Chapter 57

The air in Jack's office felt stifling as the weight of his accusations hung between us. I resisted the temptation to lash out or display any remorse, keeping my face neutral. Emily was standing next to me with her arms folded and a confused, angry look on her face. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Jack had gone too far.

I gave him a cold stare while carefully selecting my words. "Jack, I don't know what you're talking about. The whole story sounds absurd."

Emily's brows furrowed as her eyes suddenly shifted to mine. "Ethan, really? because you appear quite agitated for someone who is supposedly not aware."

My jaw tensed, but I made an effort to shrug. "Agitated? Emily, Jack just brought us here to make accusations. I'm not hiding anything; I'm just frustrated."

She didn't buy it, though. Her displeasure was building, and I could see it in her eyes as the uncertainty took hold. Jack watched us with a grim expression on his face and his arms crossed as if he were challenging me to maintain the act.

Emily said in a tense voice, her rage evident, "Ethan, are you really going to stand here and act like you don't know anything about Victor?"

I maintained my position while trying to maintain a neutral expression. "I have no idea what Jack is discussing. Victor was a name tossed around by people who like to spin conspiracy theories about the Monroe family."

Jack laughed drearily. "Ethan, conspiracy theories? Is it your best option? Since you won't tell Emily the truth, I conducted my own investigation because she needs to know."

I gave Jack a stern look. "And what gives you the authority to begin discussing your alleged "investigation" with her?"

Emily shook her head and exhaled in frustration. "This is unbelievable. I thought, Ethan. I thought that we were all in this together."

Even though her remarks hurt, I kept my composure. I turned to her instead, trying to seem calm. I'm being honest with you, Emily. "Jack is exaggerating things, and his theories are based on thin evidence."

But she was already gathering her bag, her face hardening as she looked from Jack to me, disappointment evident in her eyes. Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as she mumbled, "I can't do this. I'm done with all these secrets," she continued, raising her voice.

Without even looking back, she turned and stormed out of the office. I watched her go, annoyance seething beneath my composed exterior. Sophie, who had been standing outside, gave me a shocked, wide-eyed look before she and Emily left. Jack and I were alone when the office door closed.

My mask came off as soon as Emily and Sophie left. With rage burning in my eyes, I turned to face Jack. "What the hell was that, Jack?"

Jack, obviously disappointed, arched an eyebrow. "Ethan, you ought to have told her the truth long ago. That's what I did."

I balled my fists and forced myself to control my escalating rage. "You think blindsiding her was not helping?"

Jack shrugged, unconcerned with my response. "You can't keep her in the dark forever, Ethan. Whether you like it or not, she is involved in all of this. And the more you hide, the worse it'll get when she finally learns the truth."

I tried to maintain my composure as I said, "She doesn't need to know everything. It's better if she's kept out of the worst of it."

Jack gave a dry laugh. "If you believe that lying to her will protect her, you are insane. The world you're tangled up in, Ethan-it's not something you can just shield her from with a few lies."

I laughed resentfully. "You truly believe you have everything worked out, don't you?"

His face was stern and unflinching. "Ethan, I am aware that Victor is not the kind to give up. He's not going to let go just because you want to play hero and keep Emily safe."

I tightened my jaw as the weight of his remarks descended upon me. I couldn't ignore Victor Alvarez as a threat, but it didn't give Jack the right to involve Emily. I had been making every effort to shield her from the evil Victor stood for, but Jack simply had to upset the delicate equilibrium I had been attempting to preserve.

I snarled in a low voice, "You had no right to say anything to her."

Jack's eyes become stony. "No right? I am her attorney, Ethan, and since you obviously refused to inform her of the situation, I conducted my own investigation and provided her with the information she needed."

"Investigation?" I fired back. "Jack, this isn't a matter for you to look into. You're getting into much too much trouble."

"Am I?" Jack retorted, refusing to budge. "Because, as far as I can tell, Ethan, you are the one drowning. You're lying to everyone and acting like you're still in charge while you're involved with Victor."

I tightened my hands and took a step closer. "Don't pretend that you understand any of this. You have no idea what I'm going through."

His eyes remained fixed. "Even though I may not be fully informed, I can see that you're headed in a bad direction."

My jaw tightened as I made an effort to suppress the rage that was building within of me. "You think you're helping by throwing accusations around in front of Emily? You think blindsiding her with talk about Victor was your way of doing what's best for her?"

Unaffected by my tone, Jack folded his arms. "At least I'm telling the truth. which I can't say enough about you."

I had to force myself to remain composed because the accusation hurt. "Jack, I'm taking care of it. You don't have to get involved."

With a laugh slipping out of his mouth, he said, "Taking care of it?" You're hiding things from everyone who is trying to help you, Ethan. You're lying to me, to Emily, and, at this point, I'm sure you're lying to yourself as well."

I hardly managed to keep my voice steady as I scowled at him. "You don't know what you're saying."

He took a step closer, and his face softened slightly. "I've known you for years, Ethan. I am aware of the weight you are bearing. But continuing like this? Continuing to work with someone like Victor? It will ruin you and bring everyone you love down with you."

I yelled, "Then, Jack, don't get involved. If you're so worried about other people, then stop getting involved in things that don't affect you."

Jack shook his head in a forceful but sad tone. "Ethan, you are the only person I'm worried about here. If you continue like this, you will be killed."

I made up a sour chuckle. "You think I'm afraid of Victor? I can handle him."

Jack gave me a look that was a mix of disappointment and sympathy. "Ethan, you're not invincible. And despite everything you say, I know you're not quite as certain of this as you act."

The remarks struck closer to home than I wanted to acknowledge, so I turned away. Jack was correct about one thing: I had been lying to myself just as much as I had been lying to Emily. Victor was not someone to be taken lightly.

"Ethan," Jack said in a softer, almost soft voice. "You've been in contact with him, haven't you?"

Every instinct told me to maintain the façade and deny it, so I tensed. But I could tell by the expression in Jack's eyes that he already understood. Lying to him now would be useless.