Chapter 10 - The Things Owen Had Tried to Say
Bianca came to Dana’s office voluntarily.
Her lawyer sat beside her.
Ethan sat across the table.
No one raised a voice.
That made the conversation feel more dangerous.
Dana placed the Red Basin records in front of Bianca.
“Did you know Marcus diverted company funds?”
“I knew about the ranch.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“No.”
“Did you receive money connected to Red Basin?”
“No.”
“Did you help him obtain Cedar Hollow sale authority?”
Bianca looked at Ethan.
“Yes.”
He did not react.
“How?”
“I brought Ethan documents Marcus prepared.”
“Did you explain them accurately?”
“No.”
The word cut quietly.
Ethan asked, “What did you tell me?”
“That they were operational restructuring papers.”
“Were they?”
“Some.”
“And the others?”
“Sale authorizations. Option extensions.”
Ethan nodded slowly.
He had expected rage.
What came instead was humiliation.
He had signed.
No forged signature required.
No elaborate impersonation.
They had understood his weakness better than he had.
Bianca continued.
“You were drinking.”
Her lawyer touched her arm.
She ignored him.
“You were sleeping three hours a night. You would sign insurance renewals while Owen ate breakfast.”
“Stop.”
“It matters.”
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
“It explains how you did it. It does not excuse that you did it.”
Bianca’s mouth closed.
Dana watched him carefully.
Ethan continued.
“And it does not excuse me for signing.”
For once, Bianca had nothing to throw back.
After the meeting, Ethan drove to Nora’s house.
Owen was packing a small duffel bag.
“What’s that?”
“I’m staying here.”
Ethan stopped.
“For tonight?”
“For a while.”
Nora stood in the doorway.
She looked uncomfortable.
Ethan turned to his son.
“Why?”
Owen’s face tightened.
“Because you’re busy.”
“I can stop being busy.”
“You always say that.”
The words landed harder than shouting.
“Owen.”
“Mom tried to tell you stuff.”
Ethan went still.
“You weren’t there.”
“I know.”
“And I tried too.”
“What do you mean?”
Owen looked toward Nora.
She nodded slightly.
He said, “Last winter, Bianca got mad when I went in Mom’s tack room.”
Ethan remembered.
Owen had complained that Bianca was “being mean.”
Ethan had told him not to provoke her.
“What happened?”
“She grabbed my wrist and took the key.”
“Did she hurt you?”
“A little.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did.”
Silence.
Ethan suddenly remembered the conversation.
He had been on a call.
Owen had said Bianca squeezed my arm.
Ethan had replied, She’s stressed. Stay out of the tack room if she asks.
He sat down slowly.
“I did hear you.”
Owen’s eyes filled.
“You said she meant well.”
Ethan pressed his palms together.
There was no excuse.
“I was wrong.”
Owen looked away.
“Bianca always said Mom’s stuff made me sad.”
“Did it?”
“Sometimes.”
“Did that mean she should take it?”
“No.”
“No.”
Ethan’s voice cracked.
“I’m sorry.”
Owen wiped his face.
“You always apologize after.”
Ethan shut his eyes.
Laura’s letter returned.
Sometimes calm is only another form of avoidance.
He had avoided conflict with Laura.
Avoided reading documents.
Avoided Owen’s complaints.
Avoided questioning Bianca because he wanted the second marriage to work.
Every avoidance had felt peaceful at the time.
Together they had created disaster.
“I want to stay with Aunt Nora,” Owen said.
Ethan nodded.
“Okay.”
His son looked surprised.
“You’re not mad?”
“No.”
“Are you going to make me come home?”
“No.”
Ethan forced himself to say the next words.
“You deserve to feel safe even if that hurts me.”
Nora’s eyes filled.
Owen zipped the bag.
Before Ethan left, Owen hugged him.
Briefly.
That almost made it worse.
At Cedar Hollow, Ethan found Marcus waiting in the courtyard.
“You talked to Bianca.”
“Yes.”
“She’s trying to save herself.”
“Probably.”
“You believe her?”
“I believe records.”
Marcus laughed.
“You’ve become Dana’s student.”
“Red Basin.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
Ethan continued.
“Three million dollars.”
“It was an investment.”
“Through your private LLC.”
“It was going to become a Mercer Equine property.”
“After it made money?”
Marcus said nothing.
Ethan stepped closer.
“You risked company funds. The ranch failed. The bank got nervous. Then suddenly Laura’s stables had to be sold to save everyone.”
“I was trying to grow the company.”
“You were trying to hide your loss.”
Marcus’s eyes hardened.
“Do you know how many times Dad risked everything?”
“Our father being reckless does not make you innocent.”
“You benefited from every risk.”
“Yes.”
That answer stopped him.
Ethan continued.
“I benefited. I looked away. I signed things. I let you run everything because it made my life easier.”
Marcus’s mouth tightened.
“And now?”
“Now I’m done letting convenience decide what is true.”
Marcus stared at him.
Then smiled bitterly.
“You still need money.”
“I know.”
“First Dominion will take everything except the trust property if the default continues.”
“I know.”
“You could save the company by settling.”
“With Greystone?”
“Yes.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Give Owen eight million dollars in trust. Sell the property. End the litigation.”
Ethan stared.
Eight million.
Enough to secure Owen’s future.
Enough to stabilize Mercer Equine.
Enough to keep employees working.
Enough to make everyone call the compromise reasonable.
Marcus saw hesitation.
“That’s what adults do, Ethan.”
May you like
Ethan looked toward the stable aisle.
For one terrible second, he considered it.
