Chapter 8 - The Shadow of the Past
With the legal victory behind them, a quiet, beautiful rhythm settled over their lives. Ethan became a constant presence in the apartment on 4th Street. He helped Lily with her homework, showing her how to solve math problems with colorful buttons. He washed dishes at the bakery after closing, refusing to let Sarah work her double shifts alone.
But one evening, after Lily had fallen asleep, Ethan found Sarah sitting on the fire escape, staring at the stars.
He stepped out, wrapping a warm blanket around her shoulders before sitting beside her. "What are you thinking about?"
Sarah sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I was thinking about my husband, David. He died four years ago. He was a construction worker."
Ethan listened quietly, his arm wrapping around her waist.
"He died on a site owned by Vance Enterprises," Sarah said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There was an accident. A crane collapsed. The company’s lawyers came to see me the next day. They offered me a small settlement—just enough to pay for the funeral and a few months of rent—but they made me sign a paper saying I wouldn't sue. I was so scared, Ethan. I had a three-year-old baby, and I didn't know anything about the law. I signed it."
Ethan’s jaw tightened. "They exploited you, Sarah. It’s a common tactic for companies like Vance to avoid liability."
"I always felt like I failed him," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I let them sweep his life under the rug for a few thousand dollars."
Ethan turned to her, taking her face in his hands. "You didn't fail him, Sarah. You survived. You kept Lily safe. That is the greatest victory any mother could ever achieve. But if you want... I can reopen the case."
Sarah looked at him, her eyes wide. "Can you do that? Even after all this time?"
"The statute of limitations for wrongful death involving fraudulent concealment of evidence is ten years," Ethan said, a dangerous spark igniting in his eyes. "If they covered up the safety violations that caused the crane collapse—and knowing Vance, they did—we can tear that settlement agreement to pieces."
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"It’s dangerous, Ethan," Sarah said. "They will fight dirty."
"So do I," Ethan said, a slow, confident smile touching his lips. "Only, I do it with the law on my side."
