At thirty-two, he was one of the youngest self-made millionaires in New York, the founder of a global tech company, owner of a riverside mansion overlooking the Hudson, and partner to a woman admired by high society—Victoria Lane, a model known for her flawless beauty and effortless charm.
From the outside, their life looked perfect. Yet behind every red-carpet photo and glossy smile, Ethan felt uneasy. Victoria said she loved him, but he couldn’t escape the sense that she loved his wealth more than the man himself.
Once, when he fell ill and missed a charity gala, she attended alone, glowing for the cameras, never acknowledging the empty space beside her.
One morning, driven by doubt, Ethan made a reckless choice—one meant to force the truth into the open. He told Victoria he’d been in a car accident, that doctors feared he might never walk again. Recovery was uncertain. He would be confined to a wheelchair for months.