Chapter 10: The Husband Standing in the Dark
The name left my father’s mouth like a warning.
“Ethan.””
My entire body went cold.
For a moment, nobody moved.
The shattered window.
The broken glass across the floor.
The sound of footsteps outside.
Everything disappeared.
All I could think about was the man who had looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me.
The man who held my hand when we promised forever.
The man who left me on the floor while I begged for help.
My father slowly stood in front of me.
“Stay behind me.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
His eyes met mine.
“Claire.””
“I need to see him.””
My father hesitated.
Because he knew.
Running from the truth had already cost me three years.
The front door opened.
Ethan walked inside.
No weapon.
No angry expression.
Just exhaustion.
He looked at the broken window.
Then at my father.
Then at me.
His eyes stopped on my necklace.
And everything changed.
“You found it.””
I touched the pendant.
“You knew.””
Ethan looked away.
That hurt more than anger would have.
Because guilt was written all over his face.
“You knew what was inside this?””
He didn’t answer.
My voice became louder.
“Did you know?””
Finally, he whispered:
“Yes.””
The word felt like a knife.
I stepped back.
“How long?””
“Since before we met.””
My father’s hands tightened.
“You used my daughter.””
Ethan looked at him.
“I was trying to protect her.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“Protect her?””
“She was in danger.””
“You isolated her.””
“I kept her away from people looking for the evidence.””
I stared at him.
“People?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Your family?””
His silence answered.
I felt sick.
“So everything was a lie?””
His face changed.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
“I did love you.””
I looked at him.
“Then why?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Because when I first approached you, it was for the pendant.””
My heart broke.
Even though I already knew.
Hearing it from him was different.
“I found out your mother left something behind.””
He looked at the necklace.
“My father spent years searching for it.””
My father stepped forward.
“And you were going to give it to him.””
Ethan shook his head.
“No.””
Nobody expected that.
Not even me.
“What?””
Ethan looked at my father.
“I was never working with him.””
My father narrowed his eyes.
“Then why marry her?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Because I thought I could get close enough to find the evidence before he did.””
I felt tears burning.
“You planned our entire relationship.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“But then…”
He stopped.
His voice became quieter.
“Then I actually fell in love with you.””
I looked away.
I didn’t know what was worse.
That he was lying.
Or that he might be telling the truth.
“You still lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“You still watched me.””
“Yes.””
“You still let me believe my father hated me.””
His face fell.
“That was never supposed to happen.””
I laughed through my tears.
“Never supposed to happen?””
I pointed toward the living room.
“Neither was me collapsing while pregnant.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
Pain crossed his face.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice broke.
“You stood there.””
He whispered:
“I was trying to protect you.””
I stared.
“By leaving me?””
He had no answer.
Because there was no explanation that could make that okay.
My father moved toward the door.
“You need to leave.””
But Ethan didn’t move.
Instead, he looked at Rachel.
“Tell her.””
Rachel froze.
“Ethan…”
“Tell her what really happened the night her mother died.””
My father’s expression changed.
“What are you doing?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Giving you the truth.””
The room became silent.
Rachel looked terrified.
Then she whispered:
“Your mother wasn’t killed because she found the evidence.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Rachel looked at Ethan.
“She was killed because she found out who was helping her.””
My heart stopped.
My father looked confused.
“Who?””
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears.
“She found out Ethan’s father had an insider.””
A terrible feeling entered my chest.
“Who?””
Rachel looked directly at me.
May you like
And said:
“Your husband’s mother.””
