Chapter 17 - THE COMPANY BETWEEN US
Ethan came to my apartment that night.
No suit.
No tie.
He looked tired.
I put the will on the table.
“You knew?”
“Not until this morning.”
“You run Mercer Maritime.”
“My mother inherited operational control after my father was declared dead.”
“And now?”
“You own fifty-one percent.”
I stared at him.
“Of your company.”
“Our company.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
I poured coffee.
Neither of us drank it.
“Why did Grandpa do this?”
“Guilt.”
“Everybody keeps leaving me expensive apologies.”
Ethan smiled despite himself.
It vanished quickly.
“I resigned today.”
“What?”
“As CEO.”
“Why?”
“Because if I stay, every decision between us becomes contaminated.”
I looked at him.
“You love that company.”
“Yes.”
“And you walked away?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t make that romantic.”
“I’m not.”
Good answer.
He slid a folder toward me.
Independent board.
Voting safeguards.
A proposed search for a new CEO.
No hidden clauses.
I read every page.
Then I asked the question neither of us wanted.
“Do you still want to marry me?”
His eyes lifted.
“Yes.”
“After finding out we’re cousins?”
A painful half-smile.
“Not my favorite discovery.”
I almost laughed.
Then I did.
It came out wrong.
Half sob.
Half laugh.
Ethan looked down.
“I don’t expect anything from you.”
“That’s new.”
“I deserved that.”
Silence settled.
I looked at the man I had loved.
The man who had lied.
The man who had also stood beside me while his own family exploded.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know if I want you.”
“I know.”
“I might.”
His breath caught.
“But not now.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
When he reached the door, I said his name.
He turned.
“Why did you kiss her back?”
His face tightened.
“I didn’t.”
“I saw—”
“She kissed me. I caught her shoulders because she stumbled. From where you stood…”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
The image that started everything had lied without technically being false.
Ethan opened the door.
Then he paused.
“There’s one more thing.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“Sarah.”
“Absolutely not.”
May you like
His expression was serious.
“Rachel escaped protective custody.”
