Chapter 14

Ethan had seen her angry before.

Seen her frustrated, seen her fight him, tease him, argue with him.

But this—this was different.

She was breaking.

Her voice wavered, her shoulders shaking, her hands clenched so tightly at her sides like she was holding herself together with sheer force of will.

And then—

The dam broke.

She let out a ragged sob, her chest heaving, her face twisting in pain and guilt, her knees nearly buckling beneath her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice shattered, barely holding on.

Ethan felt his stomach twist painfully.

He had never heard her sound like this.

So raw. So broken.

And he couldn't take it anymore.

Without thinking, without hesitation, he reached for her.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, feeling the way she melted into him, her entire body trembling.

She didn't resist.

Didn't fight him.

Just collapsed against him, her sobs muffled against his chest, her hands gripping onto his shirt like he was the only thing holding her together.

His own chest tightened, something heavy settling deep in his ribs.

"Don't," he murmured, running his hands down her back, trying to soothe her. "Don't apologize."

Her shoulders shook harder, another choked sob leaving her.

"But I—"

"No." His voice was firm, gentle but unyielding. "This isn't your fault."

She pulled back slightly, her tear-filled eyes searching his, confusion and guilt twisting in them.

Ethan exhaled, his jaw tight, his hands still holding her steady.

"This is my family's mess," he admitted, voice low. "And you're being used as a pawn."

Her breath hitched, her lips parting in shock.

"You should've never been put in this position," he continued, his frustration bleeding through, his anger no longer at her—but at himself.

She had been suffering alone.

Carrying this weight, terrified, making herself sick with guilt and never once asking him for help.

And that—that broke him.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his forehead pressing against hers, his voice soft but heavy with emotion. "I'm sorry you thought you had to do this alone."

Her fingers curled into his shirt, her breathing uneven.

"Ethan…" she whispered, her voice so small, so vulnerable, it made something inside him crack wide open.

His arms tightened around her.

"I'll handle it," he promised.

Her eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief.

"You don't have to do anything," he whispered. "You don't have to choose between me and them. You don't have to find that damn document. You don't have to do a thing—because I'll handle it."

Her breath shook, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks, her expression caught between relief and disbelief.

She had been so sure she had no options.

So sure she had to betray him to save the people she loved.

But she had been wrong.

Because she had him.

And he wasn't going to let her fight this battle alone.

Ethan didn't waste time.

The moment she fell asleep, exhausted from crying, from breaking down in his arms—he acted.

He picked up his phone and dialed a secure number.

The voice on the other end answered after two rings.

"Find the boys."

No pleasantries. No hesitation. Just a direct order.

His jaw tightened, his green eyes darkening as he continued.

"John, Mark, and Leo Everly. I want them found. I want them safe. I don't care where they are—I just want to know they're alive and untouched."

The person on the other end hummed. "On it. I'll update you soon."

Ethan ended the call.

His fingers tightened around the phone, his other hand tapping against the desk in deep thought.

Now, for his uncle and aunt.

He dialed another number—this one belonging to a different kind of ally.

A mole he had planted inside their household long ago.

The line connected, and a cautious voice answered.

"Ethan?"

"Where are they?" His voice was low, sharp—no room for nonsense.

"Richard and Eleanor?" The informant hesitated. "They're home, but something feels… off."

Ethan's fingers drummed against the desk. "Explain."

"They've been moving carefully for the past two weeks. Like they're expecting something. Eleanor hasn't been taking her usual calls, and Richard has been meeting with their legal team behind closed doors. And—" The voice lowered. "They're preparing for an overseas trip. One-way tickets."

Ethan's blood ran cold.

They were running.

Because they knew something was coming.

Because they could feel him closing in.

His jaw tensed as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the vast city skyline beyond the penthouse windows.

"Keep watching them," he ordered. "If they make any sudden moves, let me know immediately."

"Understood."

The call ended.

