Chapter 8 - Ethan’s Last Performance
Ethan looked perfect at the first hearing.
Of course he did.
Clean shave.
Dark suit.
Expensive tie.
Slight bruise on his jaw from Liam’s punch, which his attorney used as if it were the most important injury in the case.
“My client was assaulted in a hospital while grieving his wife’s accident,” the attorney said.
The prosecutor played the ER bodycam.
Ethan saying, “She slipped in the shower.”
Liam saying, “She didn’t fall.”
Natalie whispering, “Check my phone.”
Then the officer telling Ethan not to move.
Then Ethan reaching toward the evidence tray.
The judge watched without expression.
The prosecutor then submitted medical findings.
Injury patterns inconsistent with a simple shower fall.
Old bruising in various stages of healing.
Defensive wounds.
The nurse’s notes.
Natalie’s statement.
The encrypted file timestamps.
Ethan’s attorney argued the Apex documents were irrelevant to the domestic incident.
The prosecutor smiled slightly.
“Your Honor, motive is relevant.”
Then she displayed a timeline.
Natalie discovers Apex audit.
Ethan threatens her.
Natalie creates encrypted evidence transfer.
Ethan destroys laptop.
Natalie is admitted with severe injuries.
Ethan claims fall.
Evidence sends successfully.
Apex files show financial motive.
The courtroom became very still.
Ethan stared straight ahead.
No grief now.
Only calculation.
The judge ordered Ethan held pending further review, citing danger to Natalie, evidence destruction concerns, and financial flight risk.
Ethan’s attorney protested.
The judge did not move.
As deputies prepared to take him away, Ethan turned toward Liam.
“You ruined your career for this.”
Liam stood in the gallery, hands at his sides.
“My sister is alive.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“Not because of you.”
Liam stepped forward before catching himself.
The officer beside him murmured, “Doctor.”
Liam stopped.
Natalie, appearing by video from the hospital, looked at him through the screen.
“Liam.”
Her voice grounded him.
He stepped back.
Ethan smiled like he had won something small.
But then the prosecutor spoke.
“Your Honor, we have also received confirmation from Apex’s board that Mr. Archer has been placed on emergency administrative leave pending investigation.”
Ethan’s smile vanished.
Apex had been his fortress.
Now its gates were closing.
By evening, the news broke.
Apex CFO Arrested After Wife’s Hospitalization; Financial Records Under Review.
The company issued a statement about cooperation.
Investors panicked.
Board members resigned.
Federal investigators requested the audit files.
Ethan’s reputation, so carefully polished, began cracking in public.
But Natalie did not watch the news.
She was sleeping.
For the first time in years, there was a police officer outside her room.
Not guarding Ethan from scandal.
May you like
Guarding her from Ethan.
👉 Ethan tried to use Liam’s punch as the headline, but the court focused on the evidence Ethan reached for before anyone could open it.
