The Choice That Cost Him Everything

Chapter 24: The Choice That Cost Him Everything

Aaliyah didn’t come down for breakfast.

That alone told Ethan how badly he had messed up.

He stood at the dining table, untouched coffee growing cold in his hands, staring at the staircase as if she might suddenly appear. She didn’t.

The house felt empty without her presence—too quiet, too large.

He made a decision right then.

If he was going to lose her, it wouldn’t be because he stayed silent.

Ethan canceled his morning meetings, ignoring the surprised protests from his assistant. Instead, he headed straight to the legal wing of the company.

Within the hour, he stood across from his head attorney, jaw set.

“I want the clause removed,” Ethan said flatly.

The attorney blinked. “That clause protects you.”

“It cages her,” Ethan replied. “Take it out.”

“That could cost the company millions.”

“Do it anyway.”

Silence followed.

“You’re serious,” the attorney said slowly.

“I’ve never been more serious.”

By the time Ethan left the office, his name was already echoing through boardroom corridors. Risky decisions didn’t go unnoticed—not when they involved money, power, and control.

And Amara noticed immediately.

“You’re destroying yourself,” she snapped when she cornered him later that afternoon. “For her.”

“For the truth,” Ethan said coldly.

“You think removing a clause fixes betrayal?” she scoffed. “She’ll leave anyway.”

“Then at least she’ll leave free.”

That shut her up.

Back at the mansion, Aaliyah sat by the window in her room, eyes dull, heart exhausted. She hadn’t slept. She hadn’t cried. She felt hollow.

A soft knock sounded at her door.

“I’m not ready,” she said.

“I know,” Ethan replied from the other side. “But I need you to hear me.”

Silence stretched.

Finally, she unlocked the door but didn’t step aside.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“To tell you what I did today,” he said.

Her arms crossed defensively. “Go on.”

“I removed the clause.”

Her breath hitched. “What?”

“I signed the papers myself. No penalties. No hidden consequences. If you leave, you walk away with everything you’re owed—and your dignity.”

She stared at him, stunned.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I did,” he said quietly. “Because I can’t say I care about you while holding you hostage.”

Her voice trembled. “And what if I still leave?”

“Then I lose,” he said simply. “But it’ll be my loss—not one enforced by ink and signatures.”

Tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

“This doesn’t erase what happened,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said. “But it’s a start.”

She looked at him for a long moment. “Why now?”

“Because last night I saw it,” he admitted. “I was about to lose the one thing that made this marriage real.”

He stepped back, giving her space. “I won’t touch you. I won’t ask anything of you. I just want the chance to earn back what I broke.”

Aaliyah exhaled shakily.

She wasn’t ready to forgive him.

But she couldn’t ignore what this cost him.

“I need time,” she said.

He nodded. “Take all of it.”

As he turned to leave, she spoke again. “Ethan?”

“Yes?”

“This was the first honest thing you’ve done since we got married.”

A sad smile touched his lips. “I intend to keep it that way.”

Downstairs, Amara watched from the doorway, fury burning in her eyes.

He chose her.

And that meant war.