Chapter 26 - Sins of the Past
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"He's twisting the truth, Clara," Ethan said hastily, taking a step toward me, but Logan shifted slightly, placing himself between us with a wary glare.
"Let him finish speaking," Logan said sternly to Ethan. "If there's something Clara needs to know, she hears it now."
Arthur's voice crackled through the speaker once more.
"Six years ago, before you two ever 'coincidentally' met at that gallery in Chicago, Ethan was hired by Vance Global as an asset recovery specialist. His job was to clean up my messy acquisitions. He didn't fall in love with you by accident, Clara. He was placed in your life to monitor my inheritance."
"That was before!" Ethan shouted at the phone, his composure cracking. "I abandoned that contract the moment I truly got to know her! I turned against you to save her from your madness!"
"And yet, you kept the Swiss account active, didn't you?" Arthur countered smoothly. "You kept the contingency funds. You staged your death not just to trap me, Ethan, but to draw the federal immunity deal solely to your name, leaving Clara liable as an officer of Walker Holdings."
I felt as though the floor had tilted beneath my feet. I stared at Ethan, my breathing coming in fast, shallow gasps.
"Is that true?" I asked, tears burning my eyes. "Am I listed as the primary officer on those shell companies?"
"Clara, listen to me," Ethan pleaded, reaching out his hands. "I had to put your name on the filings to give us leverage against your father! If you were listed, he couldn't liquidate the assets without exposing himself. I did it to protect you!"
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"You turned my sister into a shield!" Logan snapped, drawing his firearm and pointing it squarely at Ethan's chest. "You used her!"
"We don't have time for this!" Ethan yelled. "Arthur's men are in the building right now!"
