She Accidentally Sent Her Breakup Text to a Stranger—He Replied, “Don’t Send That Yet.”
Chapter 4
Emily spent the next week questioning everything.
Her relationship.
Her job.
Her phone.
Even her family.
Ethan’s investigators found that her number had been linked to a dormant account.
The account had never belonged to Emily.
But it had been created using her old address.
Her former apartment.
The one she had shared with Daniel two years earlier.
Emily stared at the records.
“I’ve never seen this account.”
“I believe you,” Ethan said.
“Then who opened it?”
“We’re trying to find out.”
He sat across from her in his office.
For the first time, Emily saw the scale of his world.
Glass walls.
City skyline.
Executives moving through quiet corridors.
Security everywhere.
It was nothing like her life.
Yet when Ethan looked at her, he seemed completely focused.
“How did you end up involved in this?” she asked.
“I’ve been investigating financial theft inside my company.”
“Why?”
“Because someone has been stealing from me for eighteen months.”
“How much?”
“Almost eighty million.”
Emily stared.
“And you think Daniel knows?”
“I think someone close to Daniel knows.”
“What about me?”
“Your name appeared because of an old account.”
She rubbed her temples.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“Why are you helping me?”
He looked at her.
“Because I told you not to send the text.”
She almost laughed.
“That makes no sense.”
“Maybe not.”
He leaned back.
“Maybe I just don’t like unfinished stories.”
Emily smiled.
“You really talk like that?”
“Only when I’m nervous.”
She looked at him.
“Are you nervous?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I like talking to you.”
She went quiet.
The feeling between them had been growing.
She knew it.
So did he.
But neither wanted to say it.
Not yet.
That evening, Ethan drove her home.
They stopped outside her building.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“Everything.”
He looked at her.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“I know.”
She opened the door.
Then stopped.
“Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to be someone you regret losing.”
His expression softened.
“You’re not.”
She smiled.
“Good night.”
“Good night, Emily.”
She walked upstairs.
When she reached her apartment, there was a message from Daniel.
We need to talk. Alone.
Emily hesitated.
Then replied:
Why?
His answer:
Because Ethan Cole isn’t who you think he is.
Her stomach dropped.
The next message came before she could answer.
Don’t trust him.
Emily stared.
Then another message.
He was involved in the company that destroyed my father’s life.
Emily’s heart raced.
She called Ethan.
He answered immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“Daniel says you knew his father.”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My company acquired part of his business four years ago.”
“He says you destroyed it.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
“It matters now.”
He exhaled.
“Emily…”
“I need the truth.”
“You’re right.”
He paused.
“My father and Daniel’s father were business partners.”
“And?”
“They betrayed each other.”
“Who betrayed whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Emily’s voice shook.
“But you do know something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Ethan was silent.
Then:
“Daniel’s father didn’t lose his company.”
“He disappeared.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
“He staged his own financial collapse.”
“Why?”
“Because he was running from the law.”
Emily felt cold.
“What did he do?”
Ethan answered quietly:
“He helped move eighty million dollars through shell accounts.”
Emily’s mouth went dry.
“Is Daniel involved?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you sure this has something to do with me?”
“Because one of the accounts was created in your name.”
Emily closed her eyes.
She understood something terrible.
Her breakup text had been accidental.
But the number she sent it to?
Maybe not.
Maybe someone had wanted Ethan to see her name.
Maybe the message had found him at exactly the right time.
