Chapter Four "You want to divorce me?" Ethan's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. The shock gave way to anger. "Serena, your sister just passed. I get that you're emotional. Put those papers away and I'll let this go." I looked at him, calm. "If you refuse to divorce, I'll pursue this to the end. Did you really think that disposing of the body and wiping the footage would keep me from filing charges?" His face blanched. Ivy's did too; she clutched his sleeve. "Right now you're just a hysterical mess," he said through his teeth. "It's pathetic." "You want a divorce? Fine. I'll do you the favor." He scrawled his name across the agreement. "Tomorrow. Nine a.m. Outside the county clerk's office." I slid the papers away, the corner of my mouth lifting. He took Ivy by the hand. At the door, he glanced back with a laugh. "Try not to beg like a dog tomorrow." I went to my parents' place and told my mom, dad, and my sister everything. They'd been ready to talk me down-until I finished the story. Rage flushed both their faces. Ethan had done all this because he thought the victim was from my family. Which proved that if disaster really struck my side, he'd be exactly this cruel. The next morning, divorce papers in hand, I headed for the clerk's office. I ran straight into my in-laws- arms full of funeral wreaths and condolence envelopes. My mother-in-law started in on me at once. "Serena, how could you be so thoughtless? Why bring up divorce? You're just self-employed. Ethan's a government-employed physician. If you split, you'll regret it." "Your father-in-law and I talked him down all last night," she added. "Call him and apologize." I ignored her and smiled-cold. Had they forgotten how their precious son got where he is? I'd thrown the dinners, called in favors, begged everyone under the sun to get him hired. My parents had swallowed their pride to place him in a top fellowship. That's how Ethan Lane, at such a young age, came to be hailed around the hospital as a top surgeon. And now I didn't measure up? "You should quit that little business," my mother-in-law pressed, mistaking my silence for hesitation. "Have a baby with Ethan. Your sister is gone; your parents only have you. When they pass, everything will go to their grandson. That's more reliable than grinding away yourself." My molars ached from clenching. Quite the neat little scheme-to my face, no less. "You die," came my sister's voice-spitting mad-as she burst out with a broom and swung. My in-laws were so shocked they forgot to duck, staring at her like they'd seen a ghost. Chapter Four 3.67% "Y-you-you're still alive?"