Chapter 5: The Marriage That Was Planned
I didn’t sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ethan standing in our living room.
The cash on the floor.
His cold expression.
The way he stepped away from me when I needed him most.
But now there was something worse.
The question that wouldn’t leave my mind.
Had he ever loved me?
Or was I just part of a plan?
The next morning, my father came back with coffee.
He placed it on the table.
“You should rest.””
I stared out the window.
“How long did you know?””
He was quiet.
“About Ethan?””
I nodded.
“Before you married him.””
The silence was painful.
“Dad.””
He sat down.
“Three months.””
I turned.
“Three months?””
“I wanted to be sure.””
My voice cracked.
“So you knew something was wrong, and you let me marry him?””
His face fell.
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I tried to stop it.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because every time I tried, Ethan convinced you I was attacking him.””
I remembered.
Every argument.
Every time Ethan told me my father didn’t respect my choices.
Every time he whispered that my family wanted to control me.
I covered my face.
“I was so stupid.””
My father immediately reached for my hand.
“No.””
“But I believed him.””
“You trusted someone you loved.””
His words almost broke me.
Because that was exactly what happened.
A knock came at the door.
Before I could respond, Ethan walked in.
Alone.
My father stood.
“What are you doing here?””
Ethan ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Claire, we need to talk.””
I looked at him coldly.
“About what?””
“About us.””
I almost smiled.
“Us?””
He stepped closer.
“Everything I did was because I was scared.””
“Scared?””
“Yes.””
He lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand what your father is capable of.””
My father laughed once.
A quiet, bitter laugh.
“You’re really going to use that excuse?””
Ethan ignored him.
“Claire, your father has always controlled people.””
I stared at Ethan.
“Did you love me?””
The question stopped him.
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
That hesitation hurt more than any answer.
“I did.””
Past tense.
I noticed.
“When?””
His eyes moved away.
“Claire…”
“When did you start loving me?””
He had no answer.
Because the truth was sitting between us.
I wasn’t a person to him anymore.
I was evidence.
A connection.
A way to get something.
My father walked toward the door.
“You need to leave.””
Ethan’s face hardened.
“You think you won?””
My father looked at him.
“This isn’t a game.””
Ethan smiled.
A small, bitter smile.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
I frowned.
“Know what?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Your father never told you why he cared so much about protecting you.””
My heart sank.
“Stop.””
My father’s voice was firm.
But Ethan continued.
“Ask him why he suddenly appeared after three years.””
I looked at my father.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
And that scared me.
Because I realized there were still secrets.
Not just from Ethan.
From everyone.
Ethan stepped closer to the door.
“I’m leaving for now.””
I stared.
“Leaving?””
He nodded.
“But before I go, remember this.””
He pointed at the envelope.
“Your father saved those documents for a reason.””
My fingers tightened.
“What reason?””
Ethan looked at my father.
Then back at me.
“Because he knows the truth about your mother’s death.””
The room went completely still.
My father’s face changed.
And suddenly, I wasn’t thinking about Ethan anymore.
May you like
I was thinking about the one question I had never been brave enough to ask.
Why had my mother really died?
