CHAPTER 2: THE CHOICE
The nursery remained silent except for the baby's cries.
Ethan stood between his wife and his mother, his chest rising and falling with barely controlled rage.
Margaret stared at him.
"You pushed me."
"You attacked my wife."
The words struck harder than any shout.
For a moment, Margaret seemed unable to speak.
Then her face twisted.
"She turned you against your own family."
"No."
Ethan's voice was cold.
"You did that yourself."
Emma sat on the floor, still trembling.
Her scalp burned where Margaret had pulled her hair.
But the pain in her heart hurt more.
For years, she had tried.
She had tolerated the insults.
Ignored the comments.
Accepted the criticism.
All for Ethan.
All for peace.
And this was where it had led.
Ethan knelt beside her.
His expression immediately softened.
"Are you hurt?"
Emma couldn't answer.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Seeing her cry shattered something inside him.
He carefully helped her to her feet.
Then he picked up their daughter.
The baby instantly calmed in his arms.
The sight made Margaret scoff.
"You're choosing her over your own mother?"
Ethan slowly turned.
"No."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"I'm choosing what's right."
Margaret's confidence finally cracked.
"Ethan—"
"Leave."
The room froze.
"What?"
"I said leave."
Margaret laughed nervously.
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious in my life."
The color drained from her face.
For the first time, she realized her son wasn't bluffing.
And for the first time...
She was losing control.
An hour later, Margaret walked out of the house carrying her purse and suitcase.
The front door closed behind her.
And the sound echoed through the entire family.
May you like
It was the beginning of a war.
Not the end of one.
