He Shoved Me into a 50-Degree Pool to Teach Me a "Lesson"—15 Minutes Later, Two Sheriff's Cruisers Ended His Marriage / Chapter 15 / 19

Chapter 15 - The Unlikely AllyEthan looked even worse than he had three days ago. A dark cut ran along his lower lip, a stark reminder of the dangerous reality he faced inside.

When he picked up the phone, his eyes were dull, devoid of hope. "Did you come to gloat, Charlotte? The news in here says Sterling is taking your company."

"He’s trying to," I said, leaning close to the glass. "But I’m not letting him win. And neither are you."

Ethan let out a dry laugh. "What can I do from in here? I’m serving eight years."

"If you help me prove that Richard Sterling was the architect of the fraud scheme," I said, choosing my words carefully, "my lawyer can file an official motion of cooperation with the state prosecutor. It could knock four years off your sentence. You could be eligible for parole next year."

Ethan froze. A sudden spark of life returned to his hollow eyes. "Parole?"

"I need the encrypted communication," I insisted. "The financial blueprints Richard gave you. Where are they, Ethan?"

Ethan gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. He wrestled with his fear, knowing that turning on a powerful man like Richard came with severe risks. But the prospect of freedom was stronger.

"In my old apartment... before the bank seized it," Ethan whispered hastily. "In the master bedroom, behind the closet baseboard. There’s an external hard drive wrapped in plastic. I backed up every phone call, every email, every financial transfer Richard sent me. I kept it as insurance, but my old lawyer told me it would just make me look more guilty, so I hid it."

"Why didn't you destroy it?"

"Because," Ethan said, looking me straight in the eye with a terrifying sincerity, "deep down, I knew Richard was going to try to ruin you next. I was a fool, Charlotte. I lost the best thing that ever happened to me because I wanted easy money. Don't let him destroy what you built."

I stood up, adjusting my coat. "I’ll talk to the prosecutor, Ethan."

"Charlotte?" he called out through the phone just as I turned to leave.

I stopped, looking back over my shoulder.