I had endured beatings and rumors, yet I could not protect the life we had waited a decade for. Defeated, I made a call. “Mr. James, I’ll take your offer to develop your overseas market. I won’t return.”
I packed a bag, printed divorce papers, and went to the hospital. Felix lay on his side, holding Clara in his arms. Their smiles died when they saw me. I did not shout. I calmly placed the papers before her.
“Sign them.”
Her hands shook. Tears welled. “ Ethan…you want a divorce?”
Anger flared. “We’ve suffered ten years together. Is that nothing to you? Can’t you understand me?”
She tore the papers and flung the pieces at me. I watched as she sobbed and curled into Felix’s embrace.
Without warning, Felix lunged and struck me hard. Pain exploded across my face. He straddled me, pulled my hair, and rained blows. Blood filled my mouth. Everything spun.
In pain I grabbed a stool and hit him. He cried out and fell. I scrambled up and kicked him. A lunchbox smashed into my head. Dizziness blurred everything.
Clara’s voice cut through: “ Ethan, how could you? You hit Felix with a chair!” She rushed to him, cradled his head, and left for the clinic with him, not looking back.
I lay on the floor, aching and numb, staring at the ceiling as our lives scattered like torn paper.
Everyone in the room turned on me, indignant as if I were a heartless beast. Their voices rose, accusing me of neglect and cruelty.
Felix leaned weakly against Clara’s shoulder. “Ms. Clara, I’m dizzy. Don’t be angry with Ethan.” “He only wanted to threaten you with the child so he could seize the Lynn Group’s assets. Or he wanted a disabled heir to control us.”
I could no longer hold back. I threw the test results at him and lashed out, punching Felix in the chest. “You bastard—say another word. Who’s the cripple?” Grief and rage tore through me. The child I had waited for was gone; I could not accept that lie.
Felix collapsed with a thud, eyes rolling back. Clara screamed, clutching him. “Felix, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” Her voice was high. She stepped up, shouting, “ Ethan, if anything happens to him, I won’t forgive you.”
The onlookers’ anger sharpened. “How could you be so brutal? In public?” “Call the police! Men like him are dangerous.” “Domestic violence—call the police!”