Chapter 4
1401 Words
“Who are you? How did you get into my house?!” Margaret snapped angrily at several men who had just entered her home.
Olivia looked terrified and hid behind her mother’s back.
Arthur, who had moved swiftly, managed to catch Margaret and Olivia off guard while they were relaxing at home, with the groceries they had bought using the money they received from Sera.
Ethan’s men, acting under Arthur’s orders, didn’t answer Margaret’s question. They quickly took the two women away to a place that had already been prepared. They struggled, but it was no use — they couldn’t fight back and were eventually forced to go with them, not knowing where they were being taken.
At the hospital, Ethan, who was still accompanying Sera, had already received word that Sera’s mother and younger sister were now in his hands. He was quite satisfied with Arthur’s performance, which had never disappointed him.
“Ethan…” Sera called softly, making Ethan immediately approach her.
“What is it? Do you need something? Are you in pain?” Ethan asked quickly, one question after another.
Sera smiled faintly. “You sound like a husband. Of course, I’m in pain — my body feels shattered. But it’s all right; I’ve received treatment, haven’t I?”
“Yes, that’s true. So what is it?” Ethan knew Sera must want to talk about something important — most likely about her mother.
“It’s about the wedding. Isn’t this too fast? I really don’t want you to regret it. We’ve only known each other for a few days, and you don’t even fully know me yet. I’m not from a good family, and from what I see, you’re a wealthy man, I—”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear anything about that. I told you I don’t care about your past. We can get to know each other after we’re married. And haven’t you heard the saying — love grows when people grow used to each other?” Ethan cut her off, irritated that Sera kept insisting she wasn’t worthy of him.
Ethan had hoped that Sera would open up about her problems, yet all she could talk about was how unworthy she felt to marry him.
“I just don’t want this marriage to turn into something bad. What about your family?” Sera asked softly.
“My family?” Ethan murmured under his breath.
“You don’t have to worry about that. They have no right to interfere in my affairs. This is my life — no one can control it.”
Sera fell silent, unable to say anything more.
Since Ethan was truly determined to marry her, Sera could only accept it. To her, Ethan was the only person left by her side now. She just wanted to make sure he wouldn’t regret the decision he had made.
A week later, it was finally time for Sera to leave the hospital.
She looked at herself in the hospital mirror; the whip marks on her skin were still visible. The sight made her sad. Ethan, who understood how she felt, wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“You’re still beautiful — even with these scars,” Ethan whispered, trying to ease her sadness.
“My face might be beautiful, but my body isn’t. Don’t deny it, Ethan. I don’t want us to start lying to each other,” Sera said sharply, making Ethan chuckle in amusement.
Sera truly was different, Ethan thought to himself.
“Ethan, there’s something I want to tell you about my mother. I hope you’ll consider this before marrying me,” Sera said, making Ethan smile.
He was glad — finally, Sera was ready to talk about her mother.
Ethan took Sera to a house he had once lived in when he was dating Claire. Sera assumed it was his property, and there she poured out everything — her fears, her pain, her worries about her mother and younger sister.
Tears streamed down Sera’s cheeks, and Ethan gently wiped them away. This was the story he had long waited to hear. He embraced her tenderly, comforting the woman who had shown him the true meaning of life beyond love and betrayal.
“I’m glad you’re finally opening up to me, Sera. From now on, I hope you’ll always be this honest,” Ethan said, softly stroking her hair.
“You’re not surprised? You’re not bothered by it?” Sera asked in disbelief.
She worried that if she really married Ethan, her mother would come after him for money. Sera didn’t want Margaret or Olivia to take advantage of him.
“I wasn’t surprised the moment you asked me to marry you, Sera. I’m not bothered by it. In fact, I plan to punish them,” Ethan said firmly.
He couldn’t wait to make Margaret and Olivia pay — he was only waiting for Sera to recover enough to decide what punishment they deserved.
Sera froze, hardly believing what she had just heard. Punish them?
“You… you caught them?” she asked hesitantly.
Ethan nodded. “With a little help.”
Sera looked at him suspiciously, but Ethan only smiled in return — which made her even more certain he was hiding something.
“Are you… in the mafia? A gangster?” she asked bluntly.
“You’ve read too many novels, Sera. Do you want to see them now?” Ethan replied, changing the subject.
Sera clicked her tongue in annoyance. She would ask again later, even if knowing the truth might not change her decision to marry him.
“Maybe…” Sera whispered to herself, uncertain — maybe Ethan was dangerous.
Ethan brought Sera to an old building where Arthur was keeping Margaret and Olivia captive. When Sera saw them tied to wooden chairs, she felt a pang of pity — but deep down, she knew they deserved it.
“You! You ungrateful, insolent child! I’m your mother! How dare you do this to me? Let me go, Sera!” Margaret roared upon seeing her daughter.
“Sera! You’re so cruel to do this to us! Let us go, please!” Olivia shouted, no less furious.
Exactly as Sera expected — her mother and sister hurled insults at her, showing no sign of remorse or concern. Not even a hint of guilt for what they had done to her.
“Not one of you will apologize? Or at least ask how I’m doing? Whether I survived after you whipped me mercilessly?” Sera said bitterly.
“I see you standing there perfectly fine. What more should we ask? If anything, I should be the one asking what you’ve done to us!” Margaret snapped back.
Sera smiled bitterly. This was her mother — a woman who would never admit fault, never feel guilty for almost killing the daughter who had supported her financially all this time.
“A mother without love — that must be painful for Sera,” Arthur whispered to Ethan.
Ethan, standing not far away, heard every word as he watched Sera face them.
Sera laughed dryly. The family she loved had never loved her back, and even now, in their miserable state, they still blamed her for everything.
“I really thought I’d hear an apology from you,” Sera muttered under her breath.
“What’s there to apologize for? I’m your mother! You’re the sinful one, Sera!” Margaret shouted.
“Sera, please, just let us go! Don’t make Mom angrier at you — I’m sick of being here!” Olivia cried.
“Ethan, are you here?” Sera called, ignoring them completely.
She was done trying to talk to her mother and sister — there would never be a meaningful conversation between them.
Ethan walked toward her, and Margaret and Olivia’s eyes widened.
Who is he? they both wondered.
“I’m here,” Ethan said softly, and Sera smiled.
“Is there a way,” she asked, “to legally sever my ties with my biological mother?”
“What did you say, Sera?!” Margaret shouted in disbelief, Olivia equally stunned that Sera would even think of cutting ties.
“Of course,” Ethan replied, smirking at Margaret. “Do you want to?”
Sera nodded without hesitation. “Mother — choose. Go to prison, or cut all ties with me.”
“Sera, you—?!”
- Writer
