Chapter 74
1004words
'Save the act Sharon. You're going behind bars where you belong. You won't see the inside of another boutique, and I'll make sure of it. You're not a smooth criminal; you're a shell. And I'm ashamed of ever having you in my life. Give me back my fucking ring!' I snatched the ring off her finger and she broke into tears.
'Ethan, I'm so sorry. I never meant to do it. It was your mother's idea. I was stupid because I went along with it. I'm sorry, Ethan. I love you.'
She fell to the floor as other shoppers were looking on.
Detective Sam and his team arrived.
'We'll take it from here Ethan,' he said as he slapped the handcuffs on her wrist.
'Ethan, Ethan! Ethan please! I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you! I didn't mean to do it! Ethan, don't let them take me away! Ethannnn!' She begged as she was pulled out of the supermarket and placed in the back of a police vehicle.
I walked out to make certain that she was taken away.
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'Baby, we found her,' I said with relief as I walked into the bedroom.
But I came face-to-face with an image that would haunt me forever. There, was a motionless Emma on the floor with a pool of blood circled around her head.
Ethan's POV
'I slapped her in the face and called security to capture her. I couldn't believe she hurt Emma like that. She was supposed to clean the bedroom, not attack her!' Halley said in anguish as we sat in a public hospital, waiting to hear about Emma's condition from a doctor.
I hated hospitals. Something about them screamed death with their cold halls and rooms. I hated them. I was going crazy and I wanted to kill someone. I wanted to wrap my hands around something and squeeze the life out of it.
Why couldn't I catch a break? Why so much hate and anger? What did Emma ever do to anyone to deserve such an attack?
I blamed myself. Hiring that maid out of the blue because I was angry with Emma for the miscarriage. I didn't even conduct a proper background check on Hannah like I usually did all my employees.
I was so focused on capturing Sharon— the woman who killed my mom— that I forgot all about Emma and what Linda said about Hannah being Sharon's sister. And my father was sleeping with her? My own dad! After he knew damn well that I was engaged her? What the hell was he thinking? No wonder he never showed any remorse when I told him about mom.
But I was to be blamed for everything. I was too blind and too kind to the people around me. I trusted people too much and was too down-to-earth with them that they walked all over me and took my kindness for weakness; but that ended today. I was no longer anyone's friend.
I'm Ethan Hollen and the only friend I need is the woman fighting for her life and the twins' in that surgery room.
'Mr. Ethan Hollen?' a voice spoke, after two long hours.
'Yeah?' Tears were in my eyes and I was filled with worry.
'Sir, we've managed to stop the bleeding and stitch the wound. She was hit on the head with a blunt object after putting up a fight.'
'How did you knew she fought back?'
'There's skin of the attacker under her nails and her fists had bruises on them.'
I smiled internally, knowing that she fought back for herself and the babies. The babies. What about my children?
'Doctor, what about the babies?' I asked with the deepest fear.
'The babies are okay. We conducted an ultrasound and ran blood work, they're alive and well.'
'Thank you so much.'
'That's one tough cookie you have there, Mr. Hollen. Count your lucky stars.'
'Thank you so much. I appreciate everything.'
'She's awake and asking for you. She won't calm down until she sees you, so you better get in there and comfort her. Right this way.'
I got up, leaving Halley behind, and followed the doctor to Emma's room. Her head was bandaged.
'Hey baby,' she greeted me as cheerfully as ever. She didn't appear to be hurt or in any form of pain. I couldn't believe my eyes.
'Emma, baby. I'm so so sorry. I failed you again. I'm so sorry.' I began to cry.
'Baby, stop. You did not fail me. You saved me.'
'How?'
'Because you taught me how to defend myself. It could've been worse. Hannah had a gun.'
'What?!'
'Yes, she had a gun. I managed to get it out of her hands and it slid in underneath the bed. I punched her a few times to the face. We scuffled for a bit; that's when I dug my nails into her chest. She got a hold of one of something and whacked me over my head. I fell, but I heard Halley barge into the room so I knew I was safe. I blacked out after that. She hit me right on my temple.'
'Baby, I'm so sorry. I should've been there; but I'm proud of you. You did such a brave thing.'
'Thanks to you. You changed me into a better person. I wasn't brave at all, everyone stepped on me or stepped over me. You allowed me to speak up, take chances and take risks. And I love you.'
'I love you too.' I hugged her gently, afraid to hurt her. 'The doctor told me that you've been acting up.'
'Oh. He wouldn't let me see you and I wanted to see you. I told him if he didn't let me see you, you'd have his head.'
I threw out a loud laugh and shook my head. 'We caught Sharon. She'll never be able to come between us again. You should get some rest.'
