What if he finds out I was raped and pregnant? He wouldn't… he couldn't look at me the same way. She shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. I just need to move on.

Elena's voice broke her reverie. "You've been sitting here a while. What's on your mind?"

"Nothing," Sophia replied quickly, brushing off her concern.

But as they returned home later, Sophia's resolve wavered. She switched on her phone for the first time in days, only to be met with a chilling sight—a picture of herself with the caption: MISSING: Mr. Caldwell's Daughter.

Her heart sank. Her mind raced with questions, guilt, and fear for her parents. The weight of her decisions pressed down on her as she threw her phone aside and lay on the bed, willing herself to sleep.

Far away, Ethan stared at his phone, rereading the message he had sent to Mr. Caldwell. Doubt crept into his mind. How do I go about this? What if he doesn't take me seriously?

Ethan shook his head, determination hardening his resolve. I can't afford to hesitate. I need to act now. He thought as he opened his laptop and began searching for the history of Caldwell Horizon, hoping to uncover something useful.

As he scrolled through articles and old records, he came across a photo of a man, his face haggard and weary. The caption beneath it read:

"Ex-Caldwell Horizon employee sentenced to 15 years for embezzlement: $7 million missing."

Ethan's brow furrowed. The details outlined how Mr. Caldwell had accused the man of stealing company funds and ensured his imprisonment when he failed to repay the amount. At first glance, it seemed justified—a businessman protecting his empire.

But something felt off. Ethan read further, noticing subtle discrepancies in the reports. There were claims the man had been loyal to the company for decades, and some sources hinted he had been framed.

Could it be true that Mr. Caldwell uses people for his own selfish benefits? The question lingered in Ethan's mind, refusing to let go.

He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty. If this is true… what else could he be hiding? Am I trying to help someone who's just as corrupt as the people tearing him down?

His fingers hovered over the laptop, but he closed it with a sigh. The weight of the day pressed on him, and his mind was too cluttered to make sense of it all. Still, one thing was clear—he needed to find answers, and he needed to find them soon.

Ethan glanced at the message on his phone one last time before placing it on the table. This could be bigger than I thought.