He Needed a Wife to Claim His Inheritance—So He Paid a Poor Widow to Pretend
Chapter 8
Ethan and Clara tried to ignore what had happened.
It didn’t work.
They became closer.
Not because of the contract.
Because of trust.
Ethan took Noah fishing.
Clara laughed when he failed to catch anything.
“You’re supposed to be good at everything.”
“Apparently not fishing.”
Noah whispered:
“Mom is better.”
“I heard that.”
Noah laughed.
For the first time in years, Ethan imagined a family.
Then the threat returned.
Clara received an anonymous message.
Leave Ethan before he discovers what your husband stole.
She showed him.
“What did Daniel steal?”
“I don’t know.”
Ethan traced the message.
The number led to an encrypted server.
Inside was a file.
Daniel hadn’t stolen money.
He had stolen evidence.
Evidence of illegal transfers involving several executives.
One of them was Nathan.
Another was Ethan’s father.
The final name shocked Ethan.
His grandfather.
Clara stared.
“Your grandfather was involved too?”
“I don’t know.”
The documents suggested he had known about the theft.
But another file revealed something different.
His grandfather had been secretly collecting evidence against the others.
He had planned to expose them.
Then he died.
Ethan sat back.
“My grandfather knew everything.”
Clara asked:
“Then why did he leave you the inheritance?”
“Because he wanted me to finish it.”
The marriage condition had been a test.
He wanted Ethan to meet someone outside his wealthy world.
Someone who would force him to see what money couldn’t.
Someone who had lost everything and still kept going.
Clara.
Ethan looked at her.
“He chose you.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He chose you.”
A new document appeared.
A private letter from Daniel.
It explained that he had discovered the theft and hidden copies of the evidence before his death.
He had been preparing to give them to the authorities.
Then he wrote:
If anything happens to me, keep Clara away from the Cole family.
Clara began crying.
“He knew.”
Ethan nodded.
“He knew they were dangerous.”
The last line was worse.
The man who can expose them is the last person they would suspect.
Ethan looked at the mirror.
Then at Clara.
“They thought I was too loyal to betray the family.”
She whispered:
“You aren’t.”
“No.”
He reached for her.
“I choose the truth.”
The next morning, Ethan called a federal investigator.
He handed over everything.
The investigation began.
Nathan disappeared.
Several executives fled.
The company board panicked.
But Ethan stayed.
Then Nathan called him.
“Congratulations.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“What do you want?”
“You really think you’re the hero now?”
“No.”
“Then listen.”
A pause.
“Clara’s son is with me.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
Nathan laughed.
“One mistake and you lose him.”
Ethan’s face went cold.
“Where is he?”
“You’ll find out.”
The call ended.
Clara screamed when Ethan told her.
Their fake marriage no longer mattered.
Their inheritance no longer mattered.
There was only one thing left.
Get Noah back.
