Chapter 13 - THE MAN IN THE DOORWAY
Charles looked almost calm.
That frightened Ethan more than anger would have.
“Move away from her.”
Charles smiled.
“You always were predictable.”
Ethan stepped in front of Grace.
“What do you want?”
“The drive.”
“It’s already with federal investigators.”
For the first time, Charles’s expression shifted.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
Grace spoke from behind Ethan.
“They have everything.”
Charles looked at her.
“You should have minded your own business.”
Grace’s voice stayed steady.
“It became my business when you came after my family.”
Charles laughed bitterly.
“Family.”
He looked around the nursery.
“Do you know what his family did to build this empire?”
“Yes.”
Grace answered before Ethan could.
“And unlike you, Ethan is willing to face it.”
Charles’s smile disappeared.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Charles looked toward the window.
Ethan saw the calculation in his eyes.
“You have nowhere to go.”
Charles stepped backward.
Then he pulled something from his coat.
Ethan immediately moved Grace behind him.
It wasn’t a weapon.
It was a lighter.
Charles held up a folder.
“Original ledgers.”
Ethan stared at them.
“Your father’s signatures.”
“Your mother’s signatures.”
“Yours.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Burn them.”
Charles blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Ethan took one step forward.
“Burn every page.”
“You’ll lose the company.”
“I already told you.”
Ethan looked at Grace.
Then back at Charles.
“I don’t care.”
That was the moment Charles lost.
For years, he had controlled the Hargroves with one assumption.
That they would do anything to protect their name.
Thomas had.
Evelyn had.
But Ethan wouldn’t.
Charles lowered the lighter.
“You’re throwing away generations of work.”
“No.”
“I’m ending generations of fear.”
Police entered the hallway.
Charles turned.
There was nowhere to run.
Officers ordered him to the floor.
For a second, Ethan thought he might resist.
Instead, Charles looked at Grace.
“You destroyed everything.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
“You did.”
Charles was handcuffed.
As officers led him away, he looked back at Ethan.
“Your father would hate what you’ve done.”
Ethan answered without hesitation.
“My father left me a video telling me to do it.”
Charles stopped.
His face changed.
For the first time, genuine shock appeared.
Then he was taken away.
Ethan turned.
Grace was trembling.
He reached for her.
She stepped into his arms.
Neither spoke.
They stood together inside the nursery where the lie had begun.
Outside, cameras gathered beyond the gates.
Inside, the mansion was finally quiet.
Then Grace suddenly stiffened.
Ethan pulled back.
“What?”
She looked down.
Her eyes widened.
“Ethan.”
May you like
“What is it?”
“I think my water just broke.”
