Chapter 3

Somehow Ethan managed to drive himself to the police station, even with his eyes filled with the tears that never seemed to stop.

He pulled into a parking spot and got out of the car. Slowly, he walked to the front door, all the while trying in vain to stop his tears and to make his eyes less red.

Ethan walked into the police station, practically looking down.

"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?" A man with a badge that said Officer Bryant said.

"Yes, my wife…. my wife, Gwen Winthrop, was brought in yesterday…"

"Hey, Ernie!" he yelled across the room to another man behind a desk.

The man who answered to the name Ernie turned around. "Yeah!"

"Do you know a Gwen Winthrop?"

"Oh yeah…," Ernie said with a chuckle. "That's John's pitbull over there!" he said as he pointed to a room where Ethan saw Gwen sitting in a chair, her arms where held down by a man. Another man seemed to be asking her questions."

Officer Bryant laughed. "That's your wife?" Ethan nodded quietly. "She's quite a pistol. She's been giving us problems all night."

"Maybe I should talk to her."

"Sir, do you know why your wife is here?" Ethan nodded again. "Then where were you yesterday?"

"I was at the hospital with Theresa- the woman that Gwen attacked."

"Oh, I see. So you were a witness?"

"Sort of."

"Well, I'm going to need a statement, Mr….?"

"Winthrop."

"Your… brother…?"

"Half-brother," Ethan corrected.

"Yes, he gave a little information." Officer Bryant pulled out a file folder from a stack of papers on his desk and flipped it open. "Now, it says here that you two heard a noise from upstairs, so you went out to the hall to get the elevator. And quote, "The damned thing didn't work." So you ran down the stairs. At which point you both found Mrs. Winthrop on top of the victim, and quote, "She was going nuts and she looked like a mad man.", trying to drown her. Your broth-, sorry, half-brother, said that you pulled her off of the victim-"

"Theresa," Ethan said firmly.

"Sorry?"

"Her name is Theresa."

"Yes, thank you. Anyways, to continue, you pulled your wife off of Theresa, and your half-brother tended to Theresa. Once he learned that she wasn't breathing, you went to her and began to perform CPR. Your half-brother called 9-1-1 and minutes later they came in and took Theresa to the hospital. Your wife was brought here. Is that pretty much the story?"

Ethan was still looking down and answered slowly. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."

"Excellent! Now we don't have to file another report. We can just use this one. Great. Perfect." He put the file away in the mess of papers on his desk again. "Now, did you want to see your wife?"

"Yes, I did."

"Well, from what she's been saying, I don't think she wants to see you."

"What is she saying?"

"Man, you'd think you were living in a soap opera! She says that this Theresa girl flew out here to stalk you and try to take you away from her or something. Then she continued to seduce you on some beach where you were recorded for all of L.A. to see. So she went to the apartment to confront the both of you when Theresa pushed Gwen, knowing that she was having a complicated pregnancy and Gwen was just defending herself. Now, if this story is true, then you can press charges on this Theresa person for stalking as can your wife for battery."

"That's not true," Ethan said shaking his head.

"Oooh, I want to hear this." He took a seat and seemed to be enjoying the very screwed up story.

"Theresa didn't follow me out here. I know that for a fact. It was just a coincidence. She didn't seduce me, it was actually my fault."

"That's what I thought. How can a guy get out of cheating on his wife? It's always his fault."

"It's not that. Theresa and I go way back. I loved her before I married Gwen. I was going to marry her. Twice actually."

"So why didn't you?"

"Well, Theresa was sentenced to death-"

"WHAT!" Officer Bryant almost chocked.

"But she was innocent. She falsely admitted to the crime because she thought I did it. It later came out that it wasn't me. But she was 'put to death.' It was a hoax by her son's grandfather. At the time, I really thought Theresa was dead. It was horrible. I loved her very much and I was grieving. That night, I was very vulnerable, and I-"

"Let me guess. Shook up the sac with Missy Blonde Attitude?"

"I wouldn't have used those exact words… but yes."

"Yep… No wonder I'm a cop."

"Anyways, Theresa and I started bonding again, and we became as close as we once were. I decided that I was going to propose to either Gwen or Theresa. I pondered the question of who for hours. Then it finally hit me that I always knew the answer. It was Theresa. I loved her. I was going to propose to her. Then Gwen found out she was pregnant, and offered to raise the child alone and move away so that I could be with Theresa. That thought was very tempting, but I couldn't be selfish. So, I ended up proposing to Gwen. I married her last December. Unfortunately, Gwen started having a very difficult pregnancy. She was under a lot of stress, mainly because of Theresa. Her doctor, back in Harmony, told us about a prenatal specialist out here in L.A. So we flew out to see him and hoped that he would be able to help. I know Theresa didn't follow us out here, because she couldn't have known that we were coming out. It was a spur of the moment thing. She came out here to visit with some friends, and luck would have it that we wound up staying at the same place, and in the same bed no less."

