Billionaire Pretended to Be Poor to Test His Fiancée – What Happened Next Shocked Everyone!
Chapter 6
Ethan returned to his office that night.
The building was nearly empty.
For three weeks, he had stayed away from the public eye.
Most employees believed he was dealing with a personal crisis.
A handful knew the truth.
Marcus was one of them.
So was Ethan’s legal counsel.
And now, they had evidence.
The executive involved was Richard Hale.
Richard had worked for Cole Holdings for twelve years.
Ethan had trusted him.
Richard had attended Ethan’s engagement party.
He had shaken Victoria’s hand.
Apparently, he had been speaking with her long before Ethan’s fake financial collapse.
Marcus placed printed messages on the desk.
“Nothing illegal yet.”
“Yet?”
“But definitely suspicious.”
Ethan read them.
Victoria had introduced Richard to several investors.
The messages discussed “future restructuring.”
They mentioned opportunities created by Ethan’s “reduced influence.”
Ethan leaned back.
“She knew.”
Marcus nodded.
“Looks that way.”
“How long?”
“We’re still investigating.”
Ethan stared through the office window.
Manhattan stretched beneath him.
Three weeks ago, this view had represented everything he thought mattered.
Now it made him feel tired.
“Don’t tell anyone I’m back.”
Marcus nodded.
“What are you planning?”
Ethan looked down at the messages.
“Another test.”
Marcus groaned.
“You’re addicted.”
“This time, it’s business.”
He spent the next several days quietly gathering evidence.
Meanwhile, Victoria continued calling.
She left messages.
Apologizing.
Explaining.
Asking for another chance.
Ethan didn’t respond.
But Lily noticed the change.
“You’re distracted.”
“Work.”
“I thought you didn’t have a job.”
Ethan smiled.
“I never said that.”
“You implied it.”
“I may have strategically omitted information.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s a fancy way of saying you lied.”
“Fair.”
Lily sat across from him.
“So what’s going on?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Someone betrayed me.”
Her expression softened.
“Again?”
“Apparently, I’m very talented at picking people.”
Lily smiled.
“Maybe you’re just learning.”
“Learning what?”
“Who deserves to stay.”
Ethan looked at her.
The diner was loud around them.
But suddenly, he heard nothing else.
Then Lily’s phone rang.
Her expression changed.
She answered immediately.
“Dad?”
Ethan looked away.
He heard only fragments.
“What happened?”
“Is she okay?”
“I’m coming.”
Lily hung up.
Her face had gone pale.
“My father’s in the hospital.”
Ethan stood.
“Let’s go.”
“No, you don’t—”
“Lily.”
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Ethan drove her.
Not in a limousine.
Not with a driver.
Just an ordinary black sedan Marcus had arranged.
At the hospital, Lily rushed inside.
Ethan followed.
Her father had suffered a heart attack.
The doctors said he needed surgery.
Lily sat in the waiting room with her head in her hands.
“I don’t know how I’m going to pay for this.”
Ethan sat beside her.
“Insurance?”
“Not enough.”
He wanted to tell her.
He could pay.
The amount was meaningless to him.
But he stopped himself.
Not because he didn’t trust Lily.
Because he understood now that help given without honesty could become another kind of manipulation.
Instead, he asked:
“What do you need right now?”
She looked at him.
“Someone to stay.”
So he stayed.
All night.
And when Lily finally fell asleep with her head resting against his shoulder, Ethan realized something that terrified him.
This wasn’t a rebound.
He wasn’t thinking about Victoria.
He wasn’t thinking about money.
He was thinking about Lily.
And for the first time, he wanted someone to know exactly who he was.
