Chapter 4
755 Words
I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
"Ethan, do you have no shame left?"
Memories surged over me like a tide.
When we first got married, he took a longer route every morning to buy my favorite coffee and croissants.
The day Mia was born, he cried outside the delivery room like a child.
Last year, when I had a fever, he stayed up all night changing the cold towels on my forehead.
And now this man had not only cheated with Lena, but he even wanted my house so that b***h could give birth there?
"Claire, just help me this once. Once the baby is born, I'll make it up to you."
"Get out."
I picked up Mia and pressed the nurse call button.
"If you don't leave, I'll call security."
Ethan's expression changed.
"Claire! Don't push your luck! That house is half mine!"
"Is it?"
I sneered.
"I bought that house in full before we got married. My name is the only one on the deed."
Just then, the ward door was shoved open.
Lena walked in with one hand on her pregnant belly.
"Honey, why are you taking so long?"
She sweetly wrapped her arm around Ethan's and gave me a provocative glance.
"Why do you waste your breath on this crazy woman?"
I looked at the disgusting pair.
"Get out of my ward. Now."
Lena suddenly covered her stomach and cried out dramatically.
"Oh! The baby kicked me!"
Ethan immediately put on a tender expression and reached out to touch her belly.
"Good boy. Daddy's right here."
Mia shrank in my arms and asked, "Mom, why doesn't Daddy want us anymore?"
Those words stabbed into my heart like a knife.
Before I could answer, Lena let out a sharp laugh.
"Because your mother is useless. She couldn't even keep her own man."
"You!"
I was trembling with rage and slapped her across the face.
Smack!
The crisp sound exploded in the ward.
Lena staggered backward with a hand over her face and crashed into the bed railing.
"You b***h! You dare hit me?"
She screamed and lunged at me, her sharp nails aimed straight at my face.
Ethan froze for one second, then actually reached out to restrain me.
"Claire! Are you insane?"
In that split second, Lena grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall.
Pain exploded at the back of my skull.
My vision went black.
"Mom!"
Mia cried and rushed over, her tiny body standing up for me.
"Don't hurt my mom!"
"Get lost!"
Lena lifted her leg and kicked. The thin heel of her stiletto slammed into Mia's stomach.
"Ah!"
Mia let out a scream and flew backward, crashing into the bedside cabinet. Blood poured from her forehead.
"Mia!"
My heart nearly tore apart. I desperately struggled to free myself from Ethan's grip.
But Lena seized the chance to lunge at me again, grabbing my collar.
"I'll tear your face apart!"
I grabbed her wrist in return and twisted it down with all my strength.
"Ah!"
She cried out in pain and released me.
I broke free and rushed to my daughter.
Blood had stained half of Mia's little face red.
"Mia! Mia!"
My voice was so shaky I could barely get the words out.
"It's all your fault!" Ethan suddenly grabbed my hair from behind.
"You just had to make things worse!"
My scalp felt like it was being ripped apart, and I was forced to tilt my head up, only to see Lena raising an IV stand and swinging it toward me.
At that moment, the ward door was kicked open.
Three big men stormed in.
The scar-faced man at the front held a huge machete.
"Evan! So this is where you've been hiding?"
Scarface glared at Ethan.
"You owe me 3.7 million dollars. Time to pay up, right?"
Ethan's face went deathly pale.
He backed away again and again.
"You've got the wrong person! I'm Ethan, not Evan!"
Scarface sneered.
"Bullshit. I chased you for three months. You think I'd get the wrong guy?"
"He really is Ethan," Lena hurriedly stepped in front of him. "Evan is dead. There's a death certificate!"
Scarface looked at me suspiciously.
"You tell me. Who is he?"
Everyone's eyes fell on me.
Clenching my teeth, I took a piece of paper from my bag.
Meeting Ethan's pleading gaze, I smiled with hatred.
"The only death certificate I have here is Ethan's."
"As for him... of course, he's Evan Cole, the man who owes you money."
- Writer
