Chapter 1 - YOU HAVE NOTHING
The baseball bat struck Claire Bennett’s upper arm.
Pain exploded through her shoulder.
She screamed and twisted away.
Ethan swung again.
The wooden bat hit the same guarded arm.
“Useless! Pathetic!”
Claire stumbled beside the sofa, clutching her arm against her chest.
“Ethan—please!”
He followed.
Dark shirt.
Expensive trousers.
Face red with rage.
Claire raised both arms defensively.
The third strike landed against the outside of her upper arm.
She dropped onto one knee.
“You’re nothing without me!”
“Stop!”
“Shut up!”
Ethan lifted the bat one last time and drove it against her protected arm.
Claire collapsed against the sofa.
Her arm was already swelling.
Fresh red-purple marks spread beneath the sleeve of her pale blouse.
Ethan pointed the bat at her.
“This house—this life—mine!”
He leaned closer.
“You have nothing.”
Claire cried silently.
Then something changed.
She looked at him.
Not at the bat.
At him.
Ethan turned away with a satisfied breath.
Claire used her good arm to push herself upright.
She wiped her face.
Her breathing steadied.
“You think I’m powerless?”
Ethan stopped.
Slowly turned.
Claire straightened as much as the pain allowed.
“Your company can’t operate—”
His expression changed instantly.
She took one step closer.
“—without my signature. Didn’t you know?”
The bat lowered.
Ethan stared.
Then laughed.
For half a second.
“You’re delusional.”
Claire reached into her pocket with her good hand.
Pulled out her phone.
Opened one document.
She held the screen toward him.
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
At the top:
BENNETT INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS
PROTECTIVE CONSENT AGREEMENT
Below it:
SPECIAL CONSENT HOLDER:
CLAIRE BENNETT
Ethan went pale.
Claire’s voice was quiet now.
“You spent four years calling it paperwork.”
He looked at her swollen arm.
Then at the document.
“What did you do?”
Claire answered:
“Nothing.”
May you like
Pause.
“Yet.”
