Sinclair's Lost Heir[The Rise Of The Betrayed Son-in-law]

CHAPTER 2

Ethan’s POV

I was marched down a cold hallway, the overhead lights buzzing faintly. The station smelled of sweat, old coffee, and the faint metallic tang of desperation. We stopped in front of a dimly lit room. Inside, a table sat at the center, flanked by two chairs. On the tabletop, a thick folder lay open, revealing pages of evidence.

“Sit,” one of the officers ordered as he pushed me into a chair. I barely had time to adjust before another man entered the room—a detective, his sharp eyes studying me like I was an insect under a microscope. He tossed a stack of papers in front of me.

“Do you recognize these?” he asked coolly.

I stared at them, my breath hitching. Bank statements. Transaction records. All showing massive amounts funneled into private accounts under my name. My signature was on every page.

“This isn’t real,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I never made these transfers. I did not sign any of these papers! Today is my first day of even setting eyes on them.”

The detective didn’t flinch. “And these?” He slid over a set of photographs. My stomach lurched. They were of me, at least, they looked like me, wrapped around a woman who definitely wasn’t Vanessa. The images were not even grainy, or distorted in the slightest way. It was damning but I was certain that I never held such memories.

“I… I…” My throat closed up. “This is fake. These are doctored. I don’t even know this woman.”

The detective leaned back, unimpressed. “You expect us to believe that? Mr. Carter, the evidence against you is overwhelming. You’re looking at serious prison time. Your best bet is to cooperate.”

I shook my head. “I’m being framed! Someone’s setting me up. You have to believe me!”

The detective sighed and stood up. “You can plead your case in court.” With a nod to the officers, he left the room, leaving me alone with the suffocating weight of my crumbling life.

A few minutes later, I was granted a phone call. My fingers trembled as I dialed the only person I knew who could help—my lawyer and supposed friend, Brian Keller.

“Ethan,” Brian’s voice came through the line, tight with unease. “Listen, man, I—”

“Brian, I need you. They’re saying I stole millions! That I cheated on Vanessa. You know me! You know I would never do this. Please, I need you to defend me.”

A long silence stretched between us before he sighed. “I wish I could, Ethan, but I have a high-profile case right now. It’s impossible for me to take yours. I’m sorry.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “You’re seriously turning your back on me right now? After everything?”

“It’s not like that. I just—look, I have to go. Good luck.”

The line went dead.

I stood there, staring at the receiver, my breath shallow. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I dialed another number. Then another. Friends I’d known for years. Men I’d helped climb the corporate ladder. People I’d been there for when they needed me most.

Every single one of them turned me away.

I had nothing. No allies. No money. No way out.

…………

The station reeked of sweat and stale coffee, a far cry from the luxury Vanessa was used to. I imagined the way she wrinkled her nose, disgust hidden behind a mask of sorrow.

Then they brought me out.

I could hear the sharp inhale she took, the way she made her breath hitch just right as her hand flew to her mouth. “Ethan…” A whisper, filled with so much ache, so much pain—if I hadn’t known better, I might’ve believed it myself.

I took a step forward, but the officer behind me yanked me back.

“Vanessa, listen to me—”

“save it Ethan. I know, you’re innocent and bla bla bla, but who would believe you anyways?” She shrugged her shoulders.

“The public already believe you’re guilty and that’s all that matters. Easy easy.”

Dumbfounded, I coukd barely make my words out. “Do you mean to tell me that you knew i was innocent and yet did nothing about it? How could you…”

“Cut the bullshit Ethan. I mean you should have just quietly sat at the office my father gave you but you world rather pop your pathetic self as some silly martyr. You had just one fucking job, just sign the damn papers but your mouth got to heavy for you to just use your hands.”

“I am so disappointed in you Vanessa, I know your family had not once liked me but I didn’t think you will all go this far just to get rid of me.”

“No hard feelings Ethan, you of all people knew you had to leave somehow. Now blame it on yourself for being a busy body.”

I didn’t bother answering.

Nathan stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Vanessa, we don’t have all day.”

I turned my attention to him, the man who had always lurked in the background, always waiting for an opportunity. And now, here he was—standing right beside her, smug and victorious.

Vanessa reached into her bag and pulled out a thick stack of papers. When she slid them across the table, the weight of them felt heavier than it should have.

“Sign them.”

I didn’t move. Didn’t even glance down.

“What is this?”

She sighed as if exhausted by my resistance. “Divorce papers. This marriage was over before it even began, Ethan. And now, you’ve made it worse. You cheated on me. You stole from my father. You destroyed what little dignity I had left as your wife.”

I scoffed, my fingers curling into fists. “Are you sure about that? Or is that just what you’ve convinced yourself to believe?”

Nathan chuckled, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. “It doesn’t matter what she believes. It matters what everyone else does. And right now, the entire country is watching you fall apart, Ethan. The least you can do is not drag our family name down with you.”

Vanessa tapped the papers. “Let him Nath, he suddenly feels like he has a say in all of this, right? Ethan? Did you for one day think that you deserved to be married to me in the first place? I did your pathetic self a favor by allowing you bear husband to me. Just sign the goddamn papers. It’ll be easier that way.”

A dry laugh escaped my lips as I shook my head. “Oh really, is this what all these was about?” My voice was lower now, rougher. “You want me to just accept this, to roll over and let things just be? I mean, your family did me a favor by accepting me in it huh?”

She leaned in, her voice dropping to match mine. “I’m pretty glad that you’re getting the drill now. You already lost. Sign the goddamn divorce papers”

For a moment, I considered flipping the table, shattering the carefully crafted image she was presenting to the cameras. But I knew better. I forced myself to breathe, to steady my anger, and then I did something neither of them expected.

I smiled.

“I want a lawyer.”

Nathan clicked his tongue. “Oh, Ethan. That might be a little tricky.”

Ignoring him, I called every lawyer I knew. Every single one refused. I reached out to colleagues, men I had once trusted, but one by one, they turned their backs.

Vanessa’s father had buried me before the trial had even begun.

I sat in silence, feeling the walls closing in. My fingers hovered over the divorce papers, my grip tightening. For the first time in my life, I had no options.

Nathan leaned in, his voice smug. “Just sign, Ethan. Make this easy on yourself.”

A long silence stretched between us.

And then, with slow, deliberate movements, I picked up the pen.

My fingers tightened around it, squeezing so hard my knuckles turned white. This wasn’t just a signature. This was a death sentence. One stroke at a time, I signed away my marriage. My name. My life as I knew it.