Chapter 8

Ethan was momentarily speechless. He had always held control in this marriage, but now, he was no longer so sure. After a long silence, his voice turned cold. “Do as you wish.” Then, he released her hand. Clara said nothing. She turned and walked toward the door. Just as she reached it, she paused briefly. “Don’t worry. Until the baby is born, I’ll keep playing the part of Mrs. Blackwood.” Her tone was calm and steady. “Once the child arrives, we’re finished.” With that, she gave a slight nod and walked out gracefully. Ethan had begun to lower his guard, but her words snapped the tension back into place. He stared at the now-closed door, then in a sudden burst of anger, swept everything off his desk. Yanking at his collar, he tried to ease the tightness in his chest. Just then, his phone rang—and just like that, his rage seemed to dissolve. Clara, who had just stepped out, heard it too. She didn’t even need to look to know who it was—Fiona. Over the years, she’d heard that ringtone enough times to recognize it instantly. Ethan had set it specifically for Fiona. The timing was bitterly ironic. Still, Clara didn’t hesitate. And Ethan didn’t go after her. He stared at the caller ID, answered, but remained silent. “Ethan.” Fiona’s voice came through, much steadier than before. “Thank you for earlier.” “Mm,” he replied. She was referring to when he took her to the hospital after her health scare. “I was discharged today. Flying to Tokyo tomorrow for the movie premiere.” Then, casually, she dropped the bomb: “I’m going alone.” “He’s not accompanying you?” Ethan frowned, disapproval evident in his tone. He hadn’t expected her to return with her fiancé only to be left alone again. “He’s busy—always traveling for work.” Fiona sounded almost dismissive, as if making excuses. “But he treats me well.” Ethan’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing. Then Fiona let out a soft sigh. “I just… suddenly missed you. So I called.” His grip on the phone tightened. That one line—it got to him. But outwardly, Ethan remained unreadable. “Ethan,” she continued, “will you come to Tokyo? I could use the company.” “Fiona, you have a fiancé. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be there.” His tone was cool and distant—a clear rejection. She bit her lip. “So you’re cutting me off now?” “My wife wouldn’t appreciate it,” Ethan said calmly. His long, slender fingers tapped a slow rhythm on the desk. Fiona knew exactly which “wife” he meant. But wait—weren’t he and Clara divorced? “Ethan, are you just saying this to upset me?” Fiona’s voice trembled slightly. But Ethan remained composed. “Am I? Fiona, you know what I wanted back then. But you kept pushing. You were always the one making the decisions. You’re the one who walked away.” That silenced her. “The divorce hasn’t been finalized,” Ethan added smoothly. “You two…” For the first time, Fiona sounded uncertain. Then Ethan delivered the final blow: “She’s pregnant. There’s no need to file anything now.” Complete silence fell on both ends of the line. After what felt like a long time, Fiona’s calm voice returned. “Congratulations. Your grandfather must be overjoyed. I have to go now—my flight is waiting.” Without waiting for a response, she ended the call. Ethan stared at his phone, his expression unreadable, but irritation was already resurfacing. He didn’t stay in the office. Grabbing his car keys, he left without another word. … Aurelux Sanatorium. It had been years since Ethan had driven without a clear destination, yet somehow, he ended up here—at Clara’s sanatorium. The realization unsettled him. He had thought about chasing after Fiona. But no—before merging onto the airport expressway, he turned the car around. It was as if his body moved on autopilot, steering him straight to Aurelux. Why? Ethan didn’t want to admit it, but he knew. That woman, Clara, was stuck in his mind like a ghost he couldn’t shake. And right now, she was inside. Brows furrowed, jaw tight, Ethan entered the facility. The staff at Aurelux all knew him—after all, Blackwood Corp was its largest investor. Naturally, no one stopped him. But what he didn’t expect was the scene that greeted him. A tall man in a white coat—clearly a doctor, with a striking demeanor—was leaning close to Clara, saying something to her. She looked up, smiling—a smile as bright as sunlight. “Thank you, Dr. Griffith. I truly appreciate it. Looking forward to Monday,” she said sincerely. “It’s no trouble,” Nathaniel replied casually. Just then, a nurse, distracted by her chart, pushed a cart straight toward them. Clara gasped, and the nurse froze, but Nathaniel reacted quickly—wrapping an arm around Clara’s waist to steady her. “Careful,” he said. “Thank you,” Clara murmured, still slightly shaken as she patted her chest. Nathaniel didn’t say more. He simply stepped aside, making way for the cart. The nurse bowed repeatedly. “I’m so sorry, Miss Walton!” “It’s alright,” Clara replied with a warm smile. And then—the air turned cold. A low, chilling voice cut through the moment. “Miss Walton?” Clara’s head snapped up. Ethan stood there, his eyes locked on her, his expression icy. The intensity of his stare made her scalp prickle. The nurse stammered, clearly recognizing him. “M-Mr. Blackwood…” Nathaniel raised an eyebrow but remained composed. “I wasn’t aware my wife was considered single,” Ethan said coolly. The room fell dead silent. Clara looked stunned. They had kept their marriage completely private. Beyond Dr. Chin and a few higher-ups, no one at Aurelux knew she was Mrs. Blackwood. And now… Ethan had just announced it to the world? Clara was at a loss, unsure how to respond. Nathaniel glanced at her, his eyebrow still slightly raised. Clara forced a small, awkward smile but offered no explanation. “Come here,” Ethan said, his voice sharp and cold. Clara didn’t move. Instead, Nathaniel stepped in to ease the tension. “Go ahead. Call me if you need anything.” “Okay,” Clara replied stiffly. With that, Nathaniel walked away without another word. He didn’t even glance at Ethan, heading straight back to his office.