CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN - THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

On cue, Elena stepped out of the office. Ethan's reaction was immediate and visceral. He lunged towards her, his face contorted with rage. "You!" he shouted. "You were supposed to help her!" Mason moved quickly, intercepting Ethan before he could reach Elena. But instead of restraining him, Mason did something unexpected. He pulled Ethan into a bear hug, holding him tightly as the younger man struggled and shouted. "Let it out, Ethan," Mason said, his voice firm but compassionate. "Let it all out. We're here to listen." And suddenly, like a dam breaking, Ethan collapsed against Mason, his body wracked with sobs. Years of pent-up grief and anger poured out of him as Claire and Elena looked on, their own eyes filling with tears. For several minutes, the only sound in the room was Ethan's anguished crying. When he finally pulled away from Mason, his face was a mess of tears and snot, but there was something different in his eyes. A vulnerability that hadn't been there before. "I just