Chapter 16 - Brooke Without the Room
Brooke found Ethan on the hotel terrace.
No cameras.
No guests.
No Chad.
No father.
Just cold morning air.
“You won.”
Ethan looked at her.
“This was never a contest.”
“It feels like one.”
“That might be the problem.”
She leaned against the railing.
“Yes.”
“Chad too.”
“Probably.”
She looked at him.
“And me?”
“That depends.”
“On whether you hate me?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“On what you knew.”
Brooke laughed softly.
“You really can separate that?”
“Not perfectly.”
“Do you hate me?”
Ethan thought.
“No.”
That surprised both of them.
“And now?”
“Now I understand you.”
Her eyes filled.
“That sounds worse.”
“It is.”
She looked away.
“I know.”
“I didn’t know how to be with someone who needed help.”
“I know.”
She nodded.
“I sold the story.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
She wiped her face.
“I could.”
“Why didn’t you?”
That landed.
Brooke closed her eyes.
Then she said, “I knew about Chad’s consulting fees.”
Ethan waited.
“I did not know about the trial. Or the fire.”
“What did you know?”
“That Dad was paying Chad to keep something quiet.”
“And you never asked what?”
“I asked once.”
“What happened?”
Ethan nodded.
There it was again.
Silence disguised as loyalty.
Brooke whispered, “I stopped.”
“Then that is what you own.”
She looked at him.
“What happens to me?”
“You cooperate.”
“With the investigation?”
“Yes.”
“And after?”
“That is not mine to decide.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Everything is yours now.”
“No.”
May you like
Ethan looked toward the sunrise.
“That is exactly what got your family here.”
