Chapter 16 - ETHAN KNEW MORE THAN HE SAIDNora asked Ethan to meet at a public park.
No lawyers.
No Warren.
She needed to know whether their marriage had anything left beneath the damage.
They sat on a bench.
Children played nearby.
Normal life.
Ethan stared at his hands.
“Ask me anything.”
Nora nodded.
“When did Celeste first tell you someone was monitoring me?”
“About three weeks before the gala.”
“What did she say?”
“That foundation risk consultants were checking whether anyone was approaching you about internal records.”
“Why?”
“She said there had been donor leaks.”
“Were there?”
“I never checked.”
Nora laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Ethan accepted it.
“Did you know Derek?”
“No.”
“Calvin?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Calvin hired investigators?”
“Generally.”
“Did you know they followed me?”
“I knew they might observe meetings.”
“Did you know they were following me home?”
“No.”
“To my pharmacy?”
“No.”
“Restroom?”
“No.”
Nora believed him.
That did not help as much as he hoped.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you would confront Mom.”
“Yes.”
“And I didn’t want a war.”
Nora stared.
“So you sacrificed my right to know because you wanted peace.”
“Yes.”
He swallowed.
“I’m ashamed of that.”
“You should be.”
“I am.”
Silence.
Ethan looked at her.
“I was raised to believe protecting the Arden name protected everyone.”
Nora’s eyes hardened.
“And now?”
“Now I think it protected Mom.”
Good answer.
Not enough.
Nora continued.
“Do you understand why I can’t come home?”
“Yes.”
He answered immediately.
That mattered.
“Do you want a divorce?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan nodded.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Okay.”
She stared.
“You’re not going to fight?”
“I will fight for the marriage.”
He paused.
“But not against your right to decide whether you want it.”
Nora looked away.
That sounded like something Warren had only recently learned too.
Men in her life finally discovering that love without autonomy was another form of pressure.
“Counseling,” she said.
Ethan looked at her.
“Not reconciliation.”
“I understand.”
“Individual first.”
“Yes.”
“And you tell the auditors everything.”
“Yes.”
“Even if it hurts Celeste.”
Ethan breathed out.
“Yes.”
Nora stood.
Ethan remained seated.
She began walking away.
Then turned.
“One more thing.”
He looked up.
“The next time someone tells you something about me, ask me.”
His face broke.
“I will.”
May you like
For the first time, she believed he meant it.
Whether meaning it was enough remained another question.
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