Chapter 5: Fractured Loyalties

Ethan Johnson sat in his study, the air thick with tension. The fire crackled in the background, casting an orange glow on the walls, but the warmth did little to thaw the ice in his demeanor. His cousin, Caleb Walker, leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, observing Ethan with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation.

“So, this is what it’s come to?” Caleb said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Married off to some stranger like a pawn on a chessboard? The mighty Ethan Johnson, reduced to this.”

Ethan’s eyes flicked up, dark and unreadable. “If you came here to gloat, save your breath.”

“Gloat?” Caleb pushed off the doorframe, stepping further into the room. “I’m not here to gloat. I’m here because I care. Or did you forget that we’re family?”

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. “Family? The same family that shoved me into this farce of a marriage to save their precious reputation? Don’t insult my intelligence, Caleb.”

Caleb sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. “You think I agreed with their decision? You think I didn’t fight for you?”

Ethan’s gaze hardened. “Not hard enough, clearly. Or maybe you realized it was easier to side with them than with the broken cripple.”

“That’s not fair, and you know it.” Caleb’s voice was sharp now, his frustration evident. “You’re not the only one who lost something after the accident, Ethan. Do you think it was easy for me to watch you spiral, to see you push everyone away?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests of his wheelchair. “You have no idea what it’s like to lose everything that defines you. My legs, my future, my pride—gone in an instant. So don’t stand there and pretend to understand.”

The room fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Caleb stared at Ethan, his expression softening.

“You’re right,” Caleb admitted. “I don’t understand. But what I do know is that wallowing in self-pity won’t get you anywhere. And neither will blaming Emma for something that isn’t her fault.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Emma?”

“Yes, Emma,” Caleb said firmly. “The woman you married, the one who actually seems willing to try and make this work. Have you even given her a chance?”

Ethan scoffed. “She’s just as much a pawn in this as I am. This marriage isn’t real, Caleb. It’s a business deal, nothing more.”

“Maybe it started that way,” Caleb said, leaning closer, “but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. You’re so busy pushing her away that you can’t see what’s right in front of you.”

Ethan’s gaze faltered for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. But he quickly buried it beneath his usual stoicism.

“I don’t need a lecture on my marriage,” he said coldly. “If you’re done, you can leave.”

Caleb studied him for a long moment, then shook his head. “You’re a stubborn idiot, Ethan. But I’m not giving up on you. Not yet.”

As Caleb turned to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. “By the way, I looked into the breach at the company. It’s worse than we thought.”

Ethan’s head snapped up, his eyes sharp. “What do you mean?”

“There’s evidence that someone inside the company is working with a competitor,” Caleb said grimly. “And whoever it is, they’ve been careful. No loose ends, no obvious trails. It’s like they want us to know they’re there but can’t be caught.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. “Do you have any leads?”

“Not yet,” Caleb admitted. “But I’ll keep digging. Just… watch your back, Ethan. Whoever’s behind this isn’t playing games.”

Ethan nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll handle it.”

Caleb hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Take care of yourself, cousin. And maybe, just maybe, try trusting someone for once. You might be surprised.”

With that, Caleb left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Ethan stared at the closed door, Caleb’s words lingering in his mind. He didn’t trust easily, he couldn’t afford to. But as he turned his attention back to the papers on his desk, a single thought nagged at him.

Who was the traitor?

And was it possible that the breach was connected to his new wife?