Chapter 237

Chapter 237

The fierce wind raged as Zack hung 600 feet in the air, looking up at a face identical to his own.

"Let go..." Tears streamed down Zack's face. "Ethan, let go. I broke your legs, locked you up for half a year, nearly killed your wife and child. You should hate me. Let me die to atone for what I've done!"

"You can't die!" Ethan roared, gripping Zack's arm with all his strength, veins bulging.

"You think dying makes up for anything?" Ethan stared at Zack. "I've been looking for you for over ten years. What you owe me, what you owe the Carter Family—you'll spend your whole life paying it back!"

Christina knelt on the ground, working with the SWAT team to pull them back.

Zack was pulled up. He and Ethan collapsed on the ground, gasping for air
Zack curled up, sobbing uncontrollably. Ethan leaned against the wall, his face extremely pale
A SWAT officer stepped forward with handcuffs.
"Wait." Ethan's voice was hoarse.

The officer hesitated
"Zack. Listen carefully." Ethan stared at him, speaking seriously. "You stole my identity, transferred the Carter Family assets, tried to destroy core data. But the Carter Group belongs to the Carter Family, and you're part of the Carter Family too. This is a family matter. I won't pursue it."

The room immediately erupted into chaos.
Joshua cried out,"Mr. Ethan Carter! He almost destroyed the Carter Family!"

"I said I won't pursue it!" Ethan's tone was sharp. "He's my brother. That three hundred billion dollars—he has a share in it too."

"You held me captive illegally and beat me until I was disabled. I can let that go too. When I'm better, I'll definitely beat the crap out of you."

Zack's eyes widened, his lips trembling.

Ethan's tone shifted as he looked toward Christina.

"But! You worked with Emily to kidnap my wife and son."

A coldness flashed in Ethan's eyes: "That crossed my line. Christina and Henry are my life. No one touches them. You must face legal consequences for assault and kidnapping."

Money and status he could give away, but Christina and Henry's safety was non-negotiable.

Christina looked at Ethan, tears streaming down her face.

Zack stared at Ethan in a daze. After a moment, he smiled with relief: "I plead guilty."

Zack held out his hands, letting the officer lock the handcuffs around his wrists.

He turned to face Ethan and Christina, then dropped heavily to his knees. His forehead hit the broken glass, blood immediately streaming down: "Ethan, Christina, I'm sorry."

He then stood up and strode away with the officers.

Ethan's eyes reddened as he shouted at his retreating back: "Zack! Think hard while you're in prison!"

Zack's steps paused.

"When you get out, I'll come get you and bring you home!"

Zack didn't turn around. He raised his handcuffed hands high and waved them forcefully: "Got it, Ethan!"

The office returned to calm. Dawn broke through the gloom, falling on Ethan and Christina.

Brice stepped forward and patted Ethan's shoulder.

"Christina." Ethan turned, his fingertips wiping the blood from her face. "It's all over."

Christina gripped his hand: "It's all over. Ethan, after your rehab surgery is done, let's go back to Seaside City and bring Henry home. He misses you so much."

Ethan's eyes brightened. He reached out and pulled Christina tightly into his arms: "Okay."

He kissed her ear: "Let's go home."

These past six months felt to Ethan like his body was being rebuilt—the pain cut to the bone.

In the most exclusive private rehabilitation center, sweat ran down Ethan's lean jawline, dripping heavily onto the floor.

He wore a rehab uniform. His legs—once shattered by Zack's hammer—now trembled violently.

"Ethan, that's enough. Let's stop for today." Christina stood nearby, watching the veins bulging on his forehead and his lip bleeding from biting down, her heart breaking.

"No..." Ethan breathed heavily, his hands gripping the parallel bars, trying to shift all his weight from his arms to his nearly numb legs.

"The bones have healed well, but nerve damage is irreversible." The attending doctor tried to stop him. "Mr. Carter, keeping your legs at all is a medical miracle. You can't walk like a normal person anymore. Overexertion will only tear your muscles."

"I can do it." Ethan's voice was hoarse, full of stubbornness.

How could he accept this?

He owed Christina a proper wedding. He still wanted to carry Henry on his shoulders.

If he'd be stuck in a wheelchair for life, what right did he have to protect his wife and child?

With a muffled grunt, Ethan released his grip on the bars.

Without support, his weak legs gave out instantly, and he pitched forward.

Christina lunged forward, catching his falling body.

The momentum sent them both tumbling onto the soft safety mat.

"Are you crazy?!" Christina held his body tight as it spasmed with pain, her eyes red, tears flooding out. "Ethan, what are you pushing yourself for?"

Ethan slumped weakly against her shoulder, his ragged breathing hot against her neck.

He reached out with a trembling hand, gently stroking her hair.

"Christina..." He smiled bitterly, his voice breaking. "I'm afraid if I can't stand up, you'll think I'm a burden."

Christina's whole body shook. She cupped his haggard but still strikingly handsome face, staring intensely into his eyes.

"Listen to me." Her tone was firm. "Even if you spend your whole life in a wheelchair, you're still Henry's father, still the man I, Christina, have chosen! Ten years ago, when you were on top of the world, I never thought about using you. Now that you're disabled because of me, I'll never leave you!"

She paused, gentle tears welling in her eyes: "Ethan, I don't need you walking perfectly. I just need you safe and sound by my side."

Looking at this woman whose eyes were full of love, Ethan closed his eyes and buried his face deep in her palms, scalding tears sliding between her fingers.

"But I... I don't want to be disabled..."

Christina froze, suddenly at a loss for words.

Of course—Ethan was such a proud man. How could he accept being someone who could never stand again?

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to fight for it.

Christina held him, tears running down his collar, her voice choked: "Okay. I'll be with you."

Six months later, Emerald City, Carter Group headquarters.

A joint press conference that rocked the entire business world was being held in the grand first-floor hall.

Countless camera flashes went off like crazy, lighting up the already luxurious venue like daylight.

On the giant LED screen, the words "Carter Family & Lanthera Strategic Partnership" shone brilliantly.

Christina stood on stage in a sharp white suit, her hair pulled up high, radiating authority.

Time and hardship hadn't diminished her beauty one bit. Instead, they'd polished her into a dazzling diamond, exuding the calm, commanding presence of someone in power.

Beside her, Ethan wore a pure black custom suit, his posture still upright.

After a full year of rehabilitation and throwing money at the problem, his legs had finally regained the ability to walk.

Though walking too fast or rainy weather still made his right leg ache faintly.

But it no longer affected his normal life.

The rehab doctors all called it a complete miracle.

"Ms. Reed! Rumors say Lanthera's current valuation of billions of dollars is entirely due to Carter Group's support. How do you respond?" a reporter asked sharply.

The room instantly fell silent.

Christina was about to pick up the microphone when a warm, large hand covered hers first.

Ethan's gaze swept coolly across the room, his sharp presence instantly silencing the reporter.

"I think you've got something wrong." Ethan's deep, rich voice filled the hall. "It's not that Lanthera needs the Carter Group. It's that the Carter Group needs Lanthera."

He turned to look at Christina beside him, saying gently: "My wife's designs have warmth, innovation, and immeasurable commercial potential. Being able to partner closely with Lanthera is the Carter Group's honor."