Margaret managed a weak smile, reaching out to pat his hand. “You did the right thing, Ethan. Sometimes people aren’t who we think they are.”

Ethan nodded, the weight of her words settling over him. The night was far from over, but amid the heartache, there was a glimmer of clarity. He had lost something precious, but he had also reclaimed something invaluable—the safety and dignity of the woman who had always stood by him. And with that, he knew he could face whatever came next.