Alex sat in Ethan's living room, a glass of whiskey in his hand that he hadn't touched in the last ten minutes.
Ethan watched him from across the room, leaning back in his chair with his own drink. "You're going to stare a hole through that glass if you keep looking at it like that."
Alex blinked, setting the glass down on the table. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Just talk."
Alex exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "I let her send Mia away."
Ethan didn't respond immediately. He just waited.
"Nicole came in, told me the arrangement needed to change, and I just... agreed." Alex's voice was tight. "I didn't even question it. Didn't push back. Just let it happen."
"And now you feel like a coward," Ethan said.
"Because I am one."
Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Listen to me. If you had insisted on keeping Mia in the house, what do you think would have happened?"
Alex frowned. "I don't know."
