Chapter 4 - THE LULLABY'S TRUE ORIGIN
The engagement party ended abruptly. Security quietly and efficiently cleared the ballroom, escorting the bewildered elite out of the estate. The string quartet packed their instruments in silence. The caterers vanished.
Within thirty minutes, the massive Hawthorne estate was deadly quiet.
In Ethan’s private, mahogany-paneled study, a fire crackled in the hearth. Sophie was asleep on a massive leather sofa, covered in a cashmere throw blanket, her dirty sneakers resting on a silk pillow that cost more than Rachel’s monthly rent.
Rachel sat in an armchair opposite Ethan. The billionaire was pouring his third glass of scotch, though he hadn't actually taken a sip of the first two. He looked ten years older than he had an hour ago.
"He was working construction," Rachel said softly, staring into the fire. "He said he wanted to work with his hands. He never touched a computer the whole time I knew him. He just played the piano. He told me he left the tech world behind because it cost him his soul."
Ethan let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. "It didn't cost him his soul. I took it from him. He gave up his passion because looking at a screen probably reminded him of my betrayal."
He walked over to a safe hidden behind a bookshelf, unlocked it, and pulled out a stack of aged, yellowing documents. He laid them on the coffee table in front of Rachel.
"These are the original incorporation papers," Ethan said. "I never legally took 100% of the company. I kept 50% in a blind trust under the name 'D. Bennett.' The board thought it was a silent angel investor. Hawthorne Systems is worth eight billion dollars today, Rachel. Half of that belongs to Daniel. Which means, legally, half of it belongs to his wife and daughter."
Rachel felt the room spin. "Four... billion dollars?"
"It's yours," Ethan said firmly. "It's always been his. And now it's yours and Sophie's."
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors of the study flew open. Caroline stormed in, her face twisted in an ugly sneer. She had refused to leave the estate, pacing the hallways while the guests departed.
"I have had enough of this theatrical nonsense!" Caroline snapped, marching toward Ethan. "You humiliated me tonight, Ethan. In front of the mayor, in front of the board of directors! Over a sob story from a gold-digging maid!"
Ethan stood up, placing himself between Caroline and the sleeping Sophie. "Keep your voice down, Caroline. My niece is sleeping."
"Your niece?!" Caroline shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at Rachel. "She's a grifter! She probably researched your past, found out about your brother, and trained her brat to play that stupid song to con you out of your money!"
"Caroline, that's enough," Ethan warned, his tone dangerously low.
"No, it's not enough!" Caroline snarled. "I am marrying you. I am going to be the wife of the CEO. I will not let you hand over half of your fortune to a woman who scrubs our toilets! I'll have her investigated. I'll have her thrown in jail for fraud! My family has the best lawyers in New York—"
"The engagement is off," Ethan said coldly.
Caroline froze. The blood drained from her face. "What did you just say?"
"You heard me. You pushed a three-year-old child to the floor tonight. You showed me exactly who you are, and it repulses me. Pack your things. My driver will take you back to Manhattan. If you are not gone in twenty minutes, I will have security escort you out."
Caroline’s face contorted with rage. "You will regret this, Ethan. You think you can just toss me aside? My father's real estate firm owns the land your server farms sit on. I will destroy you."
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She spun on her heels and marched out of the room, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. Sophie whimpered in her sleep, and Rachel rushed to soothe her.
Ethan watched the door, his jaw set. The storm had just begun.
