Chapter 6: Seeds of Doubt

Ethan sat motionless in his study, staring at the folder Caleb had left behind. The dim light from the desk lamp cast long shadows on the walls, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Caleb’s words rang in his ears: Someone inside the company is working with a competitor.

He drummed his fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair, a habit he had picked up after the accident. His sharp eyes scanned the documents in front of him. Each page held numbers, transactions, and encrypted emails. It was clear whoever was behind this wasn’t careless—they were meticulous, calculating.

The betrayal cut deeper than he was willing to admit. Ethan had rebuilt Johnson Industries from the ground up after his father’s passing. He had sacrificed everything to protect the family name, even after the accident had left him at his lowest. And now, someone close to him was trying to destroy it all.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in,” Ethan said curtly, not looking up.

The door creaked open, and Emma stepped in. She hesitated for a moment, clutching a tray with a steaming cup of tea. Her face was a mixture of uncertainty and quiet determination.

“I thought you might need this,” she said, placing the tray on a nearby table.

Ethan’s eyes flicked toward her before returning to the folder. “What’s this? An attempt to play the good wife?”

Emma stiffened, but her voice remained calm. “I just thought you might need a break. You’ve been locked in here for hours.”

He scoffed. “If I wanted tea, I’d ask for it. Don’t bother trying to ingratiate yourself. We both know why you’re here.”

Emma’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m here because, despite how cold and rude you are, I believe there’s more to you than this... bitterness.”

Her words caught Ethan off guard. He glanced up at her, his expression unreadable. “And what exactly do you think you know about me?”

“Enough to see that you’re a man who’s hurting,” she said softly, her gaze steady. “But I’m not your enemy, Ethan. I never was.”

Ethan leaned back in his wheelchair, his piercing gaze fixed on her. “Everyone has an agenda, Emma. You included. Let’s not pretend this marriage is anything more than a business transaction.”

Emma met his gaze, refusing to back down. “Maybe it started that way, but I didn’t choose this marriage either. The least we can do is try to make it tolerable.”

“Tolerable?” Ethan let out a bitter laugh. “You’re wasting your time. I’m not interested in playing house with you or anyone else.”

Her patience wore thin. “You’re impossible, you know that? You push everyone away and then complain about being alone. Maybe the problem isn’t everyone else, Ethan. Maybe it’s you.”

The room fell silent, her words hanging in the air like a challenge. For a moment, Ethan’s mask slipped, and a flicker of something vulnerable crossed his face. But it was gone just as quickly.

“Are you finished?” he said coldly.

Emma sighed, shaking her head. “You know what? Yes, I am. Enjoy your tea.” She turned to leave, but paused at the door. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re as heartless as you pretend to be.”

Ethan watched her go, his chest tightening in a way he couldn’t explain. He hated how she got under his skin, how her words lingered even after she was gone.

Hours later, Ethan remained in his study, poring over the folder. The room was silent except for the occasional crackle of the fireplace. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the betrayal was closer than he realized.

His phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. He grabbed it and saw Caleb’s name on the screen.

“Caleb,” Ethan said, his voice tense.

“I’ve been digging into the breach,” Caleb said. “It’s worse than I thought. Whoever’s behind this is covering their tracks well. No loose ends, no obvious trails.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Do you have any suspects?”

“Not yet,” Caleb admitted. “But I did find something interesting. There have been several unauthorized access attempts on your personal accounts.”

Ethan’s grip on the phone tightened. “You think they’re trying to get to me directly?”

“It’s possible,” Caleb said. “But here’s the kicker—the attempts started shortly after your wedding.”

Ethan froze. “What are you implying?”

“I’m not implying anything,” Caleb said carefully. “But you should be cautious. You don’t know Emma well enough to trust her, and with everything going on...”

Ethan’s mind raced. He had already been suspicious of Emma’s sudden appearance in his life, but this information added another layer of doubt. Could she be connected to the breach?

“I’ll handle it,” Ethan said curtly.

“Just... don’t jump to conclusions,” Caleb warned. “I’ll keep digging on my end.”

Ethan ended the call and stared at his phone. His instincts screamed at him not to trust anyone not even his wife.

Late that night, Emma crept down the hallway, her footsteps light as she approached Ethan’s study. She hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that something was wrong. The tension in the house had been palpable since the wedding, and Ethan’s guarded demeanor only added to her unease.

She paused outside the door, her hand hovering over the handle. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open and stepped inside. The room was empty, but the folder on Ethan’s desk immediately caught her eye.

Curiosity got the better of her. She moved closer, her eyes scanning the pages. Numbers, names, and accounts nothing made sense at first glance. But one name stood out, a name she recognized.

Her heart raced as she pieced together what she was seeing. This wasn’t just about business; it was personal.

“What are you doing?”

The low, icy voice made her jump. She turned slowly to see Ethan in the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable.

“I... I was just—”

“Spare me the excuses,” he said, wheeling himself closer. “Looking for something, Emma?”

His piercing gaze bore into her, and for the first time, she felt genuinely afraid of him.

Ethan reached for the folder, his fingers brushing against hers. “If you’re hiding something from me, Emma, I will find out. And when I do, there will be consequences.”

Emma swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had stumbled onto something dangerous, but the question remained was Ethan the predator or the prey?