Chapter 6 - ETHAN HEARS THE TRUTH
A sound came from the staircase.
We all turned.
Ethan stood halfway down.
Lily was behind him.
I immediately moved toward them.
“You should be in bed.”
Ethan stared at his grandmother.
“Did you say that?”
Helen’s face softened instantly.
“Sweetheart.”
“Did you?”
She took a step toward him.
He moved backward.
Something inside her face cracked.
For years, Ethan had been her proof that she was loving.
She bought him gifts.
Praised him.
Took him to games.
Called him her prince.
As long as Ethan adored her, Helen could tell herself she was a good grandmother.
Now he looked at her differently.
“Why do you hate Lily?”
Helen inhaled sharply.
“I do not hate your sister.”
“You give me everything.”
“That is because you appreciate things.”
Lily lowered her eyes.
Ethan saw it.
“That’s mean.”
Helen’s mouth tightened.
“Do not speak to me that way.”
Robert stepped in.
“Mom.”
She turned toward him.
“What?”
“Stop.”
It may have been the first time he had ever said the word to her.
Helen stared at him.
Robert looked exhausted.
“Just stop.”
Ethan came down the remaining stairs.
He looked at me.
“Did Dad know?”
The room froze.
I wanted to protect him.
But protecting children does not mean teaching them lies.
“He knew some of it.”
Ethan looked toward Robert.
“Dad?”
Robert opened his mouth.
No answer came.
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“You always said Lily was too sensitive.”
Robert looked down.
“I was wrong.”
“You laughed tonight.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Robert had no defense.
Finally he said the truth.
“Because I was a coward.”
Helen gasped.
“Robert.”
He ignored her.
Ethan started crying.
Not loudly.
That made it worse.
“I laughed too.”
Lily looked at him.
Ethan turned toward her.
“I’m sorry.”
She said nothing.
He walked to her.
“I thought it was funny because everybody laughed.”
Lily’s lip trembled.
“It wasn’t.”
“I know.”
He held out his hand.
She hesitated.
Then took it.
Behind them, Helen stared as if the entire family order had just betrayed her.
Maybe it had.
Mara quietly closed her folder.
“We need to finish this.”
Robert looked at me.
“What happens now?”
“Tonight, you and Helen leave the main house.”
Helen laughed.
“You cannot throw me out.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the security team.
“I can.”
Helen’s expression changed.
Then Robert’s phone rang.
He looked down.
His attorney.
He answered.
“What?”
His face drained of color.
Mara watched him carefully.
Robert ended the call.
He looked at me.
“What else did you freeze?”
I did not answer.
He stepped closer.
“Claire.”
May you like
I held his gaze.
“Everything you used that belonged to my children.”
