The Single Mom Was Fired After Saving the CEO’s Father — Until the Millionaire Stepped In
Chapter 8
Ethan eventually invited Megan to meet his extended family.
She was nervous.
“I don’t belong.”
“You do.”
“What if they judge me?”
“They already know you saved my father.”
“That’s not enough.”
“It is for me.”
The family dinner was uncomfortable.
A few relatives were polite.
Others were cold.
One aunt asked:
“So you were housekeeping staff?”
Megan nodded.
“Yes.”
“And now you’re an executive?”
“Yes.”
The woman smiled thinly.
“Interesting.”
Ethan interrupted.
“Very.”
Megan touched his arm.
“It’s okay.”
He looked at her.
She didn’t want a war.
Later, Ethan’s sister Emily apologized.
“My family can be difficult.”
Megan smiled.
“Mine too.”
They laughed.
Emily liked her immediately.
Richard was proud.
He told Ethan:
“She’s better for you than half the people in this room.”
Ethan laughed.
“I know.”
Megan heard.
She smiled.
That night, Ethan drove her home.
“Did you hate it?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Mostly.”
He laughed.
She looked at him.
“Your father is kind.”
“He’s changed.”
“Because of what happened?”
“Maybe.”
They sat in silence.
Then Megan asked:
“Do you ever think about the first day?”
“Every day.”
“Why?”
“Because it feels like another life.”
She smiled.
“I had forty-three dollars.”
“And a cardboard box.”
“And an angry manager.”
He laughed.
“That part I remember.”
Megan looked out the window.
“You changed everything.”
He shook his head.
“You did.”
“No.”
“I just opened a door.”
“Then I walked through it.”
“Exactly.”
They stopped outside her house.
Ethan didn’t leave immediately.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Are you happy?”
Megan thought.
Then nodded.
“For the first time in a long time.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
She kissed him.
This time, there was no hesitation.
Their relationship deepened.
The family accepted it.
The board accepted it.
Megan’s career flourished.
But Ethan’s past still cast a shadow.
His mother had died when he was young.
Richard had raised him.
Ethan had inherited his father’s emotional distance.
Megan understood.
One night, he admitted:
“I’ve spent my whole life trying to earn my father’s approval.”
She touched his hand.
“You have it.”
“He never says it.”
“He doesn’t need to.”
Ethan smiled.
“How do you know?”
“Because I see how he looks at you.”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
He didn’t cry.
But she saw the emotion.
“You’re very good at seeing things.”
“I’m a housekeeper.”
He laughed.
“Former.”
She smiled.
“Still.”
