Chapter 15 - Ethan’s Real Name Wasn’t the Worst SecretThe birth certificate mattered because Ethan Parker had never legally existed.
Ethan Coleman had.
Born in Charleston, West Virginia.
Mother: Elaine Coleman.
Father: blank.
Claire stared at the scanned document Monica finally surrendered.
“No father listed.”
“Thomas wasn’t his father,” Monica said.
“But you said—”
“I said Thomas raised him.”
“Then who is Ethan’s father?”
Monica looked at Michael.
Michael had been brought into the conference room under guard.
His expression changed.
Claire noticed.
“No.”
Michael looked away.
Claire’s skin went cold.
“No.”
Ava’s father.
Her ex-husband.
It was impossible.
Michael was fifty.
Ethan thirty.
Twenty years apart.
Claire stared at him.
“Tell me.”
Michael’s voice barely worked.
“When I was nineteen, I dated a woman named Elaine.”
Claire felt the world shift.
“For how long?”
“A few months.”
“Did you know she became pregnant?”
“She told me.”
Maya whispered, “Oh my God.”
Michael covered his face.
“I was in college. My parents threatened to cut me off. Elaine disappeared.”
Claire could barely breathe.
“Ethan is your son?”
“I didn’t know until four years ago.”
Four years.
Before Rebecca died.
Before Claire met Ethan.
Everything rearranged itself.
“Rebecca found him because of you?”
Michael nodded.
“I hired a private investigator after Ethan contacted me.”
“Ethan contacted you?”
“He knew.”
Claire felt fury rise.
“He knew you were his father.”
“Yes.”
“And you let him date me?”
Michael started crying again.
“I told him to stay away from you.”
“But you gave him my schedule.”
“He threatened to tell Ava.”
Claire stared.
“Tell Ava what?”
“That she had a brother.”
“A half brother.”
“Yes.”
Claire nearly laughed from disbelief.
Ava and Ethan.
Her daughter and the man Claire had loved.
Half siblings.
The horror of it made her stomach turn.
“Did Ethan know before we met?”
“Yes.”
Claire stood and moved away.
Every intimate memory became uglier.
Not incest.
No blood between Claire and Ethan.
But Ethan had knowingly entered a relationship with his biological father’s ex-wife.
Ava’s mother.
He had chosen Claire partly because of Michael.
“This wasn’t just money.”
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Revenge.”
The word landed quietly.
Michael explained.
Elaine Coleman had struggled after Ethan’s birth.
Thomas Coleman eventually became her partner.
He raised Ethan.
When Ethan was eleven, Elaine died from an overdose.
Thomas blamed Michael.
“He told Ethan I abandoned them.”
“Did you?”
Michael couldn’t answer.
Claire knew enough.
“Yes.”
Michael wiped his face.
“Thomas taught him that wealthy people use everyone and walk away.”
“So Ethan spent his life proving Thomas right.”
“I guess.”
“And Rebecca?”
“She was one of my clients.”
Claire went still.
“Ethan targeted your client to punish you.”
“Yes.”
“Then me.”
Michael nodded.
“He wanted me to watch him destroy everything that belonged to me.”
Claire slapped him.
The room erupted.
Mercer stepped between them.
Claire’s hand stung.
Michael didn’t move.
“You made me part of this.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Your cowardice followed me into my own bed.”
Michael lowered his head.
Claire turned away.
Then Monica spoke.
“There’s more.”
Claire almost screamed.
“What could possibly be more?”
“Ethan didn’t plan to kill you at first.”
Claire stared.
“He planned to marry you.”
“Why?”
“To take control of your assets and humiliate Michael.”
“But?”
“He changed.”
Monica looked toward the waterfall photograph.
“He fell in love with you.”
Claire felt nauseated.
“No.”
“I saw it.”
“He tried to kill me.”
“Because Thomas found out.”
“Thomas ordered it?”
Monica nodded.
“Thomas told Ethan that love made him weak.”
Claire remembered Ethan’s cold expression before the push.
Had there been conflict beneath it?
She hated herself for wondering.
Monica continued.
“Thomas said if Ethan didn’t finish you, he would kill Ava.”
Claire froze.
Michael whispered, “That’s why Ethan took her.”
Nobody spoke.
Claire’s phone rang.
Ethan again.
This time his voice sounded different.
Tired.
“Claire.”
“Where are you?”
“I need you to listen.”
“Give me Ava.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
Ava came on.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan returned.
“Claire, my father is coming.”
“Thomas?”
Silence.
Claire had guessed correctly.
“He thinks I failed.”
“You did.”
“He’ll kill Ava.”
“Then bring her back.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s watching me.”
Claire looked at Mercer.
They were tracing.
“Where do we meet?”
Ethan gave coordinates.
Raven Falls.
Claire’s blood went cold.
“The same place?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where he expects this to end.”
Claire’s voice hardened.
“And what do you expect?”
For several seconds Ethan said nothing.
Then:
“I expect one of us to die.”
The line disconnected.
Mercer checked the trace.
No location.
Claire looked toward the mountain through the distant window.
She had already fallen from Raven Falls once.
May you like
Now Ethan wanted her to return.
And somewhere on that mountain was the daughter he had once threatened to kill.
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