The light turned green, but Ethan Caldwell’s world stood entirely still.

While Ethan spent the next three days at Northwestern Memorial Hospital sitting by Clara’s bedside and holding Lily’s hand, dark clouds were gathering at the headquarters of Caldwell Industries.

Ethan’s uncle, Richard Caldwell, served as the Vice Chairman of the board. Richard was a bitter, ambitious man who had spent thirty years living in the shadow of Ethan’s father, and now resented his thirty-eight-year-old nephew's complete control over the family empire.

In a private conference room on the 40th floor, Richard sat across from Julian Sterling, the head of the Sterling Financial Group.

"Is it true?" Julian asked, flicking an ash from his cigar. "Ethan picked up a street kid and brought an illegitimate child into his penthouse?"

Richard sneered, tossing a dossier of surveillance photographs onto the polished glass table. The photos showed Ethan carrying Lily out of the alley on 14th Street, and Ethan standing outside Northwestern Memorial with Clara Vance.

"It’s not just any street kid," Richard growled. "It’s Clara Vance’s kid. Ethan’s father paid that girl to disappear nine years ago. Now Ethan has brought her back, put her in our private hospital suite, and is preparing to legitimize the child."

Julian’s face hardened. Nine years ago, Julian’s daughter, Victoria Sterling, had been arranged to marry Ethan to consolidate their corporate empires. When Clara vanished, Victoria had waited, expecting Ethan to finally marry her. But Ethan had refused all personal relationships, throwing himself entirely into work.

"If Ethan legitimizes this child," Julian said coldly, "she becomes the primary heir to forty percent of Caldwell Industries stock. That ruins our restructuring plan, Richard."

"I know," Richard replied, his eyes narrowing into ruthless slits. "Which is why we aren't going to let that happen. Ethan is distracted. He’s spent seventy-two hours playing family man instead of attending the quarterly board meetings. I've already called an emergency board vote for Friday morning."

"On what grounds?"

"Incompetence and breach of fiduciary duty," Richard smiled wickedly. "I will argue that Ethan’s sudden emotional instability makes him unfit to serve as CEO. We will strip his voting rights, freeze his corporate accounts, and force Clara Vance out of the country once and for all."