Ethan felt the words settle.
“What did you say?”
“I did not know.”
“At least not at first.”
“And now?”
“I want to save it.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Samantha continued before he could respond.
“I know wanting that does not mean I get it.”
“I know you may never trust me again.”
“I know you may decide this is over.”
“I am not asking you to promise anything.”
“I am telling you what I want.”
Ethan looked at his hand.
The pale mark where his wedding ring normally rested was still visible.
“What are you willing to do?” he asked.
“Anything.”
Ethan immediately disliked the answer.
“No.”
Samantha sounded confused.
“What?”
“Do not say anything.”
“Anything is not a plan.”
“It is panic.”
Samantha went quiet.
Ethan continued.
“If you want to repair something, tell me what you think repair actually requires.”
Samantha took time before answering.
“I end all contact with Dylan.”
“I unwind the business investment legally.”
“I return every dollar I can to our savings from my own separate income if his repayment does not cover it.”
“I go to individual therapy.”
“I give you the full timeline once, without changing it later.”
“I stop asking Clare to protect me.”
“I tell your mother the truth because I gave her a dishonest version yesterday.”
Ethan was surprised by the last point.
“You called my mother before I did.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Samantha’s voice weakened.
“I wanted someone to tell you that you were overreacting.”
The honesty hurt.
Ethan leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
Samantha continued.
“I was trying to build a jury before you could tell anyone what happened.”
“That was wrong.”
Ethan felt anger rise again.
He remembered Owen saying their mother believed Samantha had merely met Dylan.
“Did you tell her we had one bad night?”
“Yes.”
“You knew exactly what she would think.”
“Yes.”
Ethan’s voice tightened.
“That might be one of the cruelest things you did yesterday.”
“I know.”
“You tried to make me defend my reaction before I had even told my own family what happened.”
“I know.”
“You were still controlling the story after I left.”
“Yes.”
Samantha began crying softly.
Ethan did not comfort her.
He also did not attack her.
They sat in the consequence together.
Finally, Samantha said, “I called your mother again this morning.”
Ethan waited.
“I told her I lied.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her I slept with Dylan.”
“I told her I had been talking to him for months.”
“I told her about the money.”
