Chapter 7 - The Desperate Ex
Three months passed.
The transition was smooth and remarkable. Clara adapted to her new corporate role with incredible grace and intelligence. Within weeks, she launched two major philanthropic initiatives under Vance Enterprises that brought immense positive publicity to the firm. She was no longer the quiet maid in the background; she was a stunning, confident executive who captivated every room she walked into.
And our relationship grew far beyond professional boundaries. What started as deep mutual respect quickly blossomed into something much deeper. We had dinner together almost every night—not as boss and employee, but as two people who had found a rare, unbreakable bond through adversity.
However, the past rarely stays buried without a fight.
One rainy Thursday evening, as I was leaving the corporate headquarters toward my private car, a figure burst out from behind the parking garage pillars.
"Ethan! Ethan, please! Stop!"
I halted as Marcus instantly stepped between me and the intruder.
It was Vanessa.
She looked unrecognizable. The immaculate designer clothes and flawless makeup were gone. She wore a worn-out raincoat, her hair was damp and frizzy, and her eyes were red and swollen. Her family’s firm had gone bankrupt after my legal team severed all contracts, and her social standing had completely evaporated.
"Ethan, please, just give me five minutes!" she begged, trying to push past Marcus, who held her back with a single extended arm. "I'm begging you!"
I gestured for Marcus to ease up. "What do you want, Vanessa?"
Vanessa rushed forward, stopping a few feet away, her hands clasped together in desperate plea. "Ethan, I made a mistake! A horrible, stupid mistake! Daniel manipulated me, he fed me lies about you, he made me think you were using me! I was confused and scared!"
"You called me a useless cripple, Vanessa," I said, my voice as cold as the falling rain. "You laughed when your friends humiliated me."
"I was acting! I was terrified!" she sobbed, tears smearing her mascara down her pale cheeks. "I love you, Ethan! I’ve always loved you! Look at what’s happened to my family... we have nothing left. My father lost his house, my cars were repossessed... please, Ethan, just take me back. I'll do anything. I'll be the perfect wife, I promise!"
I looked at her, feeling neither anger nor pity—just a deep, profound sense of detachment.
"You don't love me, Vanessa," I said quietly. "You loved the lifestyle I provided. You loved the title of being my wife. When you thought I was broken, you didn't see a human being suffering—you saw an inconvenience."
"No! That's not true!" she cried out.
Before she could say another word, the glass doors of the executive lobby opened, and Clara walked out, holding a thick folder and an umbrella. She was wearing an elegant emerald-green tailored suit, her hair styled perfectly, radiating intelligence and grace.
"Ethan, the evening reports are—" Clara stopped, seeing Vanessa standing in the rain.
Vanessa turned her head, her red eyes locking onto Clara. Instant rage flashed across her face. "You..." Vanessa hissed, her tone venomous. "You little trashy maid! This is your fault! You stole my life!"
Vanessa lunged toward Clara, her fingernails clawing out like an animal.
Before Marcus could even move, I stepped forward, caught Vanessa by her wrists, and twisted her arm firmly behind her back, pinning her against the concrete pillar.
"Touch her," I growled near her ear, my voice dripping with dangerous authority, "and I will ensure you spend the next five years of your life behind bars for assault. Do you understand me?"
Vanessa gasped in pain and shock, realizing instantly that I wasn't bluffing. "Ethan... please..."
I shoved her away dismissively. Marcus stepped in, grabbing her arm tightly. "I'm calling the police for harassment, Mr. Vance."
"Do it," I ordered.
I turned away from Vanessa without giving her another glance, walking over to Clara. I gently took the umbrella from her hand and held it over both of our heads, pulling her close to my side.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly, checking her face.
May you like
Clara looked up at me, her eyes soft and filled with trust. "I'm fine, Ethan. As long as I'm with you."
Behind us, Vanessa screamed in frustration as the security guards restrained her on the sidewalk, but her cries were quickly drowned out by the sound of the rain and the roaring engine of my car.
