Chapter 4 - A Mother’s Legacy
Ethan took off his dry, expensive navy coat and gently draped it over my dripping shoulders. He took my wet canvas bag from my hands, held my arm with deep reverence, and turned his back on the crowd of stunned Nashville elites.
“Ethan! Wait!” Vanessa screamed behind us, running after us in her heels, her voice echoing across the pristine lawns. “You can’t ruin my life over this! We spent months planning this party! What will I tell my friends?”
Ethan didn’t even turn around. “Tell them the truth, Vanessa. Tell them you threw away your entire future for a garden hose.”
We walked out of the iron gates of the Belle Meade estate. Waiting at the curb was not a beat-up taxi, but a sleek, black armored sedan. My long-time driver and head of security, Marcus, stepped out, opening the rear door with a solemn bow. His eyes widened when he saw my wet hair and clothes, but I held up a hand to stop him from speaking.
“I’m fine, Marcus. Just drive us home.”
Inside the warm, leather-scented interior of the car, Ethan sat beside me, burying his face in his hands. The silence between us was heavy, filled with the pain of a young man realizing that the woman he loved was entirely fake.
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” I said gently, reaching out to stroke his arm. “I know how much you cared for her.”
Ethan looked up, his eyes red. “Don’t apologize, Mom. You saved me. If you hadn’t done this... if you hadn’t tested her, I would have spent the rest of my life bound to a woman who has no heart. I was so blind. She was always so sweet around me, so refined...”
“Cruelty often hides behind beautiful manners, my son,” I said, looking out the window as the grand mansions of Belle Meade blurred past. “Your father used to tell me that wealth doesn't change people; it merely unmasks them. When people think they have absolute power over someone weaker than them, their true soul comes out.”
Ethan sighed heavily. “What do we do now? The Mitchells are going to go into financial ruin within thirty days if we pull our backing. And the media will have a field day with this.”
I unlocked my phone and looked at the recording. The video was crystal clear. The sound of the water hitting my face, Vanessa’s cruel laughter, and Patricia’s arrogant remarks were all captured in high definition.
“We don’t leak this to destroy them,” I said calmly. “We aren’t vindictive. We leak it only if they attempt to twist the story against you. As for their business... Carter Global will immediately cancel the credit line. We do not invest in businesses run by people devoid of basic human empathy.”
May you like
Ethan nodded slowly. “Agreed.”
He took my shivering hand in his, squeezing it tightly. “Let’s get you home, Mom. A warm bath, a cup of tea, and a proper suit for me. Tomorrow, we clean up this mess.”
