All Chapters of A Divorce She Regrets: Chapter 71
- Chapter 80
98 chapters
CHAPTER 71
The first operative came from the left with a baton aimed at Ethan's head.Ethan ducked under it and drove his fist into the man's ribs. Hard. The operative gasped and stumbled back.No time to stop. Two more were already on him from the right.Ethan blocked a punch with his forearm, twisted, grabbed the second operative's wrist and yanked him forward. Used his momentum against him. Slammed him into the first operative. Both men crashed to the floor.A kick came at his knee from behind.Ethan shifted his weight at the last second. The boot grazed his leg instead of breaking it. He spun and caught the operative's ankle mid-air, twisted hard. The man went down with a grunt.Four down.Eight to go.They were not stopping. They were not slowing down.Three operatives rushed him at once. Coordinated. One high, one low, one straight through the middle.Ethan moved like water. Sidestepped the first, ducked the second, drove his elbow into the third man's jaw. Bone cracked. The operative's he
CHAPTER 72
Ethan looked at the knife pressed against Claire's throat.The leader was not bluffing. Ethan could see it in his posture. In the steadiness of his hand. This man had killed before. He would do it again without hesitation.Claire's eyes were locked on Ethan's face. She was trying to stay calm but her chest was rising and falling too fast. Her hands were shaking behind the chair."The ring," the leader said. "Now."Ethan did not move."I will count to three," the leader continued. "If you do not tell me where it is, she dies. One."Claire's jaw tightened. She shook her head slightly. Do not give it to him."Two."Ethan's mind was racing. He could rush the leader. Maybe close the distance before the knife moved. Maybe.But probably not.And if he was wrong, Claire would be dead before he took two steps."Three—""It is at my parents' house."The words came out flat and final.The leader's hand stopped. "What?""The ring. It is at my parents' old house. Hidden in the floor under the kitc
CHAPTER 73
Ethan moved faster than the leader expected.He closed the distance in two steps, grabbed the leader's wrist and twisted it away from Claire's throat. The knife sliced through empty air instead of skin.The leader tried to counter but Ethan was already inside his guard. He drove his elbow into the man's ribs. Hard. The leader grunted and stumbled backward.Claire fell forward in the chair, gasping.The leader recovered quickly. He lunged at Ethan with the knife.Ethan sidestepped and caught his arm mid-strike. Twisted it behind his back. The knife clattered to the floor.But the leader was strong. Trained. He slammed his head backward into Ethan's face.Pain exploded across Ethan's already-broken nose. His grip loosened for just a second.That was all the leader needed.He spun free and kicked Ethan hard in the chest. Ethan flew backward and crashed into a stack of crates. Wood splintered. His vision blurred.The leader did not press the attack. Instead he turned and ran toward the ba
CHAPTER 74
The hospital room smelled like disinfectant and clean sheets.Ethan lay in the bed staring at the ceiling. His ribs were wrapped tight. His nose had been reset for the third time in his life. The doctors wanted to keep him overnight for observation but he had already told them he was leaving in the morning whether they liked it or not.James had come by an hour ago."The leader escaped," James said.. "We had the harbor locked down within minutes but he was already gone. Morrison thinks he had a boat waiting offshore."Ethan nodded."He will come back," James continued. "Angrier,better and prepared. This is not over.""I know."James stared at him. "You almost died tonight.""Almost does not count Ethan said""Next time it might."Ethan did not answer.James shook his head and left.Now the room was quiet again. Just the faint beeping of machines in the hallway and the sound of his own breathing.The door opened.Claire walked in. She had changed out of her torn clothes. The cut on her
CHAPTER 75
Ethan left the hospital the next morning against the doctor's advice.His ribs were still cracked. His face was still swollen. But he could walk and breathe and think clearly, and that was enough.Claire had wanted to stay with him overnight but he sent her home. She needed rest. Real rest. Not sitting in an uncomfortable hospital chair watching him sleep.Sophia had left awkwardly after walking in on them. She mumbled something about checking on her grandfather and disappeared before either of them could say anything.Now Ethan stood at the hospital's billing desk on the first floor. A young woman sat behind the counter typing on a computer. Her name tag said Rachel."Mr. Cross," she said without looking up. "Your total comes to four hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars."Ethan blinked. "For one night?""Emergency surgery. Specialist consultations. Private room. Medical imaging. Pain management." She finally looked up. "You did not have insurance listed in our system.""I do no
