Chapter 3
Ethan pinched her nose affectionately. “Whatever my sweet little mama wants.”
Since I needed to retrieve my belongings anyway, I didn’t refuse Nina’s “kindness.”
Inside the sleek black car, I quickly found what
Nina had wanted me to find–a still–damp lace thong wedged between the seats.
“Oh my! Ethan, I thought you said you’d gotten rid of this!”
Giggling, Nina buried her face in his chest, playfully slapping his shoulder.
Ethan chuckled, apologizing while stealing
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glances at my reaction.
When he realized I didn’t react at all, that same inexplicable irritation from the hospital resurfaced.
“You’ve been on your phone this whole ride,” his voice tight, as if he was feeling jealous. “Texting your cousin? Or someone else I don’t know?”
Having booked my flight, I locked my screen. “Just reading the news.”
Upon hearing what I said, the displeasure on Ethan Brooks‘ face became even more
apparent.
Then–quick as a snake–he snatched my phone. “What’s the passcode?”
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“My birthday.”
Nine years of marriage.
Yet those six simple digits eluded him–after multiple failed attempts, the screen permanently locked itself.
We arrived in silence.
The moment the car came to a stop, Ethan immediately and gently carried a nauseous Nina to their bedroom, barking orders for her favorite
dishes.
On his way downstairs, he saw my solitary figure heading toward the guest room.
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“Set three places for dinner,” he suddenly told
the chef. “Make two of the madam’s usual
dishes.”
Guest room.
I unzipped my suitcase–only to find every piece of clothing inside shredded.
Thankfully, my passport and documents,
hidden deeper inside, remained untouched.
As I gathered them and ready to leave, Nina appeared in the doorway, holding a black
bottle.
“Claire Shaw,” she sneered, looking me up and down. “I have to admit–you’re tougher than I
thought.”
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“The whole elite circle laughs at you, yet you still cling to Ethan like a desperate leech.”
Her smile turned venomous. “Then again, with that old hag of yours dead last month, who else can you parasite off? With your biggest backer gone, no wonder you’re clinging to Ethan for dear life.”
She leaned in, voice dripping with mock sympathy.
“Remember when you begged Ethan to fly you to your dying grandmother? Know why he refused?”
“Because that day… he’d promised to watch the
sunset with me:”
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“Look-” Nina smirked, shoving her phone in my face. “This kiss photo? That’s from that very day.”
Crack.
Her phone hit the floor as I finally snapped, my hands closing around her throat.
The black bottle in Nina’s grip fell, unleashing a pungent wave of gasoline.
In the struggle, Nina–panicked–knocked over a
candle.
Fire erupted.
Smoke billowed in thick clouds as raging flames
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swallowed everything in sight.
Still weak from the hospital, I collapsed, coughing violently.
Then-
“Claire Shaw!”
Ethan’s voice cut through the chaos, followed
by servants shouting:
“Sir, it’s too dangerous! Wait for the fire
extinguisher-!”
“Move! Claire is still in there!”
He burst in–only to freeze at the sight of Nina.
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“Ethan, help-”
Before she could finish, he scooped her into his arms and walked right past me, without giving
me another glance.
Thirty minutes later.
After calming Nina, Ethan searched the entire
estate–but found no trace of me.
Midnight. The airport.
Coughing into my sleeve, I boarded a flight to London–after mailing one final package.
As the plane prepared for takeoff, a text came through:
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[Not in the mood for hide–and–seek.
Nina’s prenatal checkup at 10 AM. You’re coming -get your lungs examined.]
I didn’t reply.
Instead, I removed the SIM card and powered off my phone.
Ethan Brooks, we’re done.
The next day. Hospital.
“Ethan… is our baby okay?” Nina asked, eyes
watery.
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He pulled her close. “Perfectly healthy. The
doctor said the fire didn’t affect our baby at all.”
“Thank God. You’ve been so quiet all morning… I thought something was wrong.”
Her innocent remark gave him pause.
Against his will, his mind replayed my
expression in the flames–cold, resigned, final.
Frowning, he checked his inbox again.
Still no response.
Ethan Brooks was beyond irritated that I still hadn’t responded to him–not even a single
word.
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How ironic. In the past, no matter how coldly he treated me, I’d always been at his beck and call.
Now… He thought I’d finally learned to play hard to get.
Suppressing a scoff, Ethan carefully escorted Nina Turner out of the maternity clinic, took her
to lunch, made sure she got home safely, and
then headed to the office.
The moment he stepped inside, a male
subordinate informed him that Old Mr. Brooks
had returned to the country and summoned all senior management to Conference Room No. 1
-immediately.
Without missing a beat, Ethan turned toward
the meeting room and casually ordered:
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“Get me a few of the latest designer handbags and trendy jewelry pieces.”
“Right away, Mr. Brooks,” the subordinate replied. “I’ll have them purchased and delivered directly to Ms. Shaw’s residence.”
Ethan paused mid–step, pinching the bridge of
his nose.
“Send them to the Shaw family estate.”
In his mind, there was no way I’d have anywhere else to go after leaving the villa–except back to my family.
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