Chapter 39 Ethan's mother settles the dispute

Chapter 39 Ethan's mother settles the dispute
Clara's POV

“Sir, I’m going to need you to release her.” The male officer’s hand hovered near his sidearm.

Ethan finally let go, his eyes darting between me and the officers, a flicker of panic replacing his rage. He looked like a cornered animal.

Just then, the clatter of footsteps on the grand staircase announced the arrival of the cavalry. His mother, Lady D'Arden, descended, her face a mask of concern, followed by a flurry of household staff. The perfect audience.

"What is going on here?" Lady D'Arden demanded, her gaze sweeping from her drenched son to me, then to the officers.

The female officer stepped forward. "We received a call regarding a domestic disturbance at this address, ma'am."

I straightened, wiping away a stray tear. "He's been abusing me, Mother D'Arden," I stated, my voice quivering just enough to sound vulnerable. "He hit me again last night. And this morning." I gestured vaguely at my arm, the red marks from Ethan’s grip now more prominent. I touched the artificial bruise under my eye, wincing as if it truly pained me. "He's lost control.”

Lady D'Arden gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She looked at Ethan, then back at me, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. But who would question a crying woman with visible injuries?

"This is all a lie!" Ethan finally found his voice, his face contorted in disbelief. "She threw my laptop in the pool! She's trying to frame me!"

The officers exchanged a look. "Ma'am, is this true?" the male officer asked, addressing me.

"He called Nora a bastard," I said, my voice dropping, laced with raw pain. "His own daughter. He neglects her, officers. He refuses to provide her with a proper education, calls her names. He's an abusive husband, and an abusive father. All I asked him to do was to love our child, to send her to a good school, and this is what I get." My voice rose again, filled with righteous anger. "My daughter, your granddaughter, Lady D'Arden, deserves better than to be raised by a man who calls her a bastard and beats her mother!"

Lady D'Arden stepped forward, her hand reaching out to me. "Clara, please, darling, don't say such things. It's not true, Ethan wouldn't—"

"Mother, stop!" Ethan pleaded. "She's lying! She injured herself!"

The female officer held up a hand, silencing him. "Sir, we have to take these allegations seriously. Given the visible injuries on your wife, and her testimony, we have no choice but to take you down to the station for questioning."

"Questioning?" Ethan spluttered, his jaw dropping. "But… but my laptop! She destroyed my property!"

"That's a separate issue, sir," the male officer stated, his voice firm. "For now, we're focused on the domestic assault claims." He stepped towards Ethan, reaching for his arm. "You need to come with us."

"No! You can't! This is my house! You can't just barge in here and arrest me!" Ethan struggled, pulling away.

"Sir, cooperate, or we'll have to use force," the female officer warned, her hand now resting on her taser.

Ethan looked wildly around the room, his gaze landing on me. There was a moment, a brief, horrifying second, where I thought he might actually try to strike me, even with the police present. But he just stared, a silent, venomous promise in his eyes.

"Can I just speak to my wife for five minutes?" he asked, his voice strained, a raw edge of desperation to it. "Just five minutes. Please."

The officers exchanged another look. "Make it quick," the male officer said, "and don't try anything."

He marched towards me, his eyes burning. I braced myself. "Clara," he began, his voice low and menacing, but before he could escalate, I cut him off.

"Speak calmly, Ethan," I warned, my voice a whisper, but laced with steel. "If you raise your voice, even once, I will scream, and this time, they won't give you a second chance. The odds are against you. Don't test me."

He flinched, his anger warring with the stark reality of his situation. "What do you want?" he ground out, his jaw clenched. "Why are you doing this? What's your end game, Clara? Why are you trying to ruin me?"

I looked at him, contempt curling my lips. "Ruin you? You hit me last night, Ethan. Don't you dare forget that. I'm not Liana. I won’t bear your abuse quietly." I saw his eyes flicker at the mention of his first wife, the one he’d also allegedly abused.

"This is what I want," I continued, ticking off the demands on my fingers. "You will set up a business for me. A substantial one. You will establish a trust fund for Nora, one she can access when she's eighteen, completely independent of you. Nora will change schools, immediately, to the school of my choice. And you will never, in your miserable life, lay another hand on me."

His face paled, then flushed with renewed fury. "You can go to hell!" he spat, his voice rising despite my warning.

I opened my mouth, a scream already forming in my throat. But before the sound could escape, his hand clamped over my mouth, stifling the noise. His eyes, inches from mine, were cold and hard.

"I'll do it," he hissed against my hand, his voice a barely audible whisper. "All of it. But remember this, Clara. I will deal with you later. Slowly. Painfully. You'll regret this day."

His hand dropped. I took a deep, shuddering breath, my heart pounding. We stared at each other, a silent war of wills. He was trapped. And I had won. For now.

I turned to the officers, a soft, apologetic smile gracing my lips. "Officers," I said, my voice calm, almost serene, "this is a family issue. I believe we can resolve this ourselves. I appreciate your presence, truly. But I’d like to work this out privately."

The male officer looked at his partner, then back at me. "Are you sure, ma'am? We can still proceed with the charges."

"I'm quite sure," I replied, my gaze meeting Ethan's and holding it.

"But thank you. It's comforting to know you're just a call away if any further problems arise."

They nodded, clearly hesitant but ultimately respecting my decision. With a final, wary glance at Ethan, they turned and left, the front door closing softly behind them.

The silence that descended was thick, heavy, filled with unspoken threats and simmering resentment. Ethan stood frozen, his eyes still on me, a venomous promise radiating from him. I walked past him, a small, triumphant smile playing on my lips. This was just the beginning.