Chapter 8 - The Betrayal
Ethan refused to let Hannah go home alone.
She hated needing protection.
But Ellie needed safety more than pride.
They stayed at Ethan's guesthouse.
For the first time, Hannah saw the private side of the Whitmore family.
Old photographs.
Christmas ornaments.
A nursery door that had never been opened.
Ethan stopped outside it.
“That's Claire's room.”
Hannah looked at him.
“Have you ever gone inside?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I open that door, I have to admit she isn't coming back.”
Hannah reached for his hand.
He didn't pull away.
“You don't have to do it tonight.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe tomorrow.”
That night, Ethan finally opened the door.
Dust covered the furniture.
A small stuffed rabbit sat on the crib.
Hannah froze.
“Ellie has one just like that.”
Ethan picked it up.
“It was Claire's.”
Hannah looked at Ellie.
The baby reached for it.
Ethan handed it to her.
Ellie hugged it.
For the first time, Ethan laughed.
A real laugh.
Then the lights went out.
Daniel shouted from downstairs.
“Ethan!”
A window shattered.
Hannah screamed.
Ethan grabbed her and pulled her behind the wall.
Another window broke.
Someone had fired from outside.
Security rushed into the room.
The attacker disappeared into the snow.
But a note had been left on the crib.
You should have stopped when we warned you.
Ethan stared at it.
Then another message arrived on his phone.
A bank transfer.
One million dollars.
From Whitmore Confections.
To Hannah's account.
Hannah stared.
“I didn't do that.”
“I know.”
But someone had just created a perfect setup.
A payment from the company to Hannah.
On paper, it looked like bribery.
Worse—
The transfer had been approved using Ethan's signature.
By morning, the board had called an emergency meeting.
Richard arrived with attorneys.
He placed documents on the table.
“Hannah Mercer has been receiving unauthorized payments.”
Hannah stared at him.
“I haven't.”
Richard turned to Ethan.
“You hired her.”
Ethan stood.
“You're framing her.”
Richard smiled.
“Prove it.”
The room went silent.
Then the board chairman spoke.
“Ethan, until this is resolved, you are suspended as CEO.”
Hannah looked at him.
Ethan didn't move.
Richard smiled.
“It's over.”
But Ethan looked at Hannah.
Then Ellie.
And quietly said:
“No.”
He placed his resignation letter on the table.
The board gasped.
“I quit.”
Richard laughed.
“You're giving up Whitmore Confections?”
Ethan looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
He picked up the original company charter.
“I'm taking it back.”
