Chapter 39: She's Bad! I Know Her Secret

Miranda let out a light laugh and crossed her arms, pretending to have an innocent expression.

—Nothing bad, dear Isabella. I was just reminding Ethan that in this family, we all have roles to fulfill, and sometimes it's better to obey the decisions of the adults —she replied, not losing her arrogant smile.

Isabella pressed her lips together, keeping calm for Ethan’s sake, but not fully hiding her displeasure. She stared at Miranda and, in a firm voice, said:

—Ethan doesn’t need to be confused with ideas that don't concern him. I’m here to protect him, and I’d prefer that if you have something to say to him, you go through me first.

Ethan looked at her with admiration and gripped her hand more tightly, while Miranda just smiled coldly.

—Don’t worry, Isabella. I also care a lot about him —she said, unable to hide a sarcastic tone—. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to take care of the preparations for the engagement party. I’ll see you later.

Miranda turned around and walked away, leaving Isabella and Ethan alone. As soon as she was out of sight, Isabella leaned toward Ethan and gently stroked his cheek.

—Are you okay, Ethan? —she asked softly.

Ethan nodded but looked in the direction where Miranda had disappeared.

—Isabella, I don’t want her around anymore —he whispered—. She makes me feel... weird. I know she’s not good.

Isabella hugged him tightly, feeling a mixture of anger and protectiveness.

—Don’t worry, Ethan —she said, trying to calm him—. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.

Isabella watched Ethan, who was sitting next to her with a serious and focused expression, unusual for a child his age. She leaned toward him, noticing how he pressed his hands onto his legs, a clear sign of unease.

—Are you okay, Ethan? —she asked softly, stroking his hair.

Ethan nodded but quickly looked toward the hallway, where Miranda had just left. He leaned in closer to Isabella, lowering his voice to almost a whisper.

—She... —he murmured, looking at Isabella with eyes that reflected a mix of fear and determination—. Isabella, Miranda is bad.

Isabella was surprised by the seriousness in Ethan’s tone. In his words, she sensed something much deeper than a simple childhood prank or a passing impression. The intensity with which Ethan looked toward the place where Miranda had disappeared only filled her with more questions.

—Why do you say that, Ethan? —she asked in a calm voice, though worried.

Ethan lowered his gaze, hesitating, as though debating whether to confide something very important or keep the secret. After a brief silence, he made up his mind.

—Because I know a secret about her... —he finally replied—. A secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.

Isabella furrowed her brow, trying to stay calm so Ethan would feel safe talking. She knew it wouldn’t be easy for him to share something like this.

—What kind of secret, Ethan? —she whispered, never breaking eye contact with him.

—I can’t say it now, but... I know that if everyone knew what I know, dad wouldn’t want to marry her. —Ethan looked at her with a determined expression—. And I don’t want her near dad.

Isabella hugged him, feeling how the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. There was something dark about Miranda, and although she didn’t yet understand the full extent of the secret, she now knew she had to protect Ethan and stay alert.

Isabella slowly released Ethan from the hug and watched how he looked with some anxiety toward the empty hallway. Ethan’s words echoed in her mind, and concern began to cloud her judgment. Still, she tried to speak calmly.

—Ethan, I want you to know that I’m here to take care of you, no matter what happens —she said, taking his small hands in hers—. You don’t have to face this alone, okay?

Ethan nodded, but his eyes reflected a maturity that broke Isabella’s heart. She knew she was in a delicate position; Alexander trusted Miranda, and it wouldn’t be easy to warn him without proof. Still, she had to protect Ethan.

—Isabella, do you think dad would listen to me if I told him the truth? —the boy asked, searching for a security that perhaps he didn’t even have.

Isabella hesitated for a moment. She knew how much Alexander valued honesty, but she also understood that his bond with Miranda blinded him to certain behaviors. However, she couldn’t say that directly to Ethan.

—I think it’s always important to tell the truth, Ethan. But sometimes, it’s better to wait for the right moment —she answered gently, trying not to worry him any more—. What matters is that we’re together and that I will always protect you, no matter what.

Ethan looked at her intently, as if evaluating her words. After a moment, he allowed himself a smile and hugged her again, this time with renewed trust. Isabella felt a brief relief, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what Ethan had said.

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. Isabella quickly turned, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Alexander in the doorway, watching them with a curious expression.

—Is everything okay here? —Alexander asked, smiling slightly at them.

Isabella and Ethan exchanged a quick glance. The boy let go of Isabella and nodded enthusiastically.

—Yes, dad! Isabella and I were just talking about... important things —Ethan replied, making Alexander laugh at the seriousness in his voice.

—Well, I’m glad to hear that —said Alexander, approaching to stroke his son’s head—. Whenever you have something to say, Ethan, you can always count on me.

While Alexander smiled at them, Isabella couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow fate was leading them all down a path where the truth would come to light, sooner or later. But for now, all she could do was wait for the right moment.

Ethan looked at his father with a seriousness Alexander wasn’t used to seeing in him. After a moment of silence, the boy took a breath and asked his question with a trembling but determined voice.

—Dad... if you realize Miranda is bad, would you still marry her?

The question took him by surprise. Alexander frowned, trying to understand where this concern was coming from.

—Why do you say that, Ethan? —he asked softly, kneeling to his son’s level to look him in the eyes—. Has something happened?

Ethan lowered his gaze and played with his hands, as if searching for the right words.

—It’s just that... I don’t like it when she’s around —he said in a whisper—. I always feel... weird. Like she’s not really good.

Alexander took a deep breath. He understood that changes could be difficult for a child, and that Miranda’s presence was a big transition for him. However, the unease in Ethan’s eyes made him question whether there was more to it.

—Ethan, if you ever feel that something’s not right, you can always tell me —he replied, placing a hand on his shoulder—. You’re the most important thing to me, and if there’s something bothering you, I want to know.

The boy looked up at him with a spark of hope in his eyes.

—So... if she’s bad, you wouldn’t marry her?

Alexander hesitated for a moment. He hadn’t expected such a direct question, and while he wanted to be honest with his son, he also knew that making decisions wasn’t so simple. However, something in this conversation made the love he felt for Ethan weigh more than anything else.

—Ethan —he said solemnly—, I want you to be happy and feel safe. If I ever discovered that someone could harm you, I wouldn’t let them stay in our lives. You are my priority, son, and you always will be.

Ethan gave him a small smile, a little calmer, and Alexander hugged him, trying to ease the doubts that seemed to have settled in hi

s son’s heart. But deep down, he himself felt a growing unease, one he couldn’t ignore any longer.