Revenge for My Son's Death

Ethan and I met years ago at a conference. Back then, I was a promising apprentice under my father, the CEO of our company, NovaTech. Life was good; I had everything I needed, and I was well-regarded by my family and peers. I was the quintessential good girl, admired and respected.

However then, I was still not announced as the heir of the Everhart family since it was a family tradition that they would only introduce me to the world once I became the CEO.

Ethan, on the other hand, was known as the rebellious young master of the Harrington family. Gossip at social events painted a picture of a man more interested in squandering money in bars than leading his family’s empire. It was common to hear stories of his father publicly reprimanding him for his recklessness.

I found boys like Ethan insufferable. His indifferent demeanor, even when scolded by his father in front of everyone, only added to my disdain. He seemed utterly unbothered, almost childishly detached. Whenever I saw him, I made a point to avoid him. I doubted he even knew who I was, given his apparent disinterest in business and the people involved in it.

The rivalry between our families was well-known, though I never fully understood it. The Harringtons and my Everhart family were supposed adversaries.

Personally, I felt our true competition should have been the Featherson family, who were also venturing into robotics. The Harringtons, with their focus on AI-driven advanced technologies, seemed less directly competitive.

One day, after a conference session, I found myself in an empty hallway surrounded by a group of boys. Panic set in; wealthy men were often arrogant and unpredictable. Just as I felt desperation creep in, Ethan appeared like a hero, facing the group alone. For the first time, I saw him differently.

"Next time you're in danger, try not to be so foolish," he said, breathless from his effort.

"Me? Foolish?" I replied, my wide eyes filled with curiosity.

"Run, do you understand? If you're about to be cornered and can't fight back, just run."

His words, though harsh, were protective. He escorted me back to the conference, and from that day on, we started encountering each other more often at parties and gatherings for young entrepreneurs.

People began to notice his attentiveness towards me, even teasing him as my shadow. He didn't mind; he openly admitted his attendance was solely because of me. He seemed unaware of who I was or our families' strained connection, remaining the same disinterested person in business matters.

Gradually, Ethan began to change. He stopped frequenting clubs and started involving himself in his family's business. His transformation was sudden and noticeable.

Whenever we were at the same conference, I’d catch him stealing glances at me, his focus shifting from the speakers to where I stood. Our eyes would meet, and I’d quickly look away, feeling my cheeks flush. A strange, warm feeling began to grow in my heart.

"So, what do your parents do? Are they hoteliers?" He asked me one evening.

Trying to avoid revealing my true identity, I replied, "Something like that."

Months passed and Ethan's dedication to becoming a better businessman was driven by his desire to protect me. He often said he needed to be powerful to do so. I once asked him, "How long will you protect me?"

His response was both indulgent and sincere, "As long as you need."

I pondered and asked, "Is a lifetime okay?"

With a shy smile, he replied, "Sure."

I believed our lifetime together would be long, but everything changed when Bella entered the picture.

"You can celebrate your birthday anytime, but Bella is sick, and I can't ignore her."

"I'm not coming home tonight. Bella's in a bad mood and needs company."

"Christmas is just a ceremony. Celebrate it with Gavin. Bella is alone..."

No matter the occasion, he would leave me at Bella’s call. Our home became secondary to him.

His unwavering attention to Bella slowly eroded my faith in him, yet I remained grateful for Gavin, our smart and exceptional son, who inherited the best of Ethan's genes.

For Gavin’s sake, I endured over a decade of disappointment and neglect.

But now, Gavin was dead. He died because of Ethan’s indifference and negligence. There was nothing left for me to hold on to.

Consumed by these thoughts, I arrived at the Harrington Villa. The atmosphere was lively and joyful, with everyone in high spirits.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Bella sat among the crowd, chatting and laughing like a perfect couple.

The Harrington family adored Bella, seeing her as the ideal Mrs. Harrington. In their eyes, I was merely a babysitter for Gavin, deemed cowardly and deceitful. Even the younger Harringtons felt entitled to scold me openly.

I walked in, my face, a mask of emotionless resolve.