Chapter 8: The Statement
That night, my father recorded the statement in our living room.
No publicist.
No staged apology.
No polished background.
Just a powerful man sitting beneath the weight of what he had done.
He admitted Clara had been falsely accused.
He admitted his family had buried her letters.
He admitted he had chosen reputation over responsibility.
Then he said Ethan’s real name.
“Nathaniel Reed is my son.”
My heart stopped.
Ethan looked away, his jaw tight, but his eyes shone.
When the video went public, the city erupted.
The merger collapsed by morning. Investors panicked. Old partners denied knowing anything. Reporters camped outside the gates.
My father’s empire shook.
But for the first time in my life, our house felt honest.
The next day, Ethan stood by the front door with his small bag.
“Our contract is done,” he said.
I knew he was right.
The fake marriage had served its purpose.
But somehow, the truth it uncovered had made walking away feel impossible.
Epilogue: The Man I Chose ⬇️