Veronica laughed coldly. “Respect? You’re a maid. You clean. You don’t speak.”
Before leaving, she turned back. “The notary comes at nine tomorrow. No signature, no medication. Let’s see how long you last without it.”
She slammed the door.
Hannah approached the bed, shaking. “I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Don’t apologize,” Ethan said, forgetting to weaken his voice. “Thank you… for protecting them.”
The test had begun.
Later that night, Veronica returned with documents and a colder smile. Behind her stood a man with suitcases—Mark Benson, her lover.
“The company is bleeding,” she said. “Everyone knows you’re finished.”
She leaned closer. “Dr. Reeves says you’ll never walk again.”
A lie. The doctor was Ethan’s oldest friend.
“And does that change how you feel about me?” Ethan asked.
“I married power,” Veronica replied casually. “Not a man in a chair. I won’t push you around at galas.”
She poured water over his bandaged chest instead of handing him the glass.
“You disgust me.”
At that moment, the twins broke free and ran in.
“Daddy!” they cried.
Hannah rushed in and dried Ethan’s chest without looking at Veronica.
“Don’t touch my husband!” Veronica screamed.
“Someone has to,” Hannah replied. “You’re hurting him.”
Veronica shoved her violently. “You’re fired. Get out. Take them.”
Ethan nearly stood.
Nearly.
That night, Hannah whispered that if she lost her job, she had savings. “You and the boys can come with me. I won’t let them take you away.”
Ethan cried for the first time in years.
The next morning, Mark arrived with champagne. He kissed Veronica in front of Ethan.
“You’re finished,” he mocked. “Veronica deserves better.”
When Hannah entered with fresh sheets, Mark laughed. “Once he’s gone, maybe you stay.”
Veronica slapped the tray from her hands.
When Hannah asked about the children, Mark smirked. “Healthy kids sell well.”
That was enough.
Hannah grabbed a shard of ceramic. “Over my dead body.”
She tried to call the police. Veronica smashed her phone and slapped her hard.
Upstairs, Ethan heard everything through the baby monitor.
When the notary arrived, Veronica forced his hand toward the paper.
Ethan smiled.
“That ends now.”
He crushed her wrist and stood.
Chaos erupted. Security threw him outside with Hannah and the boys into the storm.
Rain poured. Hannah shielded them all, pushing the wheelchair to a bus stop, bleeding but unbroken.