Chapter 5 - The War of Attrition
Over the next four months, Manhattan became a battleground.
While my babies grew stronger in the NICU—gaining weight, coming off respiratory support, and hitting every developmental milestone—Ethan Mercer’s life was unraveling piece by painstaking piece.
Julian’s legal team launched a relentless offensive. They uncovered that Ethan’s company had relied on inflated revenue projections to secure loans from major banking syndicates. Once Julian bought up those loans, he called them due immediately.
To keep Mercer Enterprises from going into immediate bankruptcy, Ethan was forced to sell his luxury cars, liquidating his personal stock, and put his prized Malibu beach house on the market.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Vale’s public relations team released a statement announcing that she and Ethan had "parted ways amicably due to conflicting schedules." In reality, the moment Ethan’s credit cards were frozen and his name was splashed across financial blogs for suspected federal tax evasion, Sabrina dropped him like a hot rock.
On a cold morning in March, four months after that dreadful night, the day finally arrived.
My babies were cleared to come home.
Julian had personally leased and fully staffed a beautiful three-bedroom penthouse overlooking Central Park for us, complete with two full-time pediatric night nurses, state-of-the-art nursery equipment, and round-the-clock security.
As Marcus, Julian’s driver, loaded three baby car seats into the back of the Maybach, I stood in the hospital lobby holding Maya, while Julian held Alexander and a nurse held Liam.
"I can never repay you for this, Julian," I said softly, looking around the luxurious apartment when we arrived. "You gave us a home."
Julian set Alexander gently into his crib and turned to me. "You repaid me the day you decided to fight back, Claire. Seeing you stand tall against Ethan was all the payment I ever needed."
He stepped closer, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from my forehead. The touch was soft, lingering, and filled with an undeniable tenderness that made my heart leap in my chest.
"There's one more thing, Claire," Julian said softly. "The annual Wall Street Children's Hospital Gala is taking place tonight at the St. Regis Ballroom."
I blinked. "The St. Regis? Ethan is on the board of trustees for that charity."
"He was," Julian corrected with a sharp smile. "Until Vance Capital became the primary benefactor of the event yesterday evening. Ethan spent his last remaining liquid funds buying a table at the gala tonight, hoping to network with foreign investors to save his company."
Julian offered me his hand.
"Come with me tonight, Claire. Let's show Manhattan who you really are."
May you like
I looked at my reflection in the nursery mirror. For four months, I had been a grieving, exhausted mother hiding in a hospital. But looking at my three healthy children sleeping peacefully in their cribs, I felt the last lingering ashes of my past self turn into fire.
"I'll go," I said, taking Julian's hand. "It's time to end this."
