Chapter 13 - The Husband She Thought She Owned
Victoria followed Ethan into the study.
The guests remained with Margaret.
Victoria shut the door.
Her voice dropped immediately.
“We can fix this.”
Ethan stood behind his desk, copying every video onto secure drives.
“There is nothing to fix.”
“You’re angry.”
“I am beyond angry.”
She stepped closer.
“Think about your company. Your investors. Your board. If this becomes public, reporters will destroy us.”
Ethan looked up.
“You abused my mother and your concern is public relations?”
“I made mistakes.”
“You starved her.”
“I was under pressure.”
“You locked her in a room.”
“She kept interfering.”
“You impersonated me.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
But Ethan had seen her perform sadness before.
This time, it did not move him.
She touched his arm.
“We still love each other.”
He stepped away.
“You loved what my name gave you.”
Her expression hardened.
“And what did she ever give you? Guilt? Responsibility? A childhood in a tiny apartment?”
Ethan became completely still.
Margaret had worked two jobs after his father died.
She sold her wedding ring to pay Ethan’s first college deposit.
She lived in the same small house for twenty-four years while Ethan built his company.
She had never asked him for money.
Not once.
Everything he had begun with her sacrifice.
Victoria mistook silence for weakness.
She always had.
“You thought I would choose my reputation over my mother,” Ethan said.
Victoria lifted her chin.
“You will when your attorneys explain what this costs.”
Ethan turned his phone toward her.
The screen displayed an active upload.
Every recording was being transferred to his lawyer, Margaret’s attorney, and an independent secure server.
Victoria lunged for the device.
Ethan moved it out of reach.
Then another notification appeared.
Lauren had sent her full cloud recording.
Along with a message.
May you like
I will testify.
👉 Victoria finally realized Ethan did not merely have evidence—he had witnesses she could no longer intimidate.
