Chapter 1 - The Arrest
The private elevator doors slid shut behind Ethan, sealing off the penthouse from the rest of the world.
Clara could feel his heart pounding against her cheek, could feel the tension radiating from every muscle in his body as he carried her toward the private suite.
"Don't let go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I will never let go again," he promised.
The suite door opened automatically, and Ethan laid her down on the enormous bed as though she were made of glass.
His hands moved gently over her body, checking for injuries, his jaw tight with barely controlled rage.
"Your wrist," he said, his voice cracking. "She crushed your wrist."
"It's okay," Clara whispered.
"It's not okay. Nothing about this is okay."
He pressed a button on the bedside table, and within seconds, a private physician appeared through a hidden door.
"Dr. Chen," Ethan said, "she's seven months pregnant. Check everything. I want to know every single injury."
Dr. Chen nodded and began his examination while Ethan stood by the window, his back to them, his shoulders rigid.
Clara watched him through half-closed eyes, trying to understand the man she thought she knew.
The man who had just destroyed Veronica in front of everyone.
The man who had carried her like she was precious.
The man whose eyes had held such terror when he saw her on the floor.
"I'll need to take her to the hospital," Dr. Chen said finally. "The baby is stable, but there's bruising on her abdomen. I want to monitor her overnight."
"Do it," Ethan said without turning around. "I'll arrange the private wing."
Clara reached out her good hand. "Ethan."
He turned slowly, and she saw the tears in his eyes.
"Ethan, I'm okay."
"You're not okay. She hurt you. She hurt my child."
"Your child?"
He walked to the bed and knelt beside her.
"Clara, I know we haven't talked about the future. I know I've been distant. I know I've let Veronica manipulate me. But I want you to know the truth."
"What truth?"
"The baby is mine."
Clara's eyes widened. "What?"
"I know you were with Victor. I know you were engaged to him. But I also know what happened that night, five months ago."
Clara felt the blood drain from her face.
"Ethan, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't."
"Clara, Victor was my brother. I knew everything about him. I knew he wasn't the father."
"How do you know?"
"Because Victor was sterile. He was diagnosed five years ago. He never told anyone. But I knew."
Clara couldn't breathe.
"Victor's sperm count was zero," Ethan continued quietly. "He could never have children. So when you got pregnant, I knew it couldn't be his. And I knew it had to be mine."
"Ethan, that night—"
"I remember everything, Clara. The gala. The champagne. The way you looked at me. The way you cried in my arms afterwards. You thought I was asleep. But I wasn't. I remember every single second."
Clara's tears spilled over.
"Ethan, I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For not telling you. For letting you think the baby was Victor's. For everything."
"You were protecting yourself."
"I was protecting Victor. He was my fiancé. I couldn't betray him."
"Victor was my brother, Clara. And he was dying. He knew he was dying. He wanted you to have someone to take care of you. He wanted it to be me."
"He knew?"
"Yes. He knew. That's why he asked me to look after you. That's why he asked me to protect you. That's why he kept me close."
"Ethan, I didn't know."
"I know. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"You should have told me."
"I should have. But I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid you would leave. Afraid you would take the baby and go. Afraid I would lose both of you."
"Ethan, I would never—"
"I know. I know that now."
He took her hand and pressed it to his lips.
"Clara, I love you. I've loved you since the moment I saw you. I was just too much of a coward to admit it."
"Ethan, I love you too."
May you like
He kissed her forehead.
"Then we're going to get through this. Together."
