Chapter 8 - The Man Serena Could Not Forgive
Ethan received four years.
Reduced from potentially fifteen.
He pleaded guilty to financial conspiracy.
Serena attended sentencing.
Afterward, he asked to speak.
“I don't want you waiting.”
She stared.
“I’m not.”
He smiled sadly.
“Good.”
“I loved you.”
“I know.”
“I still do.”
His eyes filled.
“That’s worse.”
“Yes.”
“But love does not mean I trust you.”
“I know.”
“Maybe someday.”
“I’ll take maybe.”
He entered prison.
Lena wrote occasionally.
Mara wrote constantly.
Serena wrote once.
Become someone you can live with before asking us to live with you again.
Ethan kept the letter.
Meanwhile, Cade and Claire began seeing each other.
Slowly.
Painfully slowly.
Their first dinner ended with Claire saying:
“You’re still arrogant.”
“You’re still judgmental.”
“Goodnight.”
Their second lasted four hours.
Mara adored her.
Lena interrogated her.
“Are you trying to marry Uncle Cade?”
Claire nearly spit out water.
“No.”
“Why not?”
Cade laughed.
Lena looked serious.
“He needs supervision.”
Claire nodded.
“That part is true.”
Cade realized happiness could feel frightening when someone had spent decades preparing only for conflict.
Then Richard Vale requested a meeting from jail.
Cade refused.
Serena accepted.
“Why?”
“Because I want answers about Mom.”
They met behind glass.
Richard looked older.
Less powerful.
Serena sat.
“Did you kill Caroline?”
Richard said nothing.
“Did you?”
He smiled.
“You inherited her stubbornness.”
Serena’s hands tightened.
“I’m not here for games.”
“No.”
He leaned closer.
“Your mother was already dying.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“You put something in her IV.”
He paused.
“I altered her medication.”
Serena’s eyes filled.
“Why?”
“Malcolm wanted the signature.”
“She refused.”
“Yes.”
“So you killed her.”
“I shortened an inevitable outcome.”
Serena stood.
“No.”
He frowned.
“You don't get to call murder efficiency.”
She left.
Outside, Cade waited.
She collapsed into his arms.
For the first time since childhood, she let her brother hold her without resistance.
“He did it.”
“I know.”
“I hate him.”
“I know.”
“I hate Dad too.”
“I know.”
“And I hate you a little.”
Cade smiled through tears.
“I know.”
She laughed.
“That’s annoying.”
They stood together.
No solutions.
Just presence.
May you like
Sometimes that was what she had wanted seven years earlier.
Cade finally understood.
