At my parents’ party, I found my four-year-old daughter locked inside the bathroom. Her face was bruised. / Chapter 13 / 20

Chapter 13 - Blood and BoardroomsThe glass walls of Ethan’s office seemed to vibrate with the tension inside.

"I told you ten years ago," Ethan’s voice was dangerously low as he stared down his older brother, "if you ever set foot in this building again, I would have you arrested for trespassing."

Julian sat comfortably on the edge of Ethan’s desk, examining a silver pen. "It’s my company too, Ethan. Father left me shares."

"Non-voting shares," Ethan corrected sharply. "You have no power here. You are a ghost, Julian. Go back to London before I decide to cut off your dividend payouts entirely."

"You can't do that," Julian sneered.

"Watch me," Ethan challenged, leaning over the desk until he was inches from his brother's face. "I own the board. I own the majority. You are a parasite living off the empire I built. Do not mistake my silence for weakness."

Julian chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "You're slipping, little brother. The old Ethan wouldn't have threatened me; he would have just done it. But the new Ethan? The one playing house with a maid? He's soft. He's distracted." Julian stood up, buttoning his jacket. "I met your lovely fiancé today."

Ethan froze. The air in the room suddenly felt lethal. "What did you say?"

"She was trying on dresses," Julian said casually, watching Ethan’s reaction with sick delight. "She’s quite fiery. I can see the appeal. But she doesn't belong here, Ethan. And neither does that bastard child."

Before Julian could blink, Ethan had him by the throat, slamming him violently against the floor-to-ceiling glass window. The impact shook the glass.

"Listen to me very carefully," Ethan snarled, his grip tightening as Julian gasped for air. "If you ever approach her again. If you ever speak my daughter's name again. I will not ruin you financially. I will erase you from the face of this earth, and I will not lose a single second of sleep over it."

Ethan shoved him away in disgust. Julian stumbled, coughing, his arrogant facade finally cracking into pure hatred.

"You're going to lose everything," Julian wheezed, straightening his tie. "The board is already whispering. The moment you show a crack, I’ll be there to break the dam."

"Get out," Ethan commanded, turning his back on his brother.

When Ethan returned to the estate that evening, he found Rosa in the library, reading a book. He walked in, his shoulders tight with tension, and poured a drink.

"He came to see me today," Rosa said quietly, not looking up from her book.

Ethan stopped, his knuckles turning white around the glass. "I know. Rosa, I am so sorry. He is a sociopath. I have doubled your security detail—"

Rosa closed the book and stood up. She walked over to him, taking the glass from his hand and setting it down. She wrapped her arms around his neck, looking deep into his troubled grey eyes.

"Ethan," she said softly but firmly, "stop treating me like glass. I didn't break when he insulted me. I didn't cry. I told him he was a bitter man with a bruised ego."