The door closed behind her, muffling the echo of her sobs. Ruth stood by the corner, eyes wide, hands twisting the hem of her sleeve. “You shouldn’t have done that for me,” she whispered. “People will think I caused trouble.” Ethan turned, his tone softening. You didn’t cause trouble. You revealed truth. She shook her head, shoulders trembling.
I wanted peace, not this. He walked closer, placed a hand on her shoulder. Peace doesn’t come from silence. For the first time, her tears came freely. You were that little boy who used to promise me the world if I stayed alive one more day. Now you’ve given too much. He smiled faintly. You gave first.
He asked his assistant to reassign every staff member who’d watched and said nothing. By dawn, the house had emptied. New hires arrived with calm faces, respect in their eyes. That morning, gossip spread across the city. The Wallace engagement ended,” someone said at the cafe. “He chose his maid over his fianceé.” Another voice answered, “Not a maid. His mother.