Chapter 10 - Fractured LoyaltiesWith Victoria behind bars awaiting trial, Ethan turned his full attention toward healing the shattered fragments of his family. His first mission: bringing Oliver and Rose out of the dusty New Mexico desert and into a safe, permanent home where they could finally breathe without fear.
Ethan rented a spacious, sunlit home in Virginia, close enough to the capital for his military duties, yet surrounded by tall oak trees and wide lawns that reminded him of the peaceful life he had always wanted with Emily. When Ethan arrived back in Miller’s Crossing to pack up Rose and Oliver, the transition wasn't easy. Oliver still flinched whenever he heard a military Jeep or saw someone in a crisp uniform.
"We don't have to go right away if you're scared, buddy," Ethan said gently, crouching down beside Oliver as the boy packed his small wooden airplane into a cardboard box. Oliver looked up, his big brown eyes searching Ethan’s face. "Will there be soldiers there?" he asked quietly. Ethan smiled, resting a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Only one. And his only job is to protect you, I promise."
Rose watched from the doorway, her stern expression finally softening into a genuine smile. For eight years, she had carried the crushing burden of hiding a child from a powerful syndicate. Now, seeing Ethan take responsibility, she felt the heavy armor around her heart crack open. "You're a good man, Ethan Knight," Rose said, walking over to hand him a small, silver-framed photograph of Emily that she had kept hidden beneath her mattress. "She would have been so proud of the man you became after the storm."
May you like
Related Stories
