Ethan walked aimlessly through the streets, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He felt betrayed, lost, and angry.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Mia:
Mia: Are you okay? What happened?
Ethan typed back, his fingers shaking:
Ethan: I told them. It was a disaster.
A few seconds later, Mia replied:
Mia: Do you want to talk? I'm here if you need me.
Ethan hesitated, then typed back:
Ethan: I just need to be alone for a while.
He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and kept walking, the cold night air biting at his skin.
---
Across town, Arnold sat in his study, his mind racing. He couldn't stop thinking about Ethan—his son.
He picked up his phone and called his assistant. "Victoria, I need you to arrange a meeting with a family lawyer. As soon as possible."
Victoria hesitated. "Are you sure about this, Mr. Carter? It could escalate things with Rachel's husband."
