Chapter 14
Ethan stood up from the coffee table, facing his mother across the expanse of the Persian rug.
“Mother… tell me this is a mistake,” Ethan pleaded, his voice trembling with rare vulnerability.
“Tell me you didn't know Thomas Montgomery ruined Dad’s plane.”
Eleanor walked slowly into the room, leaning on her polished silver cane.
She looked at her two grown children, then at Clara, her eyes filled with decades of accumulated guilt.
“Your father was broke, Ethan,” Eleanor revealed, her voice cracking with emotion.
“He had lost everything in the Asian market collapse of 1998.”
“So you killed him for insurance money?” Victoria shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I didn't know Thomas was going to kill him!” Eleanor cried out, her cane knocking against a table leg.
“Thomas told me he was going to buy your father’s debt! I didn't find out about the plane until after the crash!”
“And when you found out?” Ethan demanded, taking a step toward her. “What did you do?”
“Thomas threatened to ruin our family if I went to the police!” Eleanor wept, covering her face with her hands.
“He said he would frame me for the sabotage! I took the insurance money to protect you and Victoria!”
“You protected a murderer for twenty-seven years!” Ethan yelled, his voice echoing off the high ceiling.
“And when Chloe came into my life, you pushed me to marry her!”
“I didn't know Chloe was holding Clara!” Eleanor sobbed, dropping her cane onto the floor.
“I thought Clara had abandoned you! Thomas told me she ran away to Europe!”
Clara stood up slowly from her chair, her presence quiet, calm, and commanding.
“You knew I was pregnant when I vanished, Eleanor,” Clara said, her voice cutting through the emotional chaos.
Eleanor looked at Clara, unable to meet her gaze, and slowly dropped her head in shame.
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“I’m sorry,” Eleanor whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Victoria,” Ethan said without turning around. “Call your troopers.”
