Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Nina, I Like You Very Much

“Why’d you stop? Weren’t you going to threaten me?”

Ethan Shaw’s gaze was utterly cold and mocking. He’d been blackmailed with this exact drama countless times. ’So this is what happens when I don’t give in and play along,’ he thought. ’The ’terrifying’ part never actually happens.’

’This is a conspiracy. A trap set by Jane Chandler to cage me.’

Jane Chandler squeezed her eyes shut, steeled herself, and pressed the fruit knife a little closer. But just at the critical moment, she stopped abruptly. She glanced sideways at the gleaming blade as if it were a ravenous beast.

Her whole body trembled slightly, her teeth clenched, and the muscles in her face were drawn tight.

An icy hand suddenly gripped hers. Jane Chandler cried out in shock, trying to pull away but failing.

Ethan Shaw took two steps forward, his tall frame looming over her. He applied a little pressure to her hand and, just as he expected, saw her pupils tremble.

“Didn’t you want to kill yourself? Here, let me show you how.”

As he forced the dagger closer, Jane Chandler screamed in terror, her pupils dilating in fear. But in the next second, she watched as Ethan Shaw redirected her hand, plunging the blade she held into his own shoulder blade. Blood instantly gushed out.

Everything before her seemed to play out in slow motion. Jane Chandler stared blankly at the dagger in her hand. ’This is the murder weapon.’

’I killed my own son! I killed my own son with my own hands!’

Jane Chandler rushed forward to hug Ethan Shaw, a shrill cry tearing from her throat. “Someone! Someone help! My son! My son!”

She was shoved away before she could even get close.

“Do you want to stab a little deeper? How exactly do you want to kill me?”

Tears streaming down her face, Jane Chandler shook her head frantically. She gripped Ethan Shaw’s hand tightly. “No, I’m begging you, don’t hurt yourself like this! I’m begging you, Ian…”

As he lost blood, the color drained from Ethan Shaw’s lips. His ink-black eyes were utterly dark. “You should pick up that dagger from the floor and stab me again. A fatal blow would be best. That way, you’ll have achieved your goal.”

“I didn’t! I didn’t…” Jane Chandler shook her head wildly. “I never wanted to hurt you! How could I ever hurt you?! Everything I do is for your own good! Why must you always defy me? Why do you insist on fighting me?!”

A hint of sorrow flickered in Ethan Shaw’s eyes.

Fearing he might do something even more drastic to himself, Jane Chandler cried, “I was wrong! I was wrong! I’m begging you, I’ll get on my knees, okay?”

The door was thrown open. Jonathan Shaw and the butler rushed in. Jonathan’s expression changed dramatically, and he immediately shouted for a doctor.

In the old family mansion, there was a room Ethan Shaw had used in his youth. The maids cleaned it regularly, so it was immaculate.

Ethan Shaw lay in bed as the family doctor treated him. He was propped up against the headboard, his eyes lightly closed, his face deathly pale.

Jane Chandler sat to the side, her face white as a sheet, clearly having suffered a severe shock.

Jonathan Shaw asked anxiously, “How is he? Is it serious?”

“The wound is quite deep; it nearly hit the bone. That, combined with the blood loss, means he’ll need a good long while to recover.”

Jane Chandler quickly asked, “My son’s arm… it won’t be crippled, will it?”

“As long as he recovers well, that’s unlikely to happen. Ma’am, I’ve finished dressing the wound. I’ll be on my way now,” the doctor said.

With that, the doctor picked up his medical bag and left.

Ethan Shaw kept his eyes closed, like a silent statue.

Jonathan Shaw’s tone was pained. “What on earth happened? How could something like this happen?”

Jane Chandler kept her head down, repeating, “It was my fault. It was all my fault…”

“Jane…” Jonathan Shaw had no choice but to ask the butler for details, learning in the end that mother and son had a fight.

But what kind of fight could leave Ethan Shaw lying here, covered in blood? Jonathan Shaw suddenly remembered what had happened earlier that day, and his brow furrowed deeply.

Jonathan Shaw stepped out for a moment.

Jane Chandler stayed by his side, tending to him. But no matter what she asked, she couldn’t get Ethan Shaw to speak, and the bitterness in her heart grew more intense.

After a while, Ethan Shaw picked up his phone. He asked the family butler for an update and breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Naomi Kenway and Ian Shaw were still at home.

His voice sounded much weaker than usual. “If Nina doesn’t come down for dinner, have Nanny Warren bring it up to her. And for Ian, too.”

Hearing this, Jane Chandler felt a knot of resentment in her stomach, but she didn’t dare say a word.

At five in the afternoon, Ethan Shaw rolled over, got out of bed, and put on his shoes. His brow twitched slightly as he stood up.

“Where are you going?” Jane Chandler shot to her feet.

“Home.” His reply was succinct.

“You…” Jane Chandler’s face was filled with anxiety. She hurried after him. “Ian, you can’t just be walking around. The doctor said you need to rest.”

“Are you going to stop me now?” Ethan Shaw already had his hand on the door. He looked back and said, “A dozen years ago, a psychologist told you that you should let me engage more with things I enjoy. Did you listen?”

Jane Chandler froze in place, able to do nothing but watch Ethan Shaw leave. Tears streamed down her face, and she didn’t know who she was crying for. She collapsed onto the floor as if all her strength had abandoned her.

*

Naomi Kenway sat alone in the bedroom for a long time, her mind racing. Jane Chandler’s various looks of contempt and disdain always made her feel sick to her stomach.

Having grown up without a father’s presence, Naomi didn’t want Ian to suffer the same lack of fatherly love. But what could she do? What was the best solution?

And…

Naomi Kenway glanced at the clock on the wall. So much time had passed, and Ethan Shaw still hadn’t returned…

A wave of irritation washed over her.

’Putting the annoying Jane Chandler aside, her life was actually pretty good.’ Ethan Shaw let her buy whatever she wanted, had previously invested in several dramas so she could bring funding to the production, and even helped share the burden of caring for their child.

A soft click came from the doorknob.

Ethan Shaw walked in slowly and gently wrapped one arm around Naomi Kenway. “It’s handled. She’ll never bother you again.”

“…What did you say?”

“My mom will never bother you again. So, please, stay. I really…” A blush crept up Ethan Shaw’s earlobes, and the words he had never spoken before came out with great difficulty, “like you a lot.”

He buried his head in Naomi Kenway’s shoulder, softly calling her by her nickname, “Nina…”

“Mommy!”

Naomi Kenway jumped, the fluttering in her heart interrupted. She pushed Ethan Shaw away, feeling awkward under Ian’s innocent gaze.

A muffled groan sounded. Naomi whipped her head back around to see Ethan Shaw clutching one of his shoulders, his face contorted in suppressed pain.

“Ethan Shaw! What’s wrong?”

“Daddy!” Ian Shaw cried out. Then his little legs carried him at a sprint out of the bedroom and down the hallway, where he shouted for a doctor. When no one responded, he dashed downstairs.

Naomi Kenway helped Ethan Shaw lie down on the bed, her expression worried. “What’s really wrong with you, Ethan Shaw?”

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