Chapter 3: The Ultimate Twist (The End)
Vanessa, Courtney, and Madison stared at their mother in absolute confusion. "Mom? Who is that?"
"That," Ethan said, his voice ringing through the silent house, "is Arthur Pendelton. Your real father."
The girls gasped. For twenty years, Diane had told them that their father had died a hero in a tragic accident, leaving them penniless, which was why Ethan had to become the man of the house at just eighteen, sacrificing his youth to feed them.
"She didn't lose him," Ethan exposed coldly. "She framed him for embezzlement twenty years ago to steal his company's secret funds, ran away with me, changed our names, and left him to rot in a foreign prison. And last month, she stole $50,000 from my account to send to a blackmailer who found out her real identity."
Diane began to weep, all her pride evaporating. "Ethan, please... I did it for us! I did it to give you a life!"
"No, you did it for yourself. You turned my sisters into entitled monsters, and you treated my wife like a slave because you were jealous that she is genuinely loved, while you have lived a life built entirely on lies."
Ethan pointed toward the front door. "The police are already on their way regarding the medical endangerment of my wife and the $50,000 theft. If you are not out of my house before they arrive, I will personally press every single charge."
Seeing their mother broken and terrified, the three sisters panicked. Screaming and crying, they grabbed whatever they could fit into their designer bags and fled into the night, dragging their weeping mother with them.
Ten minutes later, the house was completely quiet.
Ethan walked back upstairs. The bedroom was peaceful. Olivia was sitting up, sipping water, looking much better after Ethan had managed to get an emergency replacement prescription delivered via a premium medical service.
She looked up anxiously as he entered. "Ethan... what happened down there? It's so quiet."
Ethan walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently placed his hand over her pregnant belly. For the first time in months, the heavy weight on his shoulders was gone.
May you like
"They're gone, Liv. Forever," Ethan whispered, kissing her forehead. "From now on, it's just you, me, and our boy. No more manipulation. No more grease. Just us."
Olivia smiled, tears of relief filling her eyes as she leaned into his chest. The nightmare was finally over.
