Chapter 4
One week later. Midnight.
Ethan returned home late to find a slender figure curled on the sofa in silk pajamas.
“Claire Shaw,” he sighed, “how many times. must I tell you? I’ll come home when my work is done. There’s no need for you to-”
Then he saw Nina’s face.
His mocking tone died instantly.
Under his icy stare, Nina shivered. “Ethan… Mrs. Shaw still hasn’t returned. I’ve texted her so
many apologies, but she won’t reply. Maybe… I should move out?”
1/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
Seeing Nina Turner on the verge of tears yet again, Ethan Brooks suppressed a frown as he pulled her into his arms.
He kissed her forehead–a mechanical gesture- and muttered, “Don’t overthink it.”
“This is your home now. Yours and the baby’s.
Whether Claire accepts it or not.”
Later. The balcony.
Robes loose around him, Ethan lit a cigarette- though he’d quit years ago.
For some inexplicable reason, he just couldn’t resist lighting one up tonight.
2/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
His thumb hovered over my contact, buried at the bottom of his phone.
For the first time in nine years, he almost called
- me.
Almost.
After finishing two cigarettes, the man didn’t
make the call.
Instead, he sent a warning message:
[Claire Shaw, tomorrow is old Mr. Brooks‘ 80th birthday.
I suggest you don’t cause any trouble at the celebration–not for Nina, and not for the child she’s carrying.]
3/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
On the day of old Mr. Brooks‘ birthday, Ethan
Brooks arrived with Nina Turner by his side, the
picture of a devoted couple.
Only when old Mr. Brooks himself made
his entrance did Ethan release Nina’s hand,
stepping forward to greet the guests of honor at his grandfather’s side.
“Why isn’t Claire with you?”
At the pointed question, Ethan,pressed his lips. into a thin line–uncharacteristically defensive on my behalf.
“My apologies, Grandfather. Claire Shaw has been busy preparing your gift. She was exhausted, so I told her to rest and come later.”
4/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
Two hours passed.
The celebration reached its climax–the gift–giving ceremony–and still, I hadn’t appeared.
Suppressing a growing unease, Ethan slipped into a corner and dialed my number.
[The number you have dialed is currently
unavailable…]
He tried again.
Nothing but the same automated response.
Then, a courier entered the banquet hall.
5/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
Delivering three packages–all sent by me.
Amid curious murmurs, old Mr. Brooks, smiling
warmly, opened the first gift.
Inside was an exquisitely embroidered tapestry
of a hundred deities offering blessings–clearly a labor of love, my months of meticulous
handiwork.
Touched, old Mr. Brooks blinked back tears as he unwrapped the second gift.
It contained the heirloom jewels old Mrs. Brooks had given me on my wedding day.
The room fell silent.
In elite circles, returning family jewels meant
6/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
one thing–and everyone knew it.
Before old Mr. Brooks could react, Ethan, his expression darkening, strode to the third gift.
Just as I had anticipated, the ice–cold man opened it himself.
The box was large.
But inside lay only two things:
A divorce agreement.
And a medical report.
Ethan froze.
Divorce?
7/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
I wanted a divorce?
How?
The moment old Mr. Brooks read the report, he
struck Ethan across the face–hard.
“You vile bastard! Look what you’ve done! I never should’ve let you marry Claire Shaw! You’ve ruined her life, Ethan Brooks!”
As old Mr. Brooks swayed, on the verge of collapsing, the Brooks family rushed to support him and usher him away.
Once the guests had tactfully dispersed, Ethan remained, motionless, staring at the divorce
agreement.
8/11
Chapter 41
+5 Points
Finally, expressionless, he tore it to shreds.
Ignoring Nina’s desperate calls, he snatched the car keys from his driver and sped to the Shaw family estate.
But the house stood dark, inside and out.
He rolled down the window, chain–smoking through the night, his throat raw, his voice hoarse–waiting for a light that never came.
Five days after the banquet, he finally
discovered the truth:
I had left the country.
Why?
9/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
Was I so desperate to escape him?
So what if he’d made a mistake–one every man was guilty of at some point?
Who did Claire Shaw think she was, vanishing without a word, demanding a divorce as if he had no say?
He refused.
He wouldn’t allow it.
The moment he tracked down my location with great efforts, Ethan booked the earliest flight.
No luggage. No goodbyes. Straight from the office to the airport.
10/11
Chapter 4
+ 5 Points
But as he approached the gate, Nina found him, tears streaming.
“Ethan… are you abandoning me and our baby?”
His gaze flicked to her swelling stomach. He patted her head absently.
“Max arranged a new place for you. Move in today.”
11/1
