Chapter 9 - The Ultrasound Photograph Drops Onto The Table
Grace reached down slowly beside her plate, picking up a small cream-colored gift box tied with a satin ribbon.
She untied the ribbon with steady fingers, lifting the lid off the box while the room watched in silence.
From inside the box, she pulled out a small, folded thermal paper photograph and laid it flat on the table.
The three brothers softened instantly as they looked down at the tiny white outline of a developing baby.
“Seventeen weeks,” Grace said softly, her voice finally breaking with suppressed emotion.
Marcus stared at the photograph, his tough exterior cracking as tears welled up in his dark eyes.
“You’re... you’re having a baby?” Marcus whispered, stepping closer to gently touch his sister’s shoulder.
Ethan stared at the ultrasound image, the color completely draining from his already pale face.
“A baby?” Ethan repeated stupidly, looking between Grace and the photograph on the table.
“I was going to tell you tonight, Ethan, before you walked through that door with your mistress,” Grace whispered.
Derek let out a furious growl, stepping toward Ethan with fists clenched tight enough to break bones.
“You cheated on her, humiliated her, and then you struck her across the face while she was carrying our blood?” Derek roared.
Ethan threw his hands up defensively, backing away until his spine hit the glass china cabinet behind him.
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“I didn't know! She never told me about the pregnancy!” Ethan yelled in absolute terror.
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