CHAPTER 2: CHOOSE A SIDE
CHAPTER 2: CHOOSE A SIDE
The nursery felt frozen.
The baby cried.
Emma sobbed quietly behind her husband.
And Margaret stared at Ethan in disbelief.
"You shoved me."
Ethan didn't move.
"You attacked my wife."
"She's lying."
His jaw clenched.
"I saw it."
"No, you saw part of it."
"I saw enough."
Margaret looked genuinely offended.
As if she were the victim.
"I am your mother."
"And she's my wife."
The words landed like a bomb.
For years Ethan had avoided confrontation.
For years he had made excuses.
Not anymore.
Margaret pointed toward Emma.
"She's turning you against me."
"No."
Ethan's voice was calm now.
Dangerously calm.
"You did that yourself."
The older woman's face hardened.
"You're choosing her over family?"
Ethan looked down at his crying daughter.
Then at Emma.
Then back at his mother.
"They are my family."
Silence.
Margaret looked wounded.
Then furious.
Then something even worse.
Vengeful.
"You'll regret this."
Ethan opened the nursery door.
"Leave."
"What?"
"Leave my house."
"You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious."
For a long moment neither moved.
Then Margaret laughed.
A cold, bitter laugh.
"You think this is over?"
No one answered.
Finally she stormed out.
Slamming the front door so hard the windows rattled.
Hours later Emma sat on the couch holding the baby.
Neither she nor Ethan had spoken much.
The entire day felt unreal.
Finally Emma broke the silence.
"You didn't have to choose."
Ethan looked at her.
"Yes, I did."
She looked away.
"What if she never forgives you?"
A sad smile crossed his face.
"What if I never forgive her?"
That night, Ethan received a phone call.
His face changed immediately.
Emma noticed.
"What happened?"
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
His expression was grim.
"That was my aunt."
Emma's stomach tightened.
"And?"
Ethan looked stunned.
Apparently, this wasn't the first time.
May you like
END OF CHAPTER 2
TO BE CONTINUED...
