Looking at her belly, he asked matter-of-factly:
“You giving birth at a regular hospital or a private clinic? You’ve got options now. Oh, and what about that stepbrother? Where’s he at? You said he’s why you went to prison.”
Sarah said time would tell, adding:
“Yeah, Alex screwed me over big time. I trusted him with my business. Well, I brought him into the company to handle accounting and HR.”
“And he couldn’t hack it?” Ethan asked.
“Worse. He got me on the IRS’s radar. Plus, he turned my employees against me. Basically, he was a crook, and I took the fall. Honestly, I don’t regret it—I gained priceless experience.”
“What kind?”
“I learned to survive tough situations. And I can spot people’s intentions—good or bad. You know, I went through a similar school in foster care. I think our lives are kind of alike. Stay here tonight. I’ll set you up in the living room, and I’ll crash on the kitchen couch.”
Sarah agreed. She hadn’t planned to leave anyway. She didn’t track down Ethan for nothing. She’d liked him from their first meeting.
She was determined to find the kind driver. But, as it turned out, he’d lost his job because of her. Feeling guilty, Sarah decided to make it right.
She saw how much he cared about driving. To him, a car wasn’t just metal—it was a true friend. As she fell asleep in his apartment, Sarah pictured herself with Ethan.
She just needed to know how he’d feel about raising someone else’s kids. Her story about getting pregnant in prison had left a mark on him. In the morning, she heard dishes clattering.
For the first time in years, the noise didn’t annoy her. She remembered waking up at dawn in prison, with bunkmates banging cups. But now, the sound was comforting. She walked into the kitchen:
“Morning, Ethan.”
“Morning, Sarah. You’re up early. I’m still making breakfast, so hang tight.”
“Couldn’t sleep, kept thinking about us,” she said carefully.
“Us?” Ethan asked, pretending to be clueless.
“I didn’t tell you everything. There’s more you should know.”
“Whoa, more surprises?” Ethan said, half-joking. “I thought you closed the book on your past last night.”
“I did, the past is behind me,” Sarah replied. “But there are loose ends to tie up. And I need your help. Sorry to spring this on you, but I can’t do it without you.”
“Great. Feels like I’m back to that first day we met,” Ethan said cheerfully, setting out plates of scrambled eggs. “Like I’m reliving the whole journey from driver to warehouse grunt.”
“Ethan, I’m due soon, and I need to take back what was stolen from me. I told you how Alex got me locked up. Well, he and his mom took my company. I built it from scratch, poured my heart into it, and they ruined everything.”
Sarah broke down, and Ethan instinctively hugged her. He felt her trembling, and his heart ached. Here was a helpless woman, rich now, but still vulnerable. He could help her, and if he didn’t, he’d regret it forever. Running a hand through her hair, he said:
“Okay, I’ll help. I just don’t know how. Your stepfamily’s probably got connections we can’t touch.”
Sarah pulled documents from her purse and handed them to Ethan:
“Here’s all the money in my account.”
Ethan looked at her, stunned:
“But you said they took everything, and now you’ve got a fortune?”
“Exactly,” Sarah said heavily. “They didn’t just take my company—they took my dad. He died while I was in prison. I got the news after he was already buried. They didn’t even let me say goodbye.”
Ethan hugged her again, this time kissing her. It was impulsive, driven by emotion. Sarah kissed back, pressing against him as much as her belly allowed.
They stood locked in an embrace for nearly a minute, like lovers reunited after years apart. A spark of mutual affection had ignited.
Without thinking, Ethan whispered:
“I like you, Sarah.”
“I like you too, Ethan. I knew we’d be together that first day. You didn’t freak out about me being an ex-con.”
“What was I supposed to do? Yell and kick you out?”
“I don’t know. Most people flinch or look down on anyone who’s been inside.”
“I don’t care. I’ll never hold it against you. Let’s see what we can do about your company.”
“Here, I withdrew some money, but not all.”
Sarah pointed to figures in the documents and receipts:
“I needed to fix myself up and pay some people to find you.”
Ethan suddenly wondered if she’d contacted his old boss. To clear it up, he asked slyly:
“Was it Robert who helped you?”
“No idea who that is, but if it matters, no,” Sarah said sharply. “Other people helped, and that’s all they could do. Now we need to hire lawyers and force my stepmom and Alex to give my company back.”
Ethan agreed to help, no payment needed. It was a matter of principle now. He knew betrayal and humiliation too well. Together, they found the city’s top lawyer. After long talks, he promised to tackle the messy case.
Ethan also learned that, just before her dad’s death, he’d opened an account in Sarah’s name and transferred most of his savings there. Her stepmom didn’t know, but if she had, she’d have pressured him to hand over access. That’s how her dad secured his daughter’s future, though he couldn’t save her from prison.
Maybe he tried to atone for his mistakes from there. That’s why Sarah went all-in. She knew it was her only shot to reclaim her company and clear her name.
Ethan threw himself into it. He even quit his warehouse job. He kept tabs on Sarah’s stepmom and Alex.
Alex lived large, with no money worries, thanks to the business. Watching him, Ethan noted a few things.
First, Alex was careless, lacked caution, and had no interest in serious work. His mom was a different story. She ran the company with an iron grip, like she’d been in business forever.
Ethan reported his findings to Sarah:
“Good. They’re not expecting me,” she said with a sly look. “We need to act fast, leave them no room to maneuver. I bet they’ve got backup plans for emergencies.”
“You know best, Sarah,” Ethan replied. “I just want things to work out for you.”
The lawyers prepped for court. Meanwhile, Ethan and Sarah grew closer. A few days later, they moved into a new apartment with Whiskers.
Sarah used her account to buy their family home. Neither doubted this was the start of their life together. The old woman at the bus stop and Betty had been prophetic.
Ethan had found his path in this winding life. Fate rewarded his kindness. Since childhood, he’d helped others, even when it was hard for him.
Those traits made him resilient. That’s why he didn’t shy away from helping Sarah, despite the risks. Soon, she bought him a sleek new car.
Ethan hesitated to accept such a gift but eventually did, vowing to repay her one day. Taking on the role of assistant, he liaised with the lawyers. They told him Sarah’s stepmom, Linda Harris, and Alex were getting nervous.
They must’ve sensed trouble or gotten tipped off that the rightful owner was coming for them. Ethan relayed this to Sarah:
“Looks like your moves didn’t go unnoticed.”
“Good. Let them know they’ll answer for everything soon. By the way, how’s the car? Did I nail your taste?”
“Thanks, Sarah, it’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten,” Ethan said, pulling her close.