Chapter 7 - The Discovery in the Ledger
The threat of Evelyn Sterling's custody suit was real, backed by a massive family fortune and a team of international lawyers who knew how to exploit the legal differences between US and UK family courts. For three weeks, Ethan's legal team worked around the clock to build a defensive wall, but Evelyn’s lawyers were aggressive, digging into Grace’s past to find any dirt they could use to discredit her character.
On a rainy Tuesday night, Ethan was working late in his study when his lead private investigator, Marcus Vance, called his secure line.
"Ethan, we found something while reviewing the background checks Evelyn’s team is preparing for the court," Marcus said, his voice tense. "They’re focusing on a medical debt Grace Holloway accumulated five years ago. But that’s not the issue. Ethan... we traced the source of the tabloid leak that started this whole mess. It wasn't the Apex Group."
Ethan frowned, his hand tightening around the phone. "What do you mean? Who leaked the story about Grace?"
"It was Daniel Pierce," Marcus revealed, dropping the bomb with a calm, forensic delivery. "Your partner. He’s been secretly liquidating his shares in Whitmore Industries for the past six months. He was working with the Apex Group to facilitate the takeover. He wanted you to fail, Ethan. He thought if you were declared unfit, he would become the sole CEO and could sell the company out from under your children."
The betrayal felt like a physical blow to Ethan's stomach. Daniel had been his best friend since college. He had stood beside Ethan at his wedding; he had wept at Claire's funeral.
"Are you certain, Marcus?" Ethan whispered.
"We have the digital footprint of the encrypted emails between Daniel and Julian Vance," Marcus confirmed. "And there’s more. Daniel was the one who authorized the reduction of the security staff at the mansion the week before Grace arrived. He was trying to create an unsafe environment to build evidence of your negligence for a future custody or board battle."
Ethan hung up the phone, the world spinning around him. He looked out the window into the dark, rainy night. He had been fighting enemies at the gates, completely blind to the viper sitting in his own boardroom.
He left his study and walked down the hall to the nursery, needing to see something pure to keep from losing his mind. Inside, Grace was sitting in the wooden rocking chair, holding Sophie against her chest, singing a soft, old lullaby.
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"Ethan?" Grace looked up, sensing the heavy, dark energy radiating from him. "What’s wrong?"
"The world is dirtier than I thought, Grace," Ethan said, sinking onto the floor beside her chair, resting his head against the wooden arm. "But I’m going to clean it up tomorrow."
