Chapter 4 - The Island
The private jet took off four hours later.
Clara sat in the leather seat, looking out the window as New York City disappeared beneath the clouds.
Ethan sat beside her, his hand wrapped tightly around hers.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm scared."
"I know. But everything is going to be fine."
"How do you know?"
"Because I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
"Ethan, what about Veronica?"
"Veronica is in jail. She can't hurt you."
"But the gift. The nurse."
"One of her associates. I'm sure she had it planned before she was arrested."
"Ethan, if she can do this from jail, what can she do if she gets out?"
"She's not getting out."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. I have the best lawyers in the country working on it. She'll be in jail for a very long time."
Clara nodded, but she didn't believe it.
She knew Veronica too well.
She knew the depths of Veronica's cunning.
She knew the lengths Veronica would go to destroy her.
The island wasn't going to be far enough.
---
The island was beautiful.
White sand beaches, crystal clear water, a sprawling villa nestled in the hills.
Clara stood on the balcony, looking out at the ocean, her hand resting on her swollen belly.
Ethan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"It's going to be okay."
"How do you know, Ethan? How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know that I will do whatever it takes to protect you."
"Ethan, we can't stay here forever."
"I know."
"What's the plan?"
"We'll stay here until Veronica's trial. Then we'll figure out what's next."
"And then what?"
"We'll go back to New York. We'll get married. We'll raise our child together."
"Ethan, you don't have to marry me."
"Yes, I do. I want to marry you. I've wanted to marry you since the moment I saw you."
"Ethan, we can't just—"
"Yes, we can. I love you, Clara. I've loved you for years. And I'm done pretending I don't."
"Ethan, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll marry me."
"Ethan, we haven't even—"
"We've been dancing around this for years. I'm done dancing. I want to be with you. I want to be a father to our child. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy."
"Ethan, what if I say no?"
"Then I'll wait. I'll keep asking until you say yes."
Clara laughed despite everything.
"Ethan, you're impossible."
"Yes. I am."
"I love you."
"I know. I love you too."
"Ethan, yes."
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"Wait. What?"
"Yes. I'll marry you."
