Chapter 10 - The Person Behind Them
The unknown number belonged to a company.
Crosswell Capital.
Ethan had never heard of it.
His attorney traced the company.
It was owned through three shell corporations.
Then they found the real owner.
Alexander Sterling.
Vanessa's father.
He had supposedly retired from business years earlier.
Ethan stared at the file.
“He's been behind this.”
His attorney nodded.
“Apparently.”
“But why?”
“Because your father refused to sell him controlling interest in Crosswell Industries.”
Ethan understood.
This wasn't about Vanessa.
It wasn't even about the inheritance.
It was corporate control.
Alexander wanted Ethan's company.
Richard had agreed to help.
Vanessa had been positioned to marry Ethan and gain access.
The accident had been designed to weaken him.
The medical deception had been designed to make him dependent.
The wedding contract had been designed to transfer control.
And if Ethan died...
everything would become easier.
Ethan sat silently.
Then he laughed once.
His attorney looked surprised.
“What?”
“They thought I was trapped.”
He removed the navy blanket from his legs.
Then he stood.
His attorney stared.
“You've been walking?”
“For weeks.”
“You should have told me.”
“I couldn't trust anyone.”
The attorney nodded slowly.
“Fair enough.”
Ethan walked toward the window.
Outside, the mansion glittered under the evening lights.
He had spent three months pretending to be broken.
Now he finally understood why it had worked.
Everyone had shown him who they were.
And nobody had realized he was taking notes.
He turned.
“It's time.”
His attorney asked:
“Time for what?”
Ethan smiled.
May you like
“The wedding.”
👉 Ethan wasn't planning to cancel the wedding—he was planning to let Alexander Sterling attend it, believing his entire scheme had already succeeded.
