Chapter 3: The Line in the Sand
That night, after Clara was settled in bed, Ethan sat on the edge of the mattress, staring at the red mark on her cheek.
“I’m done,” he said. “I’m done making excuses for her. I’m done pretending this is normal.”
Clara watched him quietly.
“What are you going to do?”
Ethan looked at her with eyes full of determination.
“I’m going to make sure she never hurts you again.”
The next morning, he drove to his mother’s house alone.
When Margaret opened the door, she looked surprised.
“Ethan, I was just about to call you—”
He didn’t let her finish.
“You are no longer welcome in our home. You will not contact Clara. You will not contact our child. If you try, I will file a restraining order.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“You’re overreacting. She fell. It was an accident.”
Ethan’s voice turned cold.
“I saw your hand raised. I saw the mark on her face. I saw her on the floor holding her stomach. Do not lie to me.”
Margaret tried to argue, but Ethan cut her off.
“I’m choosing my wife. I’m choosing my child. And if you can’t respect that, then we have nothing left to say to each other.”
He turned and walked away.
May you like
Margaret stood in the doorway, watching her son leave.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
