Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

The first blow came before Ethan had even reached the station's interrogation room. A hard shove sent him against the wall.His shoulder struck first. “Move, thief.”“I told you—” Another officer grabbed the back of his shirt and dragged him forward.“You'll talk when you're asked.”Ethan stumbled.“Do you understand?" The officer asked Ethan His wrists were still cuffed behind him.Ethan turned his head ignoring his question. “I can prove the car belongs to me.”The officer laughed. “Every thief says that.” A fist struck his stomach. Ethan doubled over. The air left his lungs. “Look at him,” another officer said. “Still pretending he's innocent.”Sophia and Marcus stood several feet away watching, neither moved. Sophia folded her arms.“He is a thief, please make sure you do not have pity in him”Marcus nodded. “Do not listen to any word he says.”Ethan lifted his head.“Both if you must pay for this” His voice was weak.Marcus smiled. “in your dreams I guess” Marcus walked closer

When Ethan woke, the first thing he noticed was the silence. He opened his eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling above him. For a few seconds, he didn't know where he was. Then the events of the previous day came back in pieces—the police station, the blows, the cell, Sophia standing there smiling at him wretchedly, Marcus telling the officers not to give him food. Ethan tried to sit up. Pain immediately pulled across his ribs. He stopped and breathed carefully. His body felt better than before, but not well. There was still a dull ache in his stomach and side, and his wrists were sore where the cuffs had pressed against them. His mouth was dry. He looked around the room. Nobody was there. The doctor had told him after the examination that he had been badly dehydrated and exhausted. There were bruises, but nothing appeared to be seriously broken. He had been given food once he was stable, followed by medication and an injection to help him sleep. Ethan remembered barely anything

The next morning, Ethan woke to the sound of the television.He sat quietly on the sofa, one arm resting against the back cushion, his bruised knuckles visible against the fabric. His body still hurt when he moved too quickly, but the pain was no longer enough to keep him in bed.The news was already playing. Then the headline appeared.POLICE OFFICERS TERMINATED AFTER MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONEthan's expression hardened.He reached for the remote and increased the volume. The reporter sat behind a desk, speaking in a serious tone.“Three police officers attached to the downtown precinct have been terminated from service following an internal investigation into the unlawful detention and mistreatment of a civilian identified as Ethan Cole.”Ethan's eyes narrowed.A photograph of the police station appeared on the screen.“The investigation began after senior authorities received a formal complaint conce

Richard Harrington had never felt more humiliated in his life.He sat behind his enormous desk, staring at the television with a face twisted by anger. The same clips had been playing all morning. Richard switched the television off. His hand remained on the remote, his knuckles tense.“A worthless being,” he muttered. “A nobody whom I housed and fed.”Sophia stood across from him, her arms folded tightly. “He did this.”Richard looked at her.“Ethan?”“Who else?” Sophia's voice was filled with anger. “Everything started after we threw him out. Then the police officers were dismissed. Marcus and I were questioned. Now everyone is talking about us.”Richard's eyes narrowed. “Do you know who's protecting him?”“No.”“Then find out.”“I've tried.”“And?”“Nothing.”Richard pushed himself out of his chair.“For three years, that man lived under my roof. He ate my food, used my resources and walked around my house as though he belonged there. Now, suddenly, he has people powerful enough to

Three days later, Ethan finally felt like himself again.The bruises had faded, the soreness in his ribs had almost disappeared, and he could move without feeling the sharp reminder of what had happened at the police station. Dr. Keller had been right about his recovery. With enough rest, proper medication, and no unnecessary stress, Ethan's body had recovered quickly.His mind, however, was another matter.The divorce papers were still sitting inside the drawer of his bedroom.So was Richard's ridiculous demand for one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.Ethan had refused to read through the divorce documents all this while. He believed that there should be nothing surprising in them. Sophia wanted the marriage ended, and Richard wanted Ethan reminded of everything he believed Ethan owed his family.Samuel Brooke had told him to recover fully from his predicament before going back to work. So he is always at home doing absolut