Chapter 4 - MY HUSBAND CAME BACK
Ethan returned thirty minutes later.
This time he was alone.
He entered my room as if nothing had happened.
His expensive navy coat was still buttoned.
His dark hair was perfectly combed.
He looked irritated rather than ashamed.
Then he saw Luka.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
Luka remained beside the window.
I held my daughter closer.
“You left.”
Ethan ignored me.
His attention stayed on Luka.
“I asked you a question.”
Luka answered calmly.
“You’re in Ava’s room.”
“You don’t ask the questions anymore.”
Ethan laughed.
“You think tattoos make you intimidating?”
“No.”
Luka’s expression didn’t change.
“Usually people find the evidence more intimidating.”
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
I looked from one man to the other.
“You know him.”
Ethan answered too quickly.
“No.”
Luka tilted his head.
“That’s your first lie in under thirty seconds.”
Ethan turned toward me.
“Ava, this man is dangerous.”
“So was leaving your wife six hours after childbirth.”
“That’s different.”
“Because Vanessa was waiting?”
His face changed.
I finally saw fear.
“How do you know about Vanessa?”
“I saw her.”
Ethan looked toward Luka again.
“You’ve been following me.”
Luka said nothing.
Ethan stepped closer to the bed.
“We need to talk privately.”
“No.”
“Ava.”
“You brought your mistress to the hospital.”
His jaw tightened.
“Our marriage was already over.”
“That was news to me.”
“You’ve been impossible for months.”
I laughed despite the tears burning my eyes.
“I was pregnant.”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“That baby complicated everything.”
The room went silent.
Even Luka seemed to become completely still.
I stared at my husband.
“Your daughter complicated everything?”
Ethan’s eyes dropped to the baby.
Something strange crossed his face.
Not love.
Not regret.
Calculation.
“Has the hospital done the second blood panel yet?”
I felt the air change.
Luka moved away from the window.
“Why?”
Ethan turned.
“I’m speaking to my wife.”
“No.”
I spoke before Luka could.
“You’re speaking to me.”
“Why do you care about her bloodwork?”
Ethan rubbed his jaw.
“Because she’s my child.”
“You didn’t even hold her.”
“That doesn’t mean I want something wrong with her.”
My chest tightened.
Nobody had told Ethan anything was wrong.
Yet his first question was about a specific second blood panel.
Luka noticed it too.
“Who told you there would be another test?”
Ethan’s face went pale.
“I know how hospitals work.”
“No.”
Luka stepped closer.
“You know how this hospital works.”
Ethan headed for the door.
Luka spoke behind him.
“We found the M-17 access card.”
Ethan stopped.
His hand remained on the handle.
He didn’t turn around.
But I saw his shoulders stiffen.
My heart began pounding.
“You know what M-17 is.”
Ethan slowly looked back at me.
For one terrible moment, he said nothing.
May you like
Then he whispered.
“Ava, there are things about your pregnancy you were never supposed to find out.”
