Chapter 10: The Son He Used as a Shield
For several seconds after Vanessa said Ethan’s name, I couldn’t speak.
The world around me continued moving.
Cars passed outside my window.
The refrigerator hummed in the kitchen.
Rain tapped against the glass.
But all I could hear was that one sentence.
“It’s connected to Ethan.””
“No,” I whispered.
Vanessa stayed quiet.
Not because she agreed.
Because she knew I needed a moment.
“Claire, listen to me.””
I closed my eyes.
“Tell me exactly what you found.””
“There is an account opened under Ethan’s name. It received money from one of Richard’s private companies.””
My heart sank.
“Ethan?””
“Yes.””
I thought about my son.
The same son who came to my house crying.
The same son who apologized for laughing in court.
The same son who handed me his father’s secret file.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“He wouldn’t do that.””
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“I didn’t say he knowingly did.””
That sentence stopped me.
“What do you mean?””
“I need you to find out what happened before assuming anything.””
I looked toward the hallway.
The hallway where Ethan used to run through as a child.
The hallway where he once told me he wanted to become someone his family could be proud of.
“Send me everything.””
“I already did.””
After we ended the call, I sat there for almost an hour.
Not because I believed Ethan betrayed me.
Because I knew Richard.
And Richard never did anything randomly.
The next morning, Ethan came over.
He immediately noticed my face.
“Mom?””
I looked at him.
“Ethan, I need to ask you something.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
“Do you have an account connected to Hale Development?””
The color drained from his face.
“What?””
“Ethan.””
He stepped back.
“I don’t understand.””
“Please answer me.””
He looked hurt.
Not angry.
Hurt.
“I have a savings account. That’s it.””
I studied him.
“Have you ever signed anything for your father?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation scared me.
“What?””
He sat down.
“When I was eighteen, Dad told me he needed me to sign some documents.””
“What documents?””
“He said they were related to future ownership.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did you read them?””
Ethan looked ashamed.
“No.””
I closed my eyes.
Because I already knew.
Richard had done it again.
He had taken someone’s trust and turned it into a weapon.
“I thought he was preparing me to join the company.””
Ethan’s voice cracked.
“I thought he believed in me.””
I sat beside him.
“Ethan, look at me.””
He did.
“You didn’t betray me.””
“But my name is on something I don’t understand.””
“Yes.””
I held his gaze.
“And your father knew that.””
The next day, Ethan joined us at Vanessa’s office.
For the first time, he saw the entire picture.
The transfers.
The documents.
The timeline.
Vanessa pointed at the records.
“Richard moved money into accounts connected to people he trusted.””
Ethan looked confused.
“Why?””
“Because if anyone questioned the money, he could claim it belonged to someone else.””
Ethan stared at the screen.
“He used me.””
Nobody answered.
Because the truth was obvious.
That afternoon, Richard called Ethan.
I watched my son’s face as he answered.
“Hello?””
A pause.
Then Ethan’s expression changed.
“No, Dad.””
Another pause.
“I know about the account.””
Silence.
Richard was speaking quickly.
Ethan listened.
Then he shook his head.
“No.””
Another pause.
“You told me Mom was trying to destroy you.””
His voice became quieter.
“But you were the one destroying everyone.””
My chest tightened.
Ethan looked at me.
Then said the words I never expected.
“I’m not protecting you anymore.””
He ended the call.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Ethan whispered:
“He said he did everything for us.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
I gently shook my head.
“He did everything for himself.””
The final hearing was scheduled three days later.
This time, Richard arrived alone.
No confident smile.
No performance.
He looked tired.
But I knew better than to confuse exhaustion with regret.
When he sat across from me, he leaned forward.
“You turned my own son against me.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
I placed my hands on the table.
“You did.””
His jaw tightened.
“You think this makes you the hero?””
“No.””
I looked toward my children.
“I think it makes them free.””
For the first time, Richard had no answer.
But then his attorney stood.
“Your Honor, before proceeding, we have one final piece of evidence.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
The judge looked at her.
“What evidence?””
She placed a small envelope on the table.
Richard looked at it.
And for the first time, I saw something I had never seen before.
Fear.
Real fear.
May you like
Because whatever was inside that envelope…
Even he didn’t want it revealed.
