Part 4/8:
The Discovery
The turning point came when Ethan took matters into his own hands and checked Rachel’s phone while she slept. His worst fears materialized as he uncovered a trove of flirtatious messages between Rachel and Damian. Their exchanges were rife with innuendo, plans to meet at hotels, and inside jokes about Ethan, which would forever transform his feelings.
Faced with such betrayal, Ethan resolved to protect himself against the impending emotional and financial fallout. Instead of immediately confronting Rachel, he decided to take an approach that would ensure he wasn’t taken advantage of further. By consulting with a lawyer and quietly withdrawing his financial support from the bakery, Ethan laid the groundwork for an inevitable confrontation.