Chapter 25 – Lines That Shouldn't Blur
The aftermath was chaos. Police swarmed the docks, reporters hovered, and Clara was ushered into an ambulance.
Ethan stood nearby, rain dripping down his face, his emotions unreadable.
Damien clapped his shoulder. "You did good, boss. She's safe."
Ethan didn't respond. His eyes were locked on Clara — laughing weakly with the paramedic, touching Aiden's arm as if to comfort him.
Jealousy, hot and unexpected, burned through him.
Later that night, when he finally visited her hospital room, Clara looked at him with tired eyes.
"You didn't have to risk everything for me," she whispered.
"I did," he said simply.
Silence.
Then she asked softly, "Would you have done it… if I wasn't your wife on paper?"
Ethan froze.
The answer clawed at his throat — yes — but he couldn't say it.
Outside, Damien watched through the glass, muttering,
"Oh boy… this is going to get messy."