In Ethan’s office, the atmosphere was tense. He sat at his desk, staring at the stack of papers in front of him. Divorce papers. The very thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he knew it had to be done. Tania’s deceit had been the final straw. He had loved her once, or at least he thought he had, but her lies and manipulation had left their marriage in ruins.
Victor, his lawyer and long-time confidant, stood across from him, holding a pen in his hand. “Are you sure about this, Ethan?” Victor asked carefully. “Divorce is a big step, especially with everything else going on.”
Ethan nodded, though his expression was strained. “I’m sure. Tania and I… whatever we had, it’s over. It’s been over for a long time, but I just didn’t want to see it. Now that I know everything, I can’t stay married to her.”
Victor set the pen down on the desk and opened the folder containing the documents. “I’ll draft the papers, and we can have them served to her by the end of the week.”
“Good,” Ethan muttered, leaning back in his chair. “The sooner this is over, the better.”
Victor began to gather his things, but he paused, looking at Ethan with a concerned expression. “And Ella? What about her?”
Ethan’s heart tightened at the mention of Ella. He had thought about her constantly since learning the truth how Tania had orchestrated everything, he just hopes that he would be able to win her back.
“I don’t know,” Ethan admitted quietly. I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me for what happened.”
Victor studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. “Forgiveness takes time. But if you want to make things right with her, you’ll have to be patient.”
“I’ll wait as long as it takes,” Ethan said, determination lacing his words. “But first, I need to make sure she and the boys are safe. That’s my priority.”
Victor nodded and left the office, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts. He stood up, pacing in front of the large window that overlooked the city skyline. His mind kept drifting back to Leo and Liam the boys he didn’t know he had. They were his flesh and blood, and he wanted to be a part of their lives, but he didn’t know where to start.
He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the messages from Ella. They had kept communication minimal, mostly about the boys, but he hadn’t found the courage to ask her what he truly wanted to know: Could they ever be a family again?
Ethan sat back down at his desk after Victor left, staring at the divorce papers. He knew he was making the right decision, but part of him still grappled with the weight of it all. However, this wasn’t just about ending his marriage. It was about taking back control of his life and putting an end to Tania’s manipulations once and for all.
He picked up the phone again and called Victor before he got too far. “Victor,” he said firmly, “I want you to file a lawsuit against Tania. For defamation and spreading false information in the press. I’m done letting her drag me and Ella through the mud.”
Victor hesitated on the other end. “That could complicate things, Ethan. Are you sure you want to go that route?”
“Absolutely,” Ethan responded, his voice filled with resolve. “She crossed a line with that article, and I won’t let her destroy Ella’s reputation or mine any further. Also, I want you to make sure Tania gets nothing from this divorce. No alimony. Nothing.”
There was a pause before Victor replied, “I understand. I’ll make sure it’s handled. I’ll draft the necessary motions and ensure everything is airtight. She’s already taken enough from you.”
“Thanks, Victor,” Ethan said, leaning back in his chair, exhaling as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. He knew this battle wouldn’t be easy, but he wasn’t backing down anymore. Tania had pushed him too far, and now it was time to fight back.
As soon as the call ended, Ethan dialed his PR team. His company couldn’t afford another media disaster, and he needed to set the record straight. “I want a press conference scheduled immediately,” he told them. “We need to address the rumors head-on. No more waiting.”
Within an hour, the press conference was arranged. When Ethan walked into the room, the air was buzzing with anticipation. Journalists crowded the space, their cameras flashing, eager to get answers. As soon as he took his place at the podium, the questions came flying in.
“Mr. Ethan, is it true you’re divorcing your wife because of your ex-wife, Ella?”
“Is Ella responsible for the breakdown of your marriage? Is she a homewrecker?”
“Do you plan on leaving your daughter, Grace, for another family?”
Ethan held up his hand, silencing the barrage of questions. He met the gaze of the reporters with calm but steely determination. “First of all,” he began, his voice clear and steady, “the article that was published is based on lies and fabricated rumors. My decision to divorce Tania has nothing to do with Ella, and everything to do with Tania’s deceit, manipulation, and lies. I am tired of living in a marriage built on falsehoods.”
He took a deep breath, the cameras clicking wildly as he continued. “I want to make something very clear: I do not love Tania, and I haven’t for a long time. The only reason I stayed in the marriage was out of obligation and because she stood by me when I was grieving when we all thought Ella had died. But now, knowing everything that’s happened, I realize that I can’t continue to live this lie.”
There was a murmur among the reporters as they furiously jotted down his words, but Ethan wasn’t finished. His gaze hardened with conviction as he said, “As for Ella, she is not a homewrecker. She is an amazing woman, and the only person I’ve ever truly loved. My marriage to Tania was a mistake one that I made because I was broken, grieving, and lost. But Ella… she has always been the one. And I will do everything in my power to win her back.”
A hush fell over the room. The confession was bold, raw, and unexpected. Ethan glanced down, his chest tight, before adding, “As for my daughter Grace, I love her with all my heart. Nothing can change that. She is my child, and she will always be a part of my life, regardless of what happens with Tania.”
The press conference ended shortly after, with reporters buzzing about the bombshells Ethan had dropped. But Ethan didn’t stick around to answer more questions. He walked out of the room, feeling lighter than he had in months. He had finally spoken his truth, and there was no turning back now.
Back in his office, Victor was waiting for him. “That went better than I expected,” he said, a hint of approval in his tone. “You handled yourself well, Ethan. The narrative is back in your control.”
Ethan nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “Thanks, Victor. Now, let’s get those papers ready.”
Victor gave a curt nod before leaving to finish the legal work, and Ethan sank into his chair, glancing at his phone. He had said everything he wanted to in the press conference, but there was still one thing left to do.
He grabbed his jacket and left the office, his destination clear in his mind. The hospital. He needed to see Grace. Despite everything happening with Tania, Grace was still his daughter, and he had to be there for her. He’d promised himself long ago that nothing would come between him and his child, no matter what Tania had done.
As he walked into the hospital, the sterile smell filling the air, Ethan’s heart swelled with a mix of love and guilt. Grace was innocent in all this, and he knew she deserved better. Whatever happened with the divorce, with Ella, or with his business, he was determined to be the father Grace needed him to be. Nothing, not even the storm that Tania had created, could take that from him.