Chapter 3 - The Man Accused of Killing His Own FatherEthan finally told Gabrielle the truth.
His father had died six years earlier.
Officially, heart failure.
Unofficially, murder.
Ethan had been blamed.
Not publicly.
The accusation had been buried.
But powerful families did not need newspapers to destroy someone.
They only needed whispers.
Ethan had left New York and spent years in London rebuilding the company while investigating his father's death.
He had discovered that the Hayes family was connected.
Gabrielle's father had not killed Ethan's father.
But he had helped cover up what happened.
The reason was money.
Billions.
A merger.
A hidden offshore account.
And a contract that could destroy both families.
Gabrielle couldn't believe it.
“My father wouldn't do that.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he loves me.”
“That doesn't mean he tells you the truth.”
She hated that he was right.
Then Ethan showed her a recording.
Her father was speaking to someone.
“I'll handle Gabrielle.”
Another voice answered.
“And Ethan?”
“His father was a problem.”
Gabrielle stopped breathing.
“That's Victor.”
“Yes.”
Her uncle's voice.
Alive.
Gabrielle sat down.
Everything she believed about her family was collapsing.
Then Ethan took her hand.
“I'm sorry.”
She looked at him.
“For what?”
“For making you discover everything at once.”
She pulled her hand away.
“You should have told me before we got married.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You manipulated me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why should I trust you?”
Ethan looked at her.
“Because I could have walked away.”
Gabrielle frowned.
“You had every reason to.”
“I didn't.”
“Why?”
His answer came softly.
“Because six months ago, I saw you outside a restaurant.”
Gabrielle stared.
“You were crying.”
She remembered.
That night.
She had thought nobody saw her.
Ethan continued.
“You looked terrified.”
“I was.”
“I wanted to help.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I thought you were part of your father's world.”
She laughed sadly.
“I wasn't.”
“I know.”
They sat in silence.
Then Ethan said something she wasn't prepared to hear.
“I fell in love with you before you knew my name.”
Gabrielle's heart stopped.
She looked at him.
“You're serious.”
“Yes.”
“You barely knew me.”
“I knew enough.”
She wanted to be angry.
Instead, she looked away.
“That's not fair.”
“No.”
“Why does everything with you have to be complicated?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because apparently you needed to marry a stranger.”
She laughed despite herself.
For the first time since the nightmare began, she felt safe.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Ethan grabbed her.
They fell behind the sofa.
Another shot.
Then silence.
Ethan whispered:
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Gabrielle.”
“I am your wife.”
He looked at her.
“That isn't a reason.”
“It is to me.”
Something softened in his eyes.
Then he reached for her hand.
“Stay close.”
They moved through the apartment.
The attacker was gone.
But a message had been left on the wall.
Written in black paint:
THE WEDDING WAS A MISTAKE.
Gabrielle stared.
Ethan's expression became cold.
“No.”
“What?”
“They're wrong.”
“About what?”
“The wedding wasn't the mistake.”
May you like
He looked at her.
“The mistake was letting them think they could control us.”
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