Every Tutor Quit on the Billionaire’s Daughter — Until a Single Dad With a Secret Military Past Changed Her Forever
Chapter 3
Ethan’s first week surprised everyone.
Amelia didn’t like him.
But she didn’t fire him.
She challenged everything he said.
He challenged everything she assumed.
When she refused to answer a question, he waited.
When she tried to manipulate a conversation, he changed the subject.
When she insulted his car, he agreed.
“It’s terrible.”
She laughed.
“You admit it?”
“It’s fourteen years old.”
“Why not buy a new one?”
“Because it works.”
“You have weird priorities.”
“So do you.”
She smiled.
That was the first crack.
Her grades improved slightly.
Not because Ethan gave her answers.
Because he made her explain her reasoning.
She hated that.
She also loved it.
One afternoon, she asked:
“Why don’t you have more students?”
“I don’t need more.”
“Your family rich?”
“No.”
“Then why don’t you work more?”
“I have my daughter.”
She looked at him.
“You always mention her.”
“She’s important.”
“More important than money?”
“Much more.”
Amelia frowned.
She had never heard her father say it like that.
Victor talked about money as security.
Ethan talked about his daughter as if she were the center of the universe.
“What’s she like?”
“Stubborn.”
“Like me?”
“Much worse.”
Amelia smiled.
Ethan continued:
“She once refused to wear shoes to school because she said they interfered with her creativity.”
Amelia laughed.
“Did she win?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“She wore shoes.”
She laughed harder.
Their relationship was changing.
Then Amelia asked:
“What’s your secret?”
Ethan looked up.
“What secret?”
“You’re not normal.”
He smiled.
“That’s rude.”
“I’m serious.”
She pointed toward his hands.
“You have scars.”
He looked at them.
“Old injuries.”
“From what?”
“Work.”
“What kind of work?”
“Different jobs.”
She frowned.
“You don’t talk about yourself.”
“Not much.”
“Why?”
“There’s nothing interesting.”
“That’s a lie.”
He smiled.
“You’re learning.”
That evening, Amelia’s school counselor called Victor.
“Her behavior has improved.”
Victor stared.
“How much?”
“She’s attending classes.”
“She’s submitting assignments.”
“She’s talking to teachers.”
Victor almost laughed.
“That’s impossible.”
The counselor smiled.
“Maybe not.”
Victor found Ethan in the library later.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“My daughter is studying voluntarily.”
“I didn’t make her.”
“What changed?”
Ethan looked toward the hallway.
“She needed someone who wasn’t trying to buy her cooperation.”
Victor nodded.
“Thank you.”
Ethan packed his things.
“Don’t thank me yet.”
“Why?”
“She’s still testing me.”
As if on cue, Amelia entered.
“Ethan.”
“Yeah?”
“Can we talk?”
They stepped into her study.
She closed the door.
“I need you to teach me something.”
“What’s that?”
“How to stop caring what people think.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
“Because everyone expects me to be perfect.”
He sat down.
“Do you think your father expects that?”
“Yes.”
“Ask him.”
She shook her head.
“He’ll lie.”
“Then ask anyway.”
She stared.
“You really don’t understand.”
“What?”
“If I fail, I disappoint him.”
Ethan looked at her.
“If you never fail, you never learn who you are.”
She looked down.
For the first time, Amelia didn’t argue.
