Ethan visited her.
Against everyone's advice.
The prison visitation room was cold.
Steel. Glass. Silence.
Margaret sat across from him, composed as ever.
"You look tired," she said.
"You look arrested."
She almost laughed.
"You always had my sarcasm."
He leaned forward.
"Why?"
She didn't pretend not to understand.
"Because the world is not kind to the weak."
"She wasn't weak."
"Her father was."
Ethan's fist tightened.
"You destroyed innocent people."
"I built security for you."
The words struck harder than expected.
"You call that love?" he asked.
"I call it preparation."
She studied him carefully.
"You would have inherited an empire untouched by scandal."
"Built on graves."
Margaret leaned closer to the glass.
"You think the board didn't know? You think competitors are clean?"
Silence.
Then she delivered the warning:
"Victor Hale is not done."
Ethan's chest tightened.
"He doesn't lose quietly."
As guards escorted her away, she spoke one last time:
"If you survive this… you'll understand me."
Outside, Ethan stood still for a long time.
Aria approached him gently.
"She doesn't regret it."
"No," he said softly.
"She regrets getting caught."
Should Ethan cut all ties with his mother?
CUT HER OFF or STAND BY HER?