CHAPTER 76
Ethan looked at the supervisor. Then at the card sitting on the counter. Then back at the supervisor."You think I stole this card," Ethan said."I did not say that.""You did not have to."The supervisor's jaw tightened. "Sir, I am following protocol. If the card is legitimate, verification will confirm that. If it is not..." He let the sentence hang.Ethan picked up the card and held it between two fingers. "Call whoever you need to call. Verify it. I will wait."The supervisor looked surprised. Like he expected Ethan to back down. "It could take hours.""I have time."Rachel shifted uncomfortably behind the counter. "Sir, maybe you should just—""Call them," Ethan said. His voice was calm. "Right now."The supervisor stared at him for a long moment. Then he pulled out his phone and walked a few steps away, dialing a number.The lobby was completely silent now. Everyone watching.Ethan stood there with his arms at his sides. He did not look nervous nor look worried. Just patient.Th
CHAPTER 77
Marcus's father was named Victor Ashford.He was not a good man. But he was a powerful one.Victor owned three manufacturing companies, held board positions at two major banks, and had connections that stretched through every level of the business community. Politicians owed him favors. CEOs took his calls. When Victor Ashford spoke, people listened.And right now, Victor was furious.His son had been arrested. Humiliated. Dragged out of a villa by military soldiers and held in detention for three days. The family name had been dragged through the mud. Business partners were asking questions. Investors were getting nervous.All because of one man.Ethan Cross.Victor sat in his office on the top floor of his headquarters building, staring out the window at the city below. His hands were clasped behind his back. His jaw was tight.He had made some calls. Done some digging. Found out everything he could about Ethan Cross.Ex-convict. No family wealth. No education. No connections.And y
CHAPTER 78
The Grand Riverside Hotel ballroom was packed.Ethan walked in alone. Simple black suit. Nothing expensive. He had not wanted to come but James insisted. "You need to show your face. Hiding makes you look guilty."The moment Ethan stepped through the entrance, conversations stopped.People stared. Then the whispers started."That is him.""The convict.""Living off Claire Sterling's money."Ethan walked toward the far side of the room, looking for a quiet corner. He did not make it halfway before Gerald blocked his path.Gerald was not alone. Patricia stood beside him. Howard was there too. And five other Sterling Global board members formed a semi-circle around Ethan.People nearby stopped talking. Started watching."Well, well," Gerald said. His voice carried across the room. "Look who decided to show up."Ethan said nothing."Tell me something, Mr. Cross," Gerald continued. "Do you have an invitation? Or did you just walk in off the street?""I was invited.""By who? Claire Sterlin
chapter 79
The crowd erupted in applause.Howard looked at Ethan. "You should leave. Before this gets worse for you.""Worse how?""We could call security. Have you removed for trespassing.""I was invited.""By someone who does not have our trust anymore." Gerald crossed his arms. "Leave. Now. Or we will have you escorted out."The crowd was watching and Waiting.Ethan stood there silently his hands at his sides.Patricia called out, "Tell Claire we will be voting to remove her next week! And we will be cutting off her little charity project too!"More laughter. Louder this time.Gerald stepped closer. "Did you hear me? I said leave. Now.""Or what?" Ethan asked quietly."Or we will have security remove you.""Go ahead."Gerald's smile faltered. "What?""Call security. Have me removed. Do whatever you think you need to do."Patricia looked confused. "You are not going to leave?""No.""Then you are even more pathetic than I thought." She turned to the crowd. "Everyone, look at this. He does not
CHAPTER 80
"To my son! Welcome back!"Victor Ashford raised his champagne glass high above his head. The ballroom of his private estate was packed with guests. Business partners. Politicians. Journalists. Everyone who mattered in the city.Marcus stood beside his father, wearing an expensive suit and a forced smile. His hand was still bandaged from the injuries he sustained weeks ago. But tonight was not about his injuries. Tonight was about redemption."My son," Victor continued, his voice booming across the room, "has been through hell. He was falsely accused. Arrested. Humiliated. All because of one man's vendetta."The crowd murmured sympathetically."But justice prevailed," Victor said. "The charges were dropped. The accusations were proven false. And now Marcus is free. Free to reclaim his life. Free to reclaim his future."Applause erupted.Marcus nodded graciously, shaking hands with guests who approached to congratulate him. He played the role perfectly. The victim. The wrongly accused