Ethan sat by the window, the pale light of dawn washing over his face. The city outside was just beginning to stir, but he hadn't slept a wink. The air was still, but inside him, something had shifted permanently.
He had always carried a void, an invisible wound stitched together with Alden's quiet love and Kara's stubborn strength. But now he knew why the ache had never healed—he had been living without the truth.
He pressed his palm to the glass and closed his eyes.
ETHAN (softly):Dad…The word felt strange on his lips.I wish I had known you. I wish you had lived long enough to hold me, to teach me. I wish… I could have made you proud in person.
Tears threatened to fall, but he blinked them away. He needed clarity now.
He turned away from the window, went to his desk, and scribbled a note to himself:
"Ask Alden for Job's photo album today."
He paused, then added:
"Begin digging for answers. Whoever set him up will pay."
Ethan was not the kind of person to speak of revenge lightly. But this wasn't about blind fury—it was about justice. The pain his mother had endured, the death of a man who had loved her beyond defiance, and the shattered life they were all forced to live... it was unforgivable.
ETHAN (gritting his teeth):They took everything from us. I may not have known him, but I carry his blood. His name. His fight. I will finish what they tried to erase.
He looked around the room, suddenly feeling the walls closing in—this house had been his safe haven, but now it was also the scene of years of deception and unanswered questions.
He sat back down, picked up his notebook, and began writing names, drawing lines—building a map of his thoughts.
He needed to talk to Alden.
He needed to know every name that ever stood against Job. Every business rival. Every false ally.
Who set him up?Who gained from his death?Why now—after all these years—had fate brought Jane to their doorstep?
Ethan didn't believe in coincidences anymore.
ETHAN (firmly to himself):It's time to end this. For Mom. For Kara. For the father I never met... and for me.
He closed the notebook, placed it neatly on the desk, and finally stood up as the first rays of sunlight touched the floor.
He was no longer the quiet, unsure adopted son of a wealthy man.
He was Ethan Job—son of a man who died too young, and a woman who fought the world to find her children.
The warm scent of freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, and tea filled the air. The morning sun filtered through the large windows, casting a golden glow over the elegant breakfast setup. For the first time in a long while, the house felt alive.
The dining table—once set for three—was now proudly set for four.
Alden, dressed in a crisp white shirt, sat at the head of the table with a peaceful smile. Jane, her features soft and glowing with new joy, took her seat beside him. Servants moved quietly around, more respectful and composed than usual. They had been instructed to treat Jane with the same dignity and reverence they gave Alden—she was now part of the family.
Kara came in next, slowly, her posture more reserved than usual. She offered a short glance at Jane before taking her seat beside Ethan, who nodded at her gently. He knew her heart was still a whirlwind.
ALDEN (cheerfully):"Good morning, everyone. I see we're all on time today."
Kara didn't respond but picked up her fork. Jane smiled gently at her, not expecting much, just happy to be seated near her daughter.
JANE (softly):"Would you like some more tea, Kara?"
Kara hesitated, surprised by the question. She slowly nodded.Jane poured the tea with steady hands, her heart aching with joy.
Ethan watched the exchange carefully, smiling when Kara finally murmured:
KARA:"Thank you."
Alden laughed heartily at something Ethan said next, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the table echoed with laughter instead of tension.
ALDEN:"This is how it should have always been."
The servants noticed too—the air was different. Lighter. For years, the mansion had been beautiful but cold, filled with silence and buried emotions. Now, it held something new: healing.
As they ate, Jane couldn't help but watch her children. Kara—proud, broken, and slowly thawing—and Ethan—calm, fierce, and quietly protective. She had imagined this moment for years, never knowing if it would ever come.
JANE (whispering to herself):Thank you, Job. Your children are safe. They're strong. And they're home.
And across the table, though Kara said little and kept her face down, her eyes occasionally wandered toward Jane… watching her hands, her smile, her presence.
She wasn't ready to call her "Mom" yet.
But for the first time, she didn't want her to leave.