They’ll say, “I finally saw you.” She threw her hands up. “You’re overreacting. She’s not your real mother. She works for you. She should have known her place.” He straightened. The look in his eyes stopped her cold. “My place exists because of her. You think the world handed me power. She built me.” Clare scoffed. “She manipulated you. playing the victim.
So, you’d choose her over me. He took a step closer. Slow, deliberate. She fed me when my birth parents threw me away. She never asked for anything. You, on the other hand, just asked for everything. Claire’s voice wavered. You’re throwing away our future over a maid. No, he said. I’m ending an illusion.
He called security. Take her to collect her things. She leaves tonight. Clare’s mouth fell open. You can’t be serious. He didn’t blink. You stopped being a partner the moment you laid a hand on her. Two guards appeared. Clare tried one last time, tears streaking her makeup. Ethan, please. I can change. He didn’t respond.
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.
” Back in the penthouse, Ethan brewed tea the way Ruth used to. strong mint-sented steam curling like quiet forgiveness. He brought her a cup. No more uniforms, he said. She looked at the tea, then at him. Then what am I supposed to be now? He smiled. Home. Weeks passed. The city forgot the scandal.