Chapter 5
Ethan called every day for a week.
At first, he left apologies. Then he left explanations. The company had faced a cash shortage. The trust money had kept employees paid. He had intended to repay it after the sale.
I saved every message and answered through Priya when it concerned the records.
When he asked about the baby, I sent a short reply myself. She was healthy. I had a checkup on Thursday. I would let him know how it went.
I did not want to use our daughter as punishment. I also needed him to understand that concern for her did not give him a way around the questions he had avoided.
On Thursday, Mom drove me to my appointment. The doctor checked my blood pressure twice. It had risen since the last visit. She asked whether I was under unusual stress.
I told her enough. She asked me to rest more, keep track of my readings, and call if I had any symptoms that worried me. Our daughter’s heartbeat was strong.
In the car, I finally let myself smile.
“She’s all right,” I said.
Mom squeezed my hand. “And we’re going to take care of you.”
I sent Ethan the update. He replied, “Can I come next time?”
I did not answer right away. I wanted him present when our daughter was born if he could treat me with respect. I did not know whether he could yet.
That afternoon, Declan called. His company was ending its exclusive talks with Calloway Medical Supply until the trust matter was resolved.
“I thought you should hear it directly,” he said.
“Will people at Ethan’s company lose their jobs?”
“The company is still operating. My team won’t spread rumors about its finances. Ethan has options, but he has to give an accurate accounting before we discuss a purchase.”
I was relieved. The employees had families. They had not chosen what Ethan did.
“I appreciate the call.”
“There’s something else,” Declan said. “My attorney can send Priya the records our review team collected.”
“Please do.”
He paused. “How are you?”
“Better today. The baby is healthy.”
“I’m glad.”
It was an ordinary exchange, yet I could feel how carefully he kept his attention on the matter at hand. People online described Declan as ruthless. With me, he had been patient. I reminded myself that I had known him for days, and much of what I knew came from a conference room.
Still, I thanked him before we hung up.
Vanessa’s lawyer sent Priya another group of emails that evening. Vanessa had known Ethan wanted my signature, but she said she did not know the trust statements were false. She had started saving the emails after she saw him instruct the finance team to leave my name out of a meeting notice.
Priya and I read through them together. One message stood out.
“If Grace asks about the distributions, tell her the estate accountant handled them.”
Ethan had sent it to Vanessa a month before the island trip.
I remembered asking about the tax notice at breakfast. His answer had sounded effortless because he had prepared it.
I went into Mom’s garden and sat until I could breathe evenly. The air was cool. My daughter shifted, and I placed my hand where I felt her move.
“I’m going to tell you the truth,” I whispered to her. “Even when it’s hard.”
My phone buzzed. Ethan was at Mom’s front door.
I went inside. Mom had left him on the porch. She knew I wanted to make the choice to speak for myself.
“What do you need?” I asked through the open doorway.
“To see you.”
“You can see me.”
He looked thinner. “I made a repayment proposal. Priya has it.”
“She’ll review it.”
“I want you to know I’m trying.”
“I know what you’ve offered. I also read the email about what Vanessa should tell me.”
His face fell.
“I was afraid,” he said.
“So was I when the tax notice came. You could have told me then.”
He looked at my stomach. “I’m afraid of losing both of you.”
“Our daughter will need her father. What you and I become depends on what happens next.”
“Is Declan part of that?”
The question hurt because it showed how far he still was from understanding.
“Declan gave my lawyer the records. That is his part.”
Ethan stared at me. “I saw the way he looked at you.”
“I saw the way you kissed Vanessa.”
He stepped back. For once, he had no answer.
I closed the door and leaned against it. Mom waited in the kitchen without asking me to describe every word.
The next morning, Priya called with news. Ethan had offered to repay the trust in full from his personal assets. His accountant had also provided the missing ledgers.
“That sounds like progress,” I said.
“It is. I still need to verify the amounts.”
“Do that.”
“There’s another issue. The third distribution never reached the company account.”
I sat down.
May you like
“Where did it go?”
“We’re tracing it now.”
