Chapter 12
Ethan was stunned. The anger in his heart finally erupted.
He turned around and glared at Daniel, “What did you say? Come again?”
Daniel repeated his words without turning around in a more resentful tone. He added, “Dad, you’re too good to them. You should let me and Mom live here instead.”
Ethan thought of what the children at the preschool had said about Daniel and Callie. He strode toward Daniel with bloodshot eyes.
He grabbed Daniel by the collar, startling the boy, who began struggling with both hands and feet.
“Let me go, Dad! What are you doing?”
Nicole quickly stepped forward and tugged at Ethan’s arm.
“He’s just a kid joking around. Don’t take it so seriously. You’re hurting him. Let him down.”
Ethan turned to look at her. “How would a child know these things?”
Nicole’s heart skipped a beat. She paused for a moment.
Daniel, frightened, started crying and begged his mom to save him. “Mom, save me! This evil man is going to kill me!”
Nicole’s heart ached, and her expression twisted in distress. “Ethan, let him go, please. I’m begging you. If you’re angry, take it out on me.” Nicole, tell me the truth. Did you already know about my relationship with Faith?” Ethan asked, though he already knew the answer. Still, a sliver of hope lingered in his heart.
The woman he once loved shouldn’t have been so deceitful and cruel.
Nicole lowered her head, her emotions in turmoil. Ethan had been so good to her and Daniel. She thought she had successfully won him back. As long as Faith–that obstacle–was out of the picture, she could rightfully become Mrs. Hale, but Ethan’s current expression terrified her. Had he fallen in love with Faith?
“Ethan, listen to me,” she said, looking up. “I knew about your relationship with them, but I’ve never hurt them.”
So, it was true.
Ethan’s gaze grew colder as he realized Nicole must have taught Daniel all the hurtful insults.
“Nicole, grab your son and get out of my place.”
“Ethan, please listen to me. I really didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to come back to you,” Nicole pleaded urgently.
“Why are you kicking us out? My mom is your wife! That mistress and her daughter should leave instead! I’m not going anywhere–I want to live in this big house. Mom, didn’t you say Ethan would bring us home?
“It’s that mistress and her daughter who took our home. Now that they’re gone, we should move back in!”
Nicole tried to cover Daniel’s mouth, but it was too late.
“Hah. Nicole, you’ve been scheming all along!” Ethan sneered, tossing Daniel aside and slamming the door shut.
“Ethan, you love me. I love you too. We’ve finally gotten back together. Don’t do this, please,” Nicole cried, pounding on the door.
“I don’t love you!” Ethan’s voice was icy and determined. “Don’t ever come here again!”
His obsession with Nicole–the woman he couldn’t get his hands on–had vanished in that moment.
His heart now belonged only to Faith and Callie.
“No, this can’t be true,” Nicole refused to believe that Ethan had dumped them.
But no matter how much she cried and begged, Ethan didn’t respond.
Disheveled, she helped Daniel up, scolding him through tears for ruining her plans. She pinched his ear and cursed as she dragged him away.
Daniel, in pain, cried and threw a tantrum. Nicole couldn’t hold back her frustration and ended up beating him repeatedly.
Inside the house, Ethan sat on the couch, looking utterly defeated.
“Faith, Callie, where are you?”
