Every Tutor Quit on the Billionaire’s Daughter — Until a Single Dad With a Secret Military Past Changed Her Forever
Chapter 2
Ethan arrived at the Hawthorne estate the next afternoon.
It looked more like a private resort than a home.
Security gates.
Stone walls.
Large gardens.
A fountain visible from the driveway.
A woman in a tailored suit opened the front door.
“I’m Claire Hawthorne’s assistant.”
“Ethan Cole.”
“I know.”
She hesitated.
“You’re the first tutor who didn’t arrive with a teaching portfolio.”
“I don’t have one.”
“That’s unusual.”
“I know.”
She led him upstairs.
Amelia’s study was enormous.
Bookshelves covered one wall.
A grand piano sat near the windows.
Three computer monitors displayed unfinished assignments.
Amelia was lying on a sofa with headphones on.
She didn’t look up.
Claire said:
“Amelia.”
Nothing.
Ethan stepped inside.
He picked up a book from the desk.
“How many pages?”
Amelia looked at him.
“What?”
He pointed.
“This book.”
“Why?”
“How many pages?”
“Four hundred twelve.”
“How many have you read?”
“None.”
“Good.”
She frowned.
“Good?”
“Now I know where to start.”
She removed one headphone.
“You know I’m not going to study.”
“Probably.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Your father hired me.”
“I’ll get you fired.”
“That’s possible.”
She stared at him.
Most adults reacted to threats.
Ethan didn’t.
“You aren’t afraid of me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re sixteen.”
She smiled sarcastically.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t ruin your life.”
Ethan sat across from her.
“You might.”
“You really don’t care?”
“I care about my daughter.”
Amelia blinked.
“You have a daughter?”
“Yes.”
“How old?”
“Ten.”
She looked at him for a moment.
“Where’s her mother?”
“Dead.”
The room went quiet.
Amelia looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Ethan stood.
“Here’s the deal.”
She waited.
“You don’t have to like me.”
“Fine.”
“You don’t have to respect me.”
“Even better.”
“But you’re going to work.”
“No.”
“Okay.”
He reached for his phone.
Amelia frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling your father.”
“To complain?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“To tell him tutoring is impossible because you’re refusing.”
She stared.
“You’ll quit?”
“I’m not quitting.”
“Then what?”
“I’m giving you a choice.”
“What choice?”
“You can spend the next hour trying to make me leave.”
She smirked.
“Or?”
“We can see if you’re actually as smart as your test scores.”
That caught her attention.
“My test scores are good.”
“Very good.”
“Then why do I need tutoring?”
“Because you’re bored.”
She stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because people who hate learning usually aren’t stupid.”
Amelia sat up.
“You think I’m not stupid?”
“I think you’ve been using your intelligence to avoid things you don’t want to feel.”
Her expression hardened.
“You don’t know me.”
“No.”
Ethan stood.
“But I don’t need to.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re showing me.”
Amelia didn’t know what to say.
For the first time, someone hadn’t tried to flatter her.
Hadn’t threatened her.
Hadn’t been intimidated.
Ethan placed a textbook on the table.
“One hour.”
She stared at him.
Then picked it up.
“One hour.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
From downstairs, Victor watched through the glass doors.
For the first time in two years, Amelia had opened a book without being forced.
Victor couldn’t believe it.
Neither could Ethan.
And neither knew the reason Ethan had recognized Amelia’s behavior so quickly wasn’t because he was an experienced tutor.
It was because he had spent years working with frightened people who had learned to hide behind anger.
