Chapter 3: The Eviction
Ethan felt a cold, absolute clarity wash over him. For years, he had made excuses for his family's abrasive behavior, dismissing it as "just how they are." He had forced Clara to be the bigger person, constantly asking her to keep the peace.
No more.
"Mark," Ethan called out. His brother finally shuffled into the kitchen, looking mildly embarrassed but unwilling to intervene.
"Look, man, don't make a big deal out of this," Mark muttered. "We're family."
"Family doesn't treat my wife like a servant in her own home," Ethan replied, his voice echoing off the hardwood floors. He stepped squarely between Clara and his relatives, creating a physical barrier. "You have exactly twenty minutes to get your things out of my guest rooms. If you are not out of my house by the time the clock hits eight, I am calling the police to have you escorted off the property for trespassing."
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Eleanor’s face turned scarlet. "You would throw your own mother out into the dark? Over a few dirty dishes?"
"I am throwing you out because you are a threat to my wife and my unborn child," Ethan said, not raising his voice, which somehow made it vastly more terrifying. "Nineteen minutes. Move."