"You don't waste any time do you?"

"It wasn't like that. I didn't know she was in the bed. But one thing led to another…"

"Man, no wonder your wife doesn't want to talk to you."

"We didn't sleep together, we almost did, but it's only because we were sleeping. We both thought we were dreaming."

"Uh huh… Sure… If I had a nickel for every time I accidentally got into bed with a woman and began making love to her because we were sleeping…. I'd have… a nickel…" He shrugged it off. "Whatever, it's like you're all living in a soap opera world. It sounds like this soap that my wife is always talking about. Passions or something. You three remind me of Eric, Lindsay, and Liza. 'Daytime's hottest triangle.' You know, Lindsay loves Eric, Eric's married to Liza but loves Lindsay, Liza wants to kill Lindsay, the whole shpeel. The only question is, 'How long will Eric be able to resist Lindsay? Stay tuned… NBC Daytime.'"

They were silent for a long while. "Can I see my wife now?"

"Hold on, let me check."

The officer went towards the room with the two-way mirror where Gwen sat. He stuck his head through the window. He stepped out and walked back towards Ethan.

"You can see her now."

"Thanks." Ethan walked past Officer Bryant and to the room where Gwen was.

"Oh yeah, hold on." Ethan turned back to him. "I forgot to ask you. What ever happened to Theresa? Is she alright?"

"Um…she's um…she's not doing so well…"

"Really? Well, in how bad of a shape is she?"

"Well, she's um… she's in a coma," Ethan admitted.

"Oh, my God. Well, this really does change things a bit. If Theresa doesn't wake up, your wife can be charged with murder one."

"I know. Fox told me."

"That's a very serious charge."

Ethan acted as if he didn't hear what he had just heard. "Can I see my wife now?"

"Yeah, sure."

Ethan walked into the room and other officers walked out.

Gwen looked up suddenly. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Gwen, you're my wife. I care about you."

"Oh please," Gwen scoffed. "If you cared about me, you wouldn't have been sharing saliva with Theresa on the beach while I was in the hospital, doing my best to keep myself calm so that I could deliver your healthy, happy baby! If you cared about me, you would have stayed away from her, Ethan! But you didn't. How dare you say that you care about me!"

Gwen stood from the chair and was ready to charge again. The officers came crashing through the door and sat her down.

"Is there a problem here?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes, my husband doesn't know the meaning of fidelity. He can't keep his damn pants on!"

"Gwen, listen to me-" Ethan tried.

"No, you listen to me!" she said as she pointed her finger at him. "Go and be with Theresa, okay! Go! I set you free! I don't want you in my life anymore! I don't want you in my child's life! Just leave!"

"Gwen, please-"

"NO! Theresa won, okay! You can go tell her that! She's probably standing right outside, isn't she? I'm sure she's jumping for joy, Ethan! She can have you! LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!"

"Theresa's not outside, Gwen. She's in the hospital."

"Oh, damn it! I was hoping I'd put her in a funeral home, but of course, she rose from the ashes, just like she always does."

"Gwen, actually… you might have killed her…"

Gwen stopped and looked up at Ethan with a strange look on her face. "What?"

"Theresa's in a coma, Gwen. The doctor says she probably won't wake up."

Gwen sat still for a moment. Then suddenly: "Could I have a moment alone with my husband?" Gwen asked the officer.

"I don't know…"

"Please, I promise I'll be a good girl."

The officer nodded and he and the other officers left the room. Gwen ran from her seat over to Ethan, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him forcefully. Ethan pulled back, hardly in the mood for this.

"Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. What are you doing?"

"Oh, honey! Do you know what this means! Theresa will finally be out of our lives for good! We can go on as life intended! This is the best possible news, Ethan! Finally, finally, you, me, and our baby can be a happy family without any outside forces, like Theresa, intruding! Oh, Ethan, we're saved!" she said kissing him again.

This time Ethan pulled back and made sure that he was far enough away from Gwen. His eyes were filled with tears. "SAVED! How could you say something like that, Gwen! You may have killed her and you're celebrating! What's the matter with you! I can't believe what a monster you are. You almost killed a woman, and at the prospect of her dying, you jump for joy!"

"Ethan, how can you not be happy about this! Theresa will be out of our lives forever!" Gwen stood staring at Ethan and he stared right back, shaking his head while tears spilled quietly from his eyes. "You don't want her out of our lives forever, do you? You're still in love with her, aren't you! I don't fkin' believe this, Ethan! She chases you out to L.A., tries to steal you away from me, on more than one occasion, seduces you while your pregnant wife is lying in a hospital bed, and you're still in love with her! I don't believe this!"

