Confrontation

Confrontations  

Ethan’s forehead furrowed as he studied my expression. “He’s coming here? As of now?”  

I nodded, my grip tightening on my phone. “I don’t realize how he even determined me. I didn’t inform him where I turned into staying.”  

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his easy going demeanor changed through something extra protective. “Do you need to look at him?”  

“No,” I stated firmly. The notion of dealing with Alex so quickly after strolling out made my belly churn. “But I don’t know how to forestall him.”  

Ethan glanced at the road at the back of us as though looking forward to Alex to seem at any moment. “Let’s get out of here. We can move someplace he won’t discover you.”  

His phrases had been steady, however the anxiety in his voice betrayed his concern. Before I may want to respond, he reached out and lightly touched my arm, grounding me withinside the moment. “You don’t need to do that alone, Anita.”  

His reassurance turned into like a lifeline, and for the primary time in an extended while, I felt like a person turned into my corner.  

We walked in a timely fashion down the road , Ethan maintained the manner towards his automobile parked some blocks away. The crisp January air stung my cheeks, however I slightly noticed. My mind had been racing, tangled in reminiscences of Alex and the existence I’d simply left at the back of . 

“Where are we going?” I asked as we slid into the warmth of Ethan’s sleek black SUV.  

“Somewhere safe,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.  

He navigated through the metropolis with ease, his hand gripping the guidance wheel tightly. I watched him out of the nook of my eye, marveling at how distinct he changed into from the boy I used to know. Ethan had constantly been type and reliable, however there has been a side to him now—a quiet self belief that made me sense like I ought to agree with him with anything.  

“Ethan,” I started hesitantly, “I admire this, however you don’t have to—” 

“Stop,” he interrupted, glancing at me briefly. “You don’t want to thank me, and I'm no longer going to permit you to face this alone. You’ve been through enough.”  

His phrases delivered a lump to my throat, and I grew to appear out the window, hoping he wouldn’t be aware of the tears welling in my eyes.  

We ended up at a small lake simply outdoors in the city. The place changed into deserted, the frozen water reflecting the light afternoon sky. Ethan parked the auto and grew to become off the engine, the silence settling among us like a delicate truce.  

“Here,” he stated , pulling out a thermos from the backseat. “Hot chocolate. I constantly hold a few with me at some stage in winter.”  

I couldn’t help but smile as he poured the steaming liquid into cups. “You’re nonetheless the same, aren’t you?”  

He shrugged, handing me a cup. “Some matters don’t change.”  

We sat in cushty silence for a while, the warm temperature of the new chocolate thawing the icy knot in my chest.  

“You’re truly now no longer going again , are you?” Ethan requested eventually, his voice tender however serious.  

I shook my head. “No. I can’t. Not after everything.”  

He nodded, his gaze constant at the frozen lake. “Good. You deserve higher than what he gave you.”  

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. “It’s now no longer pretty much Alex,” I admitted. “It’s approximately me. I permit myself to disappear in that marriage. I don’t even recognise who I am anymore.”  

“You’ll determine it,” he stated confidently. “And I’ll be right here to assist you, in case you ’ll permit me.”  

I checked him out, my coronary heart swelling with gratitude. “Thank you, Ethan. Really.”  

Before he should respond, my telecel smartphone buzzed again, shattering the delicate peace. I pulled it out and winced at the sight of Alex’s name.  

Alex:“I’m withinside the city. Where are you? I simply need to speak .”  

I confirmed the message to Ethan, my arms trembling. “He’s right here .”  

Ethan’s jaw clenched, and he took the telecel smartphone from me, studying the message carefully. “You mustn't respond,” he stated firmly. “He doesn’t get to dictate what occurs next.”  

“But he’s now no longer going to stop,” I stated , my voice slightly above a whisper. “You don’t recognise him, Ethan. When Alex needs something, he doesn’t supply up.”  

Ethan studied me for a moment, then surpassed me with the telecel smartphone . “Do you need me to speak to him?”  

The concept of Ethan confronting Alex made my belly twist. As much as I desired to cover myself from the confrontation, I knew I couldn’t run forever.  

“No,” I stated subsequently . “I want to address this myself.”  

We drove again to my rental in silence, the burden of what changed into coming urgent down on me. Ethan insisted on strolling me to my door, his protective instincts refusing to permit him to go away alone.  

“I’ll wait right here ,” he stated as I unlocked the door. “If you want anything, simply call.”  

I nodded, thankful for his support, and stepped inside. The rental felt chillier than usual, the dim lighting fixtures casting lengthy shadows at the walls.  

I set my bag at the counter and sank onto the couch, my coronary heart pounding as I stared at my telecel smartphone . Alex’s message changed into nonetheless open, taunting me.  

Taking a deep breath, I typed out a response.  

Anita: “I’m home. But in case you need to speak, it’ll be on my terms. No surprises.”  

His response got here nearly instantly.  

Alex: “Fine. I’ll be there in ten.”  

I set the telecel smartphone down, my arms trembling. Ten mins felt each too lengthy and now no longer lengthy enough.  

A tender knock on the door startled me, and I jumped to my feet. Ethan stepped inside, his expression concerned. “You okay?”  

I nodded, even though the lie changed into obtrusiveness in my shaking arms . “Alex is on his way.”  

Ethan frowned however didn’t argue. “I’ll live out of sight, simply in case.”  

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice slightly audible.  

When the knock subsequently got here , I froze, my breath catching in my throat. It took each ounce of braveness I needed to move the room and open the door.  

Alex stood on the alternative side, his darkish eyes heavy with an emotion I couldn't place. He was regarded as constantly —polished, confident, and entirely unreadable.  

“Anita,” he stated , his voice tender but firm.  

I stepped apart to permit him in, my fingers crossed protectively over my chest. “What do you need , Alex?”  

He grew to become to stand me, his gaze looking mine. “You left,” he stated simply, as though that defined everything.  

“Yes, I did,” I stated , my voice trembling with anger. “Because I couldn’t hold a dwelling like that, Alex. I couldn’t hold being invisible.”  

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he would possibly argue. But then his shoulders sagged, and he set free a heavy sigh. “I recognise I screwed up, Anita. I recognise I drove you away. But I need to repair this. I need to repair them.”  

I stared at him, my coronary heart torn among the affection I’d as soon as felt and the ache I couldn’t forget.  

Before I should respond, Ethan stepped into the room, his presence a stark comparison to Alex’s polished demeanor. Alex’s eyes narrowed as he grew to become able to stand him.  

“Who the hell is this?” Alex demanded, his voice sharp.  

Ethan met his gaze calmly, his posture unyielding. “I’m the character ensuring she doesn’t undergo this alone.”  

The anxiety withinside the room changed into palpable, and I found out with a sinking feeling that this changed into a long way from over.