Ethan exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders, forcing himself to stay calm, controlled.

They were slipping.

They knew they were losing.

And now—it was time to finish this.

The Evidence He Has

Ethan turned to his private safe, unlocking it with a biometric scan.

Inside lay a stack of documents, carefully organized, waiting for the right moment.

He picked up the most damning one—

A ledger, filled with records of money siphoned from the family company into a private offshore account.

Millions. Stolen.

Richard and Eleanor had been bleeding the company dry, lining their own pockets, covering their tracks just well enough to stay out of legal trouble.

Until now.

This was enough to incarcerate them.

To send them away for a long time.

But was it enough to bury them permanently?

No.

Because the real crime—the one Ethan wanted them to pay for most—

Was his accident three years ago.

He knew they had orchestrated it.

Knew they had tried to get rid of him—tried to make it look like a tragedy, a misstep, an unfortunate fate.

But he had survived.

And he had spent years looking for proof.

Yet, every attempt to trace it back to them ended in dead ends.

Until now.

Because now—they were scared.

And scared people made mistakes.

He placed the documents on the desk, his fingers tightening around them.

If they wanted a war, they were about to get one.

And this time—

He wouldn't lose.

Ethan sat at his desk, his fingers drumming slowly against the polished wood.

Everly stood beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her face pale but resolute.

They were waiting.

And then—

The phone rang.

Eleanor.

Ethan picked it up, pressing speakerphone so Everly could hear every word.

A pause. Then—

"Everly, darling," Eleanor's voice was smooth, composed, but beneath it was a sharp edge of impatience. "I assume you have what I need?"

Everly squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment before answering, keeping her voice weak, uncertain—just as they had planned.

"I—I couldn't find it," she said, her voice trembling just enough to sell the lie. "I looked everywhere, but Ethan doesn't keep his documents lying around. I don't know where he hides anything."

Silence.

Then a sharp inhale from Eleanor, followed by a slow, deliberate sigh.

"That's… unfortunate."

Everly swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the desk. "Please, just don't hurt my brothers. I—"

"We wouldn't dream of it," Eleanor interrupted, her tone syrupy sweet. "But I do hope you understand how much trouble this causes for all of us."

Ethan clenched his jaw. Typical. She wouldn't outright threaten. No, she'd layer her words with false sympathy, with the kind of patience that disguised a knife beneath the surface.

Then Richard's voice cut in, cold, clipped.

"You have two days," he said simply. "No more delays."

The line went dead.

Everly let out a shaky breath, her hands shaking at her sides. "That bought us time… right?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he picked up his phone and called the man he had sent to find her brothers.

The answer came within seconds.

"We've got a location," the man said. "They're still unharmed. Ready to extract them as soon as you give the word."

Everly exhaled deeply, her body sagging with relief, but before she could say anything, the next words came—

"If you want them incarcerated for life, you need bigger evidence. The money fraud is enough to send them away, but it won't keep them gone forever. We need something more. Something that ties them to your accident."

Ethan's fist clenched.

He had expected this.

They would get jail time, sure. But with the kind of power and connections Eleanor and Richard had, they would find a way out.

Unless he found something that would destroy them completely.

His grip on the phone tightened. "We're going to make them come to us."

Everly stiffened. "What?"

He finally turned to her, his green eyes steady, determined, filled with a dark, unwavering resolve.

"We're setting a trap," he said. "I'll be the bait."

Her face drained of color.

"Ethan, no—"

He reached out, gripping her wrist gently, his touch firm but reassuring.

"They won't kill me," he said, his voice calm but edged with certainty. "Not until they know where that will is. They still need me."

"But—" She swallowed, panic creeping into her voice. "They already tried once. What if—"

"I won't let them win again."

Her eyes searched his face, looking for **doubt, for hesitation—**but there was none.

Only determination.

Only certainty.

And somewhere deep inside her, she believed him.

Even if she was terrified.