Chapter 7 - The Witness List
Dad’s complaint claimed Ethan had manipulated me into giving him access to confidential charity information.
That was impossible.
I had left the charity eighteen months earlier.
Ethan never saw its internal records through me.
Dad knew that.
He listed me anyway because he expected me to protect the family name.
Rachel prepared me for the hearing.
“Answer only what is asked.”
“I know.”
“Your father’s attorney may try to make this about the marriage.”
“I know.”
Ethan sat across the room.
He looked guilty.
Not because he had committed misconduct.
Because his work had placed me against my father.
I went to him.
“Stop apologizing with your face.”
He almost smiled.
“I’m working on it.”
“Do you regret investigating?”
“No.”
“Do you regret not telling me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“It means you understand the difference.”
At the hearing, Dad’s attorney asked whether Ethan had discussed the charity with me before our wedding.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The night after the ceremony.”
The attorney frowned.
“Not before?”
“No.”
“Did he ask you to obtain bank records?”
“No.”
“Did he encourage your mother to take documents?”
“No.”
“Did he marry you to gain influence over Whitmore Auto Group?”
I looked toward Dad.
He sat behind his attorney wearing a navy suit and the expression of a wounded patriarch.
“No.”
“How can you be certain?”
“Because he signed a prenuptial agreement waiving any ownership claim to my family assets.”
A member of the review panel looked up.
Dad’s attorney changed direction.
“Mrs. Cole, were you angry with your father when you married?”
“Yes.”
“Did your husband encourage that anger?”
“No.”
“My father handled that without assistance.”
A few people in the room looked down to hide smiles.
Then Caleb testified.
He admitted giving Ethan the ledger.
He confirmed Ethan repeatedly told him to preserve original documents and avoid illegal access.
The panel asked why Caleb contacted Ethan.
He answered:
“Because my father controlled everyone else.”
Finally, Marcus testified about Ethan’s history of representing people with no money and no influence.
The hearing ended without a ruling.
As we left, Dad approached.
“You enjoyed that.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because you cannot buy the answer.”
His expression darkened.
Then Mom appeared behind him.
“Richard.”
He turned.
She held an envelope.
“What is that?”
May you like
“Divorce papers.”
For the first time in my life, my father had no prepared response.
