Chapter 2 - The Voice in the RoomMargaret tried to explain.
She claimed Ava had become unstable after the crash.
She claimed Lena had attacked her.
She claimed the documents were merely legal preparations for Ava's protection.
But Ethan heard something beneath every word.
Fear.
His mother wasn't afraid of being misunderstood.
She was afraid of being exposed.
Then Ethan remembered something.
Three minutes earlier, when he had entered the house, he had dropped his briefcase in the foyer.
His digital deposition recorder had been running.
He retrieved it.
Margaret's face went pale.
Ethan pressed PLAY.
Her own voice filled the study.
"You don't have a choice."
Ava closed her eyes.
The recording continued.
"You won't remember refusing. Sign those papers, or I swear I'll make sure you never see daylight again."
Silence.
Margaret stared at the recorder.
"No."
Ethan stood.
"You pushed my wife."
"No."
"You drugged her."
"No!"
"You forged legal documents."
Margaret's composure shattered.
"She took everything from me!"
Ethan froze.
"What?"
Margaret's eyes burned with hatred.
"Your father built that empire with me. Then you married her, and suddenly she was entitled to half of it."
Ava stared at her.
"You were never protecting Ethan."
Margaret said nothing.
"You were protecting the money."
Ethan pointed toward the doors.
"Get out."
Margaret's face twisted.
"You'll regret this."
"Maybe."
He stepped closer.
"But I won't regret saving my wife."
Margaret left.
The front door slammed.
Only then did Lena begin to cry.
"Mr. Sterling… there's something else."
Ethan turned.
"What?"
Lena looked toward Margaret's office.
"She kept files."
"What kind of files?"
May you like
"Everything."
And Ethan suddenly understood that the nightmare was much bigger than the wheelchair on the floor.
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