Then my father faced Ethan.
“So, you’re the man who married my daughter,” he said with open contempt. “Do you know who she is? Do you have any idea what she’s worth?”
Ethan met his eyes without hesitation.
“Yes, sir, I do,” he replied calmly. “I know she’s more than her last name, or the money attached to it.”
My father let out a mocking laugh.
“Oh, I see. You’ve got all the right lines. It’s clear you’re not in this for love, but for what you can gain.”
“Actually, sir,” Ethan answered steadily, “I don’t care about your money. Or your status. I care about Anna.”
My father’s face flushed.
“You expect me to believe that?” he snapped. “You’re just a janitor—a nobody.”
Ethan remained perfectly composed.
“I may be a janitor,” he replied, “but I know honesty. And respect. I know that Anna deserves more than being treated like a pawn.”
Anger mixed with confusion crossed my father’s face.
“And what gives you the right to lecture me about respect?”
Ethan drew a slow breath.
“My last name doesn’t mean anything to you, does it? What if I told you my father’s name was Andrew?” he asked quietly.
My father frowned.
“Andrew?”
“You knew him once,” Ethan continued. “He was a business partner of yours until you forced him out. Took everything he had. He went from owning a company to scrubbing floors. And that’s how I grew up.”
The shock spread through the room as my father’s face lost its color.
“That can’t be… that was years ago,” he stammered. “You’re his son?”
Ethan nodded.
“He never recovered. But he raised me to be better than bitterness. And here I am.”
My father looked away, his shoulders suddenly heavy.
Then, to my complete surprise, he dropped to his knees.
“Andrew… he was my friend. I was desperate. It was either him or me, and I had a family. I was doing what I thought I had to. I’m sorry.”
Silence lingered between us.
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