Chapter 5

Thirty minutes later, Clara Walton was wheeled out of the operating room. Sedated from the IV, she remained fast asleep. Ethan Blackwood stood waiting outside. Typically sharp and impeccably dressed, he now looked slightly disordered, though his imposing, icy demeanor remained fully intact. When the doctor noticed Ethan, he grew visibly nervous, approaching with caution. Ethan didn’t speak—he simply fixed the doctor with a piercing stare. The doctor didn’t dare hesitate. “Miss Walton is stable now, but from this point onward, any emotional stress or physical exertion could seriously endanger the pregnancy.” Ethan listened with a furrowed brow. After a moment of silence, he responded with a low, noncommittal hum. “When will she wake up?” His tone was detached, almost cold. “Within ten minutes or so,” the doctor answered promptly. Ethan gave a slight nod and turned toward the patient ward. Once he was out of sight, the doctor quietly exhaled and wiped his forehead. Merely speaking with Ethan Blackwood was enough to put anyone on edge. He was well aware of the recent rumors, but after years at Aurelux Hospital, he knew exactly what questions to ask—and, more importantly, which ones to avoid. Taking a steadying breath, he hurried back to his office. … Meanwhile, When Ethan entered the room, Clara was already awake. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, her mind went blank. Then, like a tide, everything rushed back. Almost instinctively, her hand drifted to her still-flat stomach. A gut feeling told her—the baby was gone. It had to be. Ethan was with Fiona Barrington, after all. If Clara were still pregnant, Fiona would never stand for it. There would be no reconciliation. A strange pang of guilt shot through Clara—for the child she believed she had already lost. “Are you still in pain?” Ethan approached and asked quietly. Clara shook her head. “Thank you. I’m fine now. You don’t need to stay—I’ll call someone to pick me up.” It was just a miscarriage; no long hospital stay was necessary. Clara knew the routine. She had already taken a week off from work and planned to return once she’d rested. But her cool, detached tone only darkened Ethan’s expression. His eyes simmered with restrained intensity. “You really don’t want to have my child, do you?” he stated flatly. Clara blinked, caught off guard. “Would it be good for either of us if I did?” Ethan fell silent, clearly not expecting that response. Throughout their marriage, Clara had never spoken to him so directly. She had always kept her thoughts to herself. Now, it seemed, she had grown thorns beneath her calm exterior. Clara, meanwhile, had already steadied herself. “The baby is gone. There’s no reason for you to stay. Miss Barrington is probably waiting.” At that, Ethan’s gaze turned even darker. “And what happened earlier—let’s just forget it. I won’t bring it up again,” she said plainly, laying all her cards on the table. But before she could finish, Ethan cut her off abruptly. “Clara, the baby is still there.” Clara froze. “…What?” The shock hit her hard—she hadn’t expected this. She had assumed that after bleeding so heavily, the pregnancy couldn’t have survived. And someone like Ethan? There was no way he would want to keep it. She had even imagined that even if she wanted the child, Ethan would never allow it. He would likely force her to terminate the pregnancy. After all, that baby was a threat to his world. But now he stood there, calm yet visibly tense, telling her the baby was still alive. “Ethan Blackwood, you…” Clara dropped all pretense of politeness, her voice cold and direct. He loomed over her, his tone firm and icy: “I want you to keep this baby.” For a moment, Clara’s mind went blank. He had to be out of his mind. “No,” she shot back without a hint of hesitation. She refused to be entangled with him any further. A relationship involving three people was messy enough. Clara knew all too well that she had never been the one coming out on top. Adding a child into the mix would only compound the misery. She didn’t want his pity. Now, more than ever, Clara saw things clearly. “You don’t want my child?” Ethan’s eyes darkened. His long fingers gripped her jaw, applying gradual pressure. The pain made her wince, but her resolve didn’t waver: “Of course not. I’d have to be insane to want to carry your child. I won’t keep it.” Ethan didn’t respond immediately. He simply stared at her, his expression grim. Just as she struggled against his hold, he said, his voice low and cutting, “Clara, if I say you’re keeping this baby, you’re keeping it.” “I said no. We’re divorced. This is my body and my choice. You can’t force me,” Clara fired back, holding nothing back. Ethan let out a cold laugh. “Clara, if I give the word, not a single doctor in River City will dare to touch you.” “You…” Clara was so angry her face paled. Right then, Ethan’s phone buzzed again. Fiona Barrington’s name flashed across the screen. This time, he didn’t ignore it. He answered. “Yes.” “Ethan, I really don’t feel well. He hasn’t come back yet. Can you please come stay with me?” Fiona’s voice was sweet, fragile, and pleading. Then, before Ethan could respond, a loud thud came from the other end of the line—and Fiona’s voice abruptly cut off. Ethan’s expression shifted instantly. Without another glance at Clara, he turned and walked out without another word. She didn’t say anything either. She simply stared in the direction he had left, then let out a short, bitter laugh. Her expression slowly hardened into one of pure contempt. Why on earth should she carry Ethan Blackwood’s child? What a joke. Less than an hour after Ethan left the hospital, Clara quietly discharged herself and walked out without looking back. … The next day, Clara showed up at the hospital as scheduled. Despite the previous day’s chaos, she hadn’t canceled her abortion appointment. But as she stood facing the doctor, a sense of unease settled over her. “Miss Walton, I’m very sorry, but I can’t perform this procedure for you. You’ll need to find another doctor,” the doctor said nervously. Clara was silent for a moment. She didn’t even bother asking why. She already knew who was behind it. She had no doubt about Ethan Blackwood’s influence. The Blackwood family stood at the very top of River City’s power structure. If he said no, no doctor would dare defy him—especially not for someone like her. And if anyone thought Clara wasn’t furious? That would be a lie.