"It doesn't matter, Gwen. Whether she lives or dies, you will never be a free woman… ever."

"Oh, please. Like a jury is actually going to convict me! I'm pregnant, Ethan. She attacked me."

"Not from where Fox and I were standing. Defending yourself is one thing, Gwen. But you had full control and you were trying to kill her! I will testify against you, if I have to."

"And you're the lawyer." she laughed. "Don't you know that husbands can't testify against their wives?"

Ethan didn't know what to say. "It doesn't matter. Fox will testify against you, and because I was there, I will most likely get that opportunity."

"Ethan, you don't know-" Gwen stopped speaking when Ethan's cell phone rang in his pocket. Ethan took it from his pocket and put it to his ear.

"Hello? Fox, what's going on? How she doing?" Ethan listened as Fox responded. "What! Oh, my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I- I'll be right there. Give me about ten minutes. Okay. Bye."

"What's the matter? Did something happen to Theresa? Is she alright?"

"Why should I tell you? You seemed pretty happy to be getting rid of her, why would you care if she was alright?"

"Ethan, I-"

Ethan stuffed his phone back into his pocket. "No, okay. You might just get your wish. Theresa might die."

"What, what hap-"

"Fox said the doctor is trying to take her off of life support without Pilar's consent."

"But, they have-"

"Would you just stop pretending to care already! You killed her, Gwen! YOU KILLED HER!"

Gwen didn't know what to say. She stood silent and afraid. "You know, I just don't understand. What happened to that girl that I fell in love with? What happened to the person that taught me so much about life?"

Gwen looked down. "That girl is gone. She died a long time ago. Do you remember when? It was when Theresa snaked herself into our lives and ruined everything that we could have had, Ethan! That's when. It was when you allowed her to trick you into loving her. It was when that monster stole you away from me."

"Stole? Let's get something straight right now. Theresa never stole me, Gwen. She's always had me one way or the other. Theresa isn't like you, Gwen. She doesn't care about winning. If she knew that I genuinely didn't have feelings for her, she would leave me alone. But because she knows that I cared for her she won't give up. I couldn't help falling in love with her years ago, that was no one's fault. She didn't make some pact with the devil to take me from you, Gwen. It just happened. I chose her because I wanted to. Not because she made me. I'm not some prize that you can just play tug-of-war with, Gwen. I'm a human being. Did you ever stop and consider that I really did love Theresa? That I wanted to be with her over you? We share something very special, Gwen. But Theresa and I share something even more amazing. It's a love that you can feel without saying a word. It's something deep and whole. Something that I've always known that I didn't have with you, but all my life I've been told I did. But I've always known from day one, ever since I met Theresa, that there was something there that I've never had. It was real, it was true, and it was love. It was love, Gwen. Real, true, passionate love that you stole from us. I don't have the proof, Gwen, but I'm with Theresa when she says that she believes that you and your mother had something to do with framing her for sending that email to the tabloid. You remember? The event that sent Theresa's and my relationship spiraling downward on a never-ending fall. And what a coincidence, it happened to be the same event that led me back to you. How interesting. And now, look what's happened, Gwen. Just because you can't stand losing, even when you have that ring on your finger, you try to kill her. No, Gwen, I think you're the monster. I've just been too blind to see it all this time. And, after all of what has happened to lead me to this point, I'm losing Theresa. At your hand, Gwen. How will I ever survive without her? The answer is simple. I won't. I can't. And Gwen, you swore in a church, before our friends and family, before God to be a good wife. You swore to love, honor, and respect me. Well, it looks like you lied, doesn't it, Gwen? You haven't been a good wife because you haven't honored or respected me. You've treated me like a child and have made it out to seem that I'm just some person oblivious to everything that happens around him. Well, you know what," Ethan said, putting up his left hand and pointing to his ring. "I guess I don't need this since our marriage wasn't true anyway. Theresa was right. I've never really been married to you. In my heart, I've always been married to her. I promised before God that I would love, honor, respect, obey, and cherish the woman that I love. That's her, Gwen. And I've betrayed her. I betrayed my heart when I asked you to marry me and I betray her now by not being at her side when she needs me most. Well, you know what?" Ethan slipped the ring off of his finger and threw it at Gwen. "You can have this! I don't need it anymore."

Gwen was in tears. "Ethan, wait. Please-"

"Give me the rings." Gwen looked down at her left hand at her ring finger. "Gwen…" Sorrowfully, Gwen slipped them off her finger and handed them to him.

"Ethan, please, we can-"

"No, first thing tomorrow, I'm filing for a divorce. Maybe someone in prison will be able to put up with you. Because I sure as hell can't."

Ethan knocked on the door and someone opened it for him. He led himself out of the police station and out of Gwen's life. He was free….

Now he only need to get to Theresa.