Chapter 8: The Fall of the House of Cards
Chapter 8: The Fall of the House of Cards
The fallout was immediate and spectacular.
The press, who had blindly published Isabella’s victim narrative, instantly turned on her when the court documents became public knowledge. The real estate developer she had been sleeping with was fired from his firm when the scandal broke.
Isabella was escorted out of the courthouse by security, screaming at the paparazzi who flashed cameras in her face. Without Ethan's money or influence, her social circle vanished overnight. The country club revoked her membership. Her "friends" stopped returning her calls. She was relegated to a cheap motel on the outskirts of the city, awaiting criminal charges for child endangerment.
Ethan watched the news from the safety of the hotel suite, but he found no joy in her destruction. The victory was hollow because the damage to his daughter had already been done.
He walked into the living room where Ava was watching a cartoon. He sat beside her, gently taking her hand. "It's over," he said softly. "She can never hurt you again. I promise."
May you like
Ava looked at him, her large, fearful eyes searching his face. "Are you going back to work now?" she asked quietly. "Will you be flying away again?"
That single question broke Ethan's heart all over again. He realized that removing the monster wasn't enough. He had to become a father.
