Chapter 5 - The Confrontation
After the speeches concluded, Ethan cornered Claire in a quiet alcove near the terrace. The nannies had taken the babies to a private suite upstairs, leaving Claire standing alone with Julian Vance by her side.
"Claire, what is this?!" Ethan demanded, his voice hushed but vibrating with panic. "You buy out my company with this... this stranger? And you hide my daughters from me for almost two years?!"
"Watch your tone, Ethan," Julian said calmly, stepping slightly in front of Claire. "You are speaking to your superior."
"I am speaking to my wife!" Ethan snapped, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Ex-wife," Claire corrected him, her voice ice-cold. She stepped around Julian to face Ethan directly. "And you have no right to demand anything. You made your position on children perfectly clear when you locked me out of our home with nothing but the clothes on my back."
"I didn't know you were pregnant!" Ethan pleaded, running a hand through his dark hair. "I would have never done that if I knew! I would have supported you!"
"You would have bullied me into getting rid of them," Claire stated bluntly, her eyes flashing with painful memories. "You told me a family was a liability. You said children would ruin our lifestyle. So I removed the liability from your life entirely."
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"They are my flesh and blood, Claire," Ethan said, his voice cracking. "You can't keep them from me."
"I didn't keep them from you," Claire replied, her voice steady. "I protected them from a man who measures human value by bank accounts. If you want to see them, you can speak to my lawyer."
