Chapter 7: The Arrest
The taller agent stepped into the room.
“Special Agent Daniel Mercer.””
He showed his badge.
The woman beside him introduced herself as Agent Collins.
Ethan stood frozen.
“Why are federal agents here?”” he asked.
Mercer looked at him.
“Mr. Caldwell, we're investigating financial activity involving Caldwell Capital Holdings and several related entities.””
Vanessa whispered, “My father.””
Mercer didn't respond.
Ethan looked at me.
“You called them.””
“I didn't.””
“You did.””
“I didn't.””
My father stepped forward.
“She didn't need to.””
Mercer looked at him.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
“Yes.””
“Do you have documents concerning Harbor District?””
My father nodded.
“We have quite a few.””
“Then we'd like copies.””
Marianne opened her briefcase.
“I've already preserved everything.””
Mercer looked impressed.
“Good.””
Ethan suddenly moved toward the door.
The agent blocked him.
“Mr. Caldwell.””
“I need to make a call.””
“You can make it here.””
“To my attorney.””
“You should.””
Ethan pulled out his phone.
Mercer watched him dial.
“Don't delete anything.””
Ethan froze.
“I wasn't going to.””
“Good.””
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
“My father didn't do this.””
Mercer turned to her.
“Ms. Caldwell, your father's name has appeared in multiple transactions.””
“He's innocent.””
“You haven't heard the evidence.””
“He wouldn't do this.””
Mercer looked at her calmly.
“Then he has nothing to worry about.””
Her face crumpled.
I watched Ethan.
He wasn't looking at Vanessa.
He was looking at me.
“Can I talk to Laurel alone?””
Mercer shook his head.
“Not right now.””
“I just need five minutes.””
“No.””
Ethan's voice cracked.
“Please.””
I looked at him.
“What do you want to say?””
He stared at me.
“I never meant for you to get hurt.””
I said nothing.
“I loved you.””
“You loved the life you thought I could give you.””
“That isn't true.””
“Then why did you lie?””
He looked away.
“I was scared.””
“Of losing money?””
“Of losing everything.””
“You already lost everything.””
His eyes met mine.
“No.””
He looked toward Vanessa.
Then back at me.
“I lost you.””
For one dangerous second, the old Ethan appeared.
The man who had held me in the rain outside our first apartment.
The man who had cooked dinner badly because I'd had a terrible day.
The man who had proposed with trembling hands beside the lake where my parents had met.
I hated that I still remembered him.
Because remembering made it harder to hate him.
And then I remembered the limousine.
His voice.
Don't embarrass me.
I looked away.
Mercer received a call.
He listened.
Then his expression hardened.
“Understood.””
He ended the call.
“Mr. Caldwell, you're being placed under arrest.””
Vanessa screamed.
“No!””
Ethan closed his eyes.
“On what charges?””
Mercer spoke carefully.
“Fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction related to the transfer of corporate assets.””
“I didn't transfer anything.””
“That will be determined through the investigation.””
He placed handcuffs on Ethan.
The metal clicked.
I flinched.
Ethan looked at me one last time.
“Laurel.””
I didn't answer.
He was escorted away.
Vanessa remained in the boardroom.
She stared at the door.
Then she looked at me.
“You ruined him.””
I said nothing.
“You knew exactly what you were doing.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
She wiped her eyes.
“You wanted him punished.””
“I wanted the truth.””
“You took everything.””
I looked at her.
“He did that himself.””
She laughed bitterly.
“You think you're better than us?””
“No.””
“Then why do you get everything?””
I stared at her.
“Because I didn't try to steal it.””
She looked away.
The agents left with Ethan.
My father sat down.
For the first time that day, he looked exhausted.
My mother came into the boardroom.
She had been waiting outside.
She took my hand.
“Are you okay?””
I nodded.
Then my knees weakened.
She caught me.
“I don't know.””
She held me.
I pressed my face against her shoulder.
The wedding dress was still stained from walking home the night before.
“I thought he loved me.””
“I know.””
“I thought I knew him.””
“I know.””
“I married a stranger.””
My mother stroked my hair.
“No.””
I pulled back.
“You didn't marry a stranger.””
She looked at me.
“You married the man he chose to become.””
That night, I returned to the house Ethan and I had rented together.
The flowers from the wedding were still everywhere.
White roses lined the hallway.
Champagne sat untouched on the dining table.
His jacket was draped over a chair.
I walked into the bedroom.
Our wedding photograph sat on the nightstand.
I picked it up.
We were smiling.
Happy.
Or at least I was.
I turned the frame over.
Behind the photograph was a small envelope.
My name was written on it.
*LAUREL.*
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
My heart stopped when I recognized Ethan's handwriting.
If you're reading this, everything has gone wrong.
I sat on the bed.
There is something I never told you.
My eyes moved down the page.
The person behind this isn't Vanessa.
I stopped breathing.
The next sentence was underlined twice.
It's someone in your family.
I read the final line.
And if you trust your father, you may never find out the truth.
I stared at the paper.
Then my phone rang.
My father's number.
I answered.
“Dad?””
His voice was unusually quiet.
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Don't stay there.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“I just received a call.””
“From whom?””
He hesitated.
“Ethan's attorney.””
“What did he say?””
My father took a breath.
“He says Ethan has evidence that could destroy your family's company.””
I looked at the note in my hand.
“What evidence?””
May you like
My father's voice dropped.
“Your mother.””
