Chapter 24 - Ethan’s Choice
Ethan sat outside the principal’s office with a split lip and both arms crossed.
Daniel stopped several feet away.
He had learned enough not to rush toward the boy simply because biology told him to.
Ethan looked up.
“You came.”
“Lauren called.”
“I didn’t ask her to.”
“I know.”
Daniel sat in the chair beside him.
Olivia remained down the hallway with Lauren.
For almost a minute neither spoke.
Finally Daniel said, “Was it a good punch?”
Ethan stared at him.
Then, despite himself, laughed.
“Mom said you’d give me a lecture.”
“I probably should.”
“You punch people?”
“Not since college.”
“So yes.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“He said Grace was bought.”
Daniel’s amusement disappeared.
“He said your mom made us in laboratories because normal people wouldn’t want us.”
Daniel felt anger rise, but this wasn’t his fight to hijack.
“What did you say?”
“I told him to shut up.”
“And then?”
“He didn’t.”
“So you hit him.”
“Yeah.”
Daniel leaned back.
“I understand why.”
Ethan looked surprised.
“But?”
“But if you punch everyone who repeats something stupid from the internet, you’ll never have time for hockey.”
Ethan almost smiled.
Then his expression darkened.
“I hate this.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Daniel accepted the correction.
“You’re right.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You grew up rich.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who your parents were.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t wake up one day and find out some billionaire you saw on TV was your biological father.”
“No.”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“So stop saying you know.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
That seemed to surprise Ethan more than an argument would have.
Daniel continued.
“I don’t know what this feels like for you.”
Ethan wiped his eyes angrily.
“But I can tell you what I do know.”
“What?”
“None of this makes you a mistake.”
Ethan looked away.
“Grace either.”
“No.”
“Sophie?”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice grew firmer.
“You are not what Margaret did.”
The school meeting lasted ninety minutes.
Security footage showed the other student had repeatedly followed Ethan, shoved his books, and used language taken directly from online articles.
Both boys received disciplinary consequences.
Neither was expelled.
Daniel agreed.
He refused to use money or influence.
When they left, Ethan seemed surprised.
“You could’ve made them expel him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because your grandmother spent her life believing power meant making every problem disappear.”
Daniel opened the car door.
“I’m trying something different.”
“What?”
“Being reasonable.”
Ethan laughed.
“That sounds boring.”
“It often is.”
The drive back to Lauren’s temporary residence became the first time Ethan asked Daniel personal questions.
Favorite basketball team.
Worst school subject.
Whether Daniel had really once crashed a Ferrari.
Daniel admitted he had.
Olivia laughed from the front seat.
“You left out the part where the Ferrari belonged to his father.”
Ethan’s mouth dropped open.
“You crashed your dad’s Ferrari?”
Daniel sighed.
“I was twenty.”
“That’s awesome.”
“It was not awesome.”
“It’s extremely awesome.”
Lauren looked at Daniel.
For the first time, the tension between them softened.
That evening, Ethan asked whether he could video-call Amelia and Grace.
The babies mostly stared at the screen.
Ethan waved.
“Hey. I’m your brother.”
Grace sneezed.
Ethan grinned.
“I think she likes me.”
Then Sophie joined through a carefully arranged call with the Allens.
Four siblings appeared on one screen for the first time.
It was awkward.
Beautiful.
Impossible.
Sophie told Ethan she liked drawing.
Ethan told her he liked hockey.
They argued over whether newborn babies looked cute or strange.
Olivia sat beside Daniel and watched.
Margaret had designed children as leverage.
Yet the children were creating something she never intended.
Connection without ownership.
When the call ended, Ethan remained on screen.
“Daniel?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask something weird?”
“Sure.”
“If I don’t want your last name, is that okay?”
Daniel answered immediately.
“Yes.”
Ethan’s shoulders relaxed.
“I’m a Keane.”
“I know.”
“Mom made me who I am.”
“She did.”
Ethan nodded.
“But maybe…”
Daniel waited.
“Maybe I can still be your son.”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“I’d like that.”
Ethan looked embarrassed.
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not.”
“You definitely are.”
Daniel laughed and wiped his face.
After the call, Olivia leaned into him.
“That went well.”
Daniel exhaled.
Then Arthur called.
Margaret’s trial had been moved forward.
Jury selection would begin in ten days.
And federal prosecutors wanted Daniel, Olivia, Rachel, Calvin, Evelyn, Lauren, Monica—
May you like
and possibly Ethan—
on the witness list.
