CHAPTER 12 — THE PRICE OF THE TRUTH
CHAPTER 12 — THE PRICE OF THE TRUTH
Luke survived surgery.
The bullet had missed his heart by less than an inch.
Ethan sat beside his hospital bed when he woke.
For several seconds, neither brother spoke.
Luke finally smiled weakly.
“You look terrible.”
“You were always the ugly one.”
Luke laughed, then winced.
Silence settled between them.
Ethan stared at the floor.
“Did you know Noah was yours?”
“Not until Olivia arranged the test.”
“And you let him call you Dad.”
“The first time was an accident.”
“The next hundred times?”
Luke closed his eyes.
“I was selfish.”
The honesty disarmed Ethan.
Luke continued.
“I lost fifteen years. When Noah looked at me like I mattered, I didn’t correct him fast enough.”
“You knew what it would do to me.”
“Yes.”
Ethan stood.
“That might be the first truthful answer anyone has given me.”
Luke’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan wanted to stay angry.
Part of him needed the anger.
But he remembered Luke tied to the chair, Luke shielding Noah from the bullet, Luke lying dead beneath the red emergency lights.
“You’re his biological father,” Ethan said. “But I raised him.”
“I know.”
“I was there for the first fever. The first day of school. The broken arm. Every nightmare he actually told me about.”
Luke nodded.
“I’m not taking him from you.”
“You don’t get to make that decision alone.”
“No. Noah does.”
Ethan looked at him sharply.
Luke continued.
“When he’s old enough to understand, he deserves the whole truth. Until then, you’re his father. I’m his uncle.”
Ethan studied his brother.
“And Olivia?”
Luke turned toward the window.
“There was never an affair after I returned.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“I loved her once. Before I knew what she had done. Now I don’t know who she is.”
Neither did Ethan.
Richard was charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, fraud, unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy, and the murder of Ethan and Luke’s father.
Dr. Wynn accepted a plea deal.
Gavin was captured at the airport.
Calloway Global’s stolen funds were traced through twenty-three shell companies.
But the greatest scandal wasn’t financial.
It was personal.
Every network in America carried the same headline:
BILLIONAIRE FAMILY BUILT ON EMPTY GRAVES AND HIDDEN HEIRS.
Outside the hospital, reporters demanded answers.
Inside, Noah sat between Ethan and Luke.
He held each man’s hand.
“Do I have two dads?” he asked.
Ethan and Luke looked at each other.
Luke answered first.
“You have one dad.”
He nodded toward Ethan.
“And one uncle who has a lot to make up for.”
Noah thought about it.
“Can Uncle Luke still read me stories?”
Ethan squeezed his son’s hand.
“Yes.”
Noah smiled.
For the first time since Ethan came home early, the room felt almost peaceful.
Then Ethan’s attorney entered carrying an envelope.
“Ethan, we found your father’s final will.”
May you like
He placed it on the table.
“It leaves control of Calloway Global to neither you nor Luke.”
