Chapter 169

"Both of us are Shaw kids, but even though you weren't home much, it was pretty obvious-Mom always liked you best. You were too good at everything. When I was little, I used to have stupid thoughts, like how things would be easier if you just didn't exist." Liam's voice was light, half-serious, half-joking, like he didn't really care. "But I figured it out later. Maybe it's just because you were gone so long that Mom missed you more. Then you had the accident... I realized how immature I used to be. What you did in the military was brave-but risky, too." Ethan stayed silent the entire time, just as quiet as he used to be at home. His eyes never left the fishing rod, as if tuning out every word Liam said. "But hey, Ethan," Liam suddenly added, "I've always wondered... are you actually happy with Celeste?" Ethan slowly lifted his head and gave him a calm look. "What are you getting at?" "Celeste only married into our family because Mom and her stepmom played her, right? She thought she w