He Brought His Mistress, I Brought My Lawyers Chapter 21

He Brought His Mistress, I Brought My Lawyers Chapter 21

Yes.

Her husband had died saving him.

A year ago, that damned mountain-climbing accident in Colorado—the falling rocks, the instant his friend pushed him away…

That guilt had coiled around him like a snake for an entire year.

Because of it, he had kept Sloane by his side, giving her indulgence far beyond any proper boundary. Naively, he had thought he could find a balance: repay his debt of conscience while also protecting his future with Avery.

How laughable.

His so-called balance had only pushed Avery into the abyss with his own hands. He had used his damned guilt as a raft to carry Sloane across the river while the woman he should have loved drowned.

Because of this woman, Avery had suffered humiliation, lost her mother’s relic, gained a permanent scar, and finally disappeared from his world.

A debt of life was as heavy as a mountain.

But Sloane should never have set her sights on Avery.

The last trace of hesitation in Ethan’s eyes vanished, replaced by a dead stillness. He gripped Sloane’s chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

“Don’t move,” he warned, the knife tip flashing. “Otherwise, my hand might slip and cut out your eyeball.”

The killing intent in his words froze Sloane’s entire body. She could feel the cold metal against her skin and had to force herself not to flinch.

The next second, sharp pain exploded across her cheek.

Blood mixed with terrified tears and spilled out.

“Ah!” she screamed.

Ethan withdrew the cigar cutter and casually wiped the blood from the blade.

“A life for a life,” he said, looking down at Sloane. His tone was frighteningly calm. “Don’t worry. I’ll leave you alive.”

Hearing that, Sloane’s nerves seemed to loosen. She clutched her bleeding face and gasped for air, the relief of survival momentarily overriding the pain.

As long as she could live…

But Ethan’s next words threw her back into hell.

He stood and coldly ordered the two bodyguards by the door, “Lock her in that storage room.”

Sloane’s body went rigid.

“However long Avery stayed, she stays,” Ethan said without a trace of emotion. “Everything Avery experienced, Mrs. Pike will experience exactly the same. Not one day less.”

The words exploded in Sloane’s head.

So when he said he would leave her alive, he had meant it only literally.

Not dead.

The realization drained every bit of color from her face. Her lips trembled. She scrambled forward, throwing herself at Ethan’s legs.

“No! Ethan, you can’t do this to me!” she choked, her voice thick with sobs. “Please, don’t lock me in there… I was wrong. I really was wrong!”

Ethan lowered his eyelids, his eyes holding only unmelting indifference.

The bodyguards stepped forward, seized Sloane, and ruthlessly tore her away, dragging her out.

“Let go of me! Let go!” Large tears rolled down her face. She struggled with all her strength, screaming hoarsely, “Ethan Ward! You can’t do this to me! You said you would protect me! Have you forgotten?!”

Ethan’s steps did not pause. He didn’t even look back. He just strode away.

Sloane was dragged along, staring in despair at his cold, retreating back until it disappeared.

She didn’t understand.

How could he change so quickly? How could he withdraw all his favor so completely?

That coldness, that decisiveness—it was as if he had never treated her as special at all.

For one absurd instant, Sloane felt as if she understood Avery, the woman he had injured with his own hands.