Chapter 8 - The Brother She Had Pushed Away
Gabriel finished surgery three hours later.
He found Rosa’s voicemail while washing blood from his hands.
“Dr. Bennett, I’m sorry to bother you. Something is wrong with Claire. Please check on her tonight. Don’t call first.”
Gabriel listened twice.
He immediately called Claire.
Ethan had already restored the phone network.
Claire answered on the fourth ring.
“Hey.”
Her voice sounded thin.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Rosa called me.”
Claire looked across the bedroom.
Ethan sat in a chair watching her.
“She worries too much.”
“I’m coming over.”
“No.”
The word came out too quickly.
Gabriel went still.
Claire corrected herself.
“We’re leaving early for the gala tomorrow. I’ll call you afterward.”
“Claire, say the word ‘blue’ if you’re not alone.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
Claire’s throat tightened.
“I’m tired, Gabriel.”
He understood what she could not say.
“I love you,” he replied.
“I love you too.”
After the call ended, Ethan took the phone from her hand.
“You were convincing.”
Claire said nothing.
He locked her in the bedroom overnight.
At dawn, he entered carrying a dress.
“You’re attending the gala.”
“Why?”
“Because canceling would create questions.”
He ordered a makeup artist to conceal the bruises near Claire’s jaw.
The woman avoided Claire’s eyes.
At the gala, Ethan smiled for cameras and held Claire tightly around the waist.
Pain shot through her ribs.
Nina approached them near the ballroom entrance.
She slipped a small flash drive into Claire’s hand while pretending to adjust the train of her gown.
“Everything from the private server,” Nina whispered.
Ethan turned.
Nina stepped away.
Claire hid the drive inside the lining of her purse.
For one brief moment, she believed she might escape from the crowded hotel.
Then Ethan leaned close.
“I know Nina gave you something.”
May you like
His smile never changed for the photographers.
👉 Ethan had seen the handoff—and the ballroom doors were guarded by his private security team.
