He Shoved Me into a 50-Degree Pool to Teach Me a "Lesson"—15 Minutes Later, Two Sheriff's Cruisers Ended His Marriage / Chapter 4 / 19

Chapter 4 - LINDA’S DESPERATIONBy Wednesday, Ethan’s golden life had completely disintegrated.

His mugshot had been leaked to the Columbus Dispatch. His position at Bennett & Sterling was suspended indefinitely, his corporate credit cards were cancelled, and the court order prevented him from stepping within five hundred feet of our home or my baking studio.

He was forced to move into his mother’s dusty guest room in the suburbs.

At 4:00 PM, Linda Bennett lost her mind.

Unable to accept that her precious son was facing prison time and financial ruin because of his own actions, she drove directly to my studio, Hart & Flour Confections, in the historic German Village district.

Ignoring the warning signs, she pushed through the front doors, her designer handbag swinging wildly.

"Claire!" Linda shrieked, making a scene in front of three high-profile corporate clients who were tasting wedding cakes. "Claire, you viper! Step out here right now!"

I stepped out from the kitchen wearing my white baker's jacket, a small beige bandage still covering the bridge of my nose.

"Linda," I said calmly, stepping behind the counter. "You are violating a court-ordered protection order. Leave now."

"You ruined my son’s life!" Linda screamed, her face red and blotchy. "He lost his job! His name is in the newspaper! All over a stupid little push into a pool! You were supposed to be his wife! You swore to love him!"

The customers in the shop stood up, whispering and taking out their phones to record her.

"Your son assaulted me, Linda," I replied, my voice steady and completely unbothered. "And you clapped when he did it."

"He gave you everything!" Linda cried, pounding her fist on the glass display case. "You were nothing before you met him! Just a girl baking cakes in a kitchen! We let you into our family!"

At that moment, two city police officers—who had been posted down the street by Marcus Sterling in anticipation of this exact stunt—pushed through the front doors.

"Linda Bennett?" the officer asked.

Linda turned, her eyes widening in shock. "What?!"

"You are under arrest for violation of a civil protection order and criminal trespass."

As the officers grabbed her arms, Linda began to wail, her loud, arrogant persona shattering into desperate tears. "Ethan! Call Ethan! You can't do this to me! I'm his mother!"