Chapter 6 - The Unraveling of Natalie
While Diane was busy trying to ruin Ethan’s corporate reputation, Ethan’s sister Natalie was facing her own reckoning.
For years, Natalie had lived a life far beyond her means. She drove a leased BMW, wore designer clothes, and posted lavish vacation photos on social media, all while working a part-time job at an upscale boutique.
What the family didn't know—until Ethan dug into his financial records—was that nearly $800 of the monthly $2,500 Ethan sent his parents was being secretly funneled directly to Natalie to cover her car payments and credit card debt.
On Wednesday afternoon, Natalie arrived unannounced at Ethan’s office, demanding to see him. When security let her up to his private office, she threw a handbag onto his couch.
"Ethan! My car payment was declined this morning!" she shrieked, ignoring me sitting in the armchair. "The repo company left a notice on my windshield! What did you do to the bank account?!"
Ethan didn't even look up from his computer monitor. "I canceled the recurring monthly transfer."
"You can't do that!" she screamed. "Mom told me you were stopping her money, but that account pays my BMW lease!"
"Natalie," Ethan said, looking up with terrifying calm. "Why was I paying for your luxury car lease in the first place?"
"Because Dad promised me he would help me until my business took off!"
"Dad didn't pay for your car, Natalie. I did. For four years." Ethan pulled up a spreadsheet on his screen. "You have taken nearly forty thousand dollars of my hard-earned money under the pretense that it was helping Mom buy medicine and pay property taxes."
Natalie’s face turned bright red. "We're family! You have millions from your company!"
"Family doesn't stand by and cheer while their mother physically assaults my wife," Ethan hissed, his voice trembling with years of suppressed rage. "You stood in that dining room on Christmas Day, watched her hit Claire three times, and told me not to make a scene."
"She was just mad!"
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"And now I'm done," Ethan said. "The car company can tow your BMW. And if you step foot on my property or contact Claire again, my lawyer will file a restraining order against you."
Natalie stood there, mouth agape, realizing for the very first time that the endless piggy bank was officially smashed to pieces.
