Chapter 4

Claire lay on the floor until the nausea faded enough for her to stand. She hauled her suitcase toward the door.

But as she got to the entrance, the bodyguard reached out, stopping her. "Mrs. Sterling, I'm sorry, but you aren't going anywhere. Mr. Sterling said if you leave, Miss Sutton will think it's her fault and get upset. You stay."

'All because of Emily's words, Ethan's actually keeping me prisoner?' Claire thought, trembling with rage.

"What if I insist on leaving?" she demanded.

The bodyguard kept his tone polite, but his stance was unyielding. "If we have to, we'll have to make you stay."

Claire's face was pale, but she had no choice. She retreated into the house, clutching her hands until her nails bit into her palms. 'It's fine,' she told herself. 'Put up with this for a few more days. The divorce will be final very soon.'

That day, neither Ethan nor Emily came back.

*****

The next day, Ethan finally came back, carrying Emily in his arms.

Emily was dressed in a white dress, leaning weakly against Ethan, looking fragile and delicate. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, her whole face showing how heartbroken she was.

Claire, who was sitting on the couch reading, glanced at them and turned to leave.

But Ethan's cold voice stopped her. "Emily's spent the day mourning Michael. She's so upset that she hasn't touched a bite of food. You're the reason she was in the hospital, so go to the kitchen and make her something to eat."

Claire clenched her fists, wishing she could ignore him.

But remembering how Emily had fallen down the stairs before, and not wanting another scene, she went to the kitchen and threw together a meal.

When she set the plate down, Ethan pulled out a chair, his movements agonizingly tender as he sat Emily down.

Emily, tears streaming down her face, said, "I have no appetite."

Ethan looked at her with concern. "Try a little bit, please. You just woke up, and you're still weak. You won't get better if you don't eat."

His voice carried a hint of restraint as he added, "Do it for Michael, at least."

Emily dissolved into tears, and Ethan gathered her into his arms, wiping her cheeks as if she were made of glass.

Claire stood in the shadows, watching him. She thought she had been numb, but her heart still felt like it was being shredded.

Five years of marriage, and Ethan had never once looked at her with that kind of tenderness.

She tried to comfort herself, telling herself he didn't understand, that maybe with time, she could soften his heart.

But the truth was, he wasn't clueless about love, and he wasn't born cold. He just didn't love her.

Emily leaned into Ethan's arms and made another request. "Michael passed away so young. I want to hold a vigil for his soul.

"I read that to really show your sincerity, you have to walk barefoot across the cobblestone path from the garden to the memorial chapel, and then kneel on the stone floor and pray all night.

"It's the only way to do it right. Ethan, could you please set it up?"

Ethan was instantly alarmed by her request. "Absolutely not. You finally woke up. Why would you put yourself through something so harsh?"

Emily cried again, her voice turning soft and a little whiny, "If you don't say yes, I'm not eating anything."

Ethan was completely defeated by her tears. His voice softened. "I can't stand by and watch you get hurt. I'll do the vigil for you."

Emily suddenly turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears. "You dummy, do you think I wouldn't be heartbroken if you got hurt?"

Ethan seemed visibly moved, his resolve melting.

Then, Emily turned to Claire. "Claire, I'm really not strong enough for this, and Ethan has the entire company to run. He can't afford to be injured. You're his wife, and Michael was your brother-in-law. Why don't you do the rite for him?"

Claire had already sensed trouble the moment Emily turned to her.

She stumbled back, panic written all over her face. "Are you all out of your minds? That's not a rite. You're trying to kill me." She whipped around, ready to make a break for it.

But Ethan's expression turned icy. He waved his hand and snapped, "Go get her."

The bodyguards moved in fast, grabbing Claire and holding her down.

Claire fought with everything she had, but she couldn't break free. Her face went pale, her whole body trembling as she begged, "No, Ethan, please. Spare me."

Ethan looked at her with chilling indifference. "Consider this your punishment for hurting Emily."