At this point, Hannah could no longer hold back her curiosity and asked, “What do you mean, Ethan? What were you supposed to do?”Ethan looked at her again and heaved a deep sigh, “Before Lily left me standing at the altar, I had started to see the signs,” he paused reflectively, “I knew she didn’t love as much as I loved her, and at a time I wasn’t even sure whether it was love that I felt for her, but I couldn’t imagine why else she was with me so I just went with the flow.”“You have to understand, Hannah, I was in my thirties and had never experienced real love. Everyone I met either seemed to be after my money or some favor I could do for them, so when I met Lily, I realized she was different. She didn’t care much about who I was or what I could do, but over time, I realized that she wasn’t looking for anything too serious. But even though I knew that, I still wanted to be with her. It was the first time I found someone who wanted to be with me just for me, and I didn’t want to l
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” Lily said, her voice breaking as she spoke. “I didn’t know how much this affected you; for that, I’m truly sorry.”Ethan and Hannah stood quietly. Ethan nodded in appreciation, but the person he wanted to hear from now was Hannah. He shifted his gaze to Hannah, who still did not know what to say. She remained frozen, overwhelmed by the moment. “Hannah?” Ethan finally asked, curious to hear what she had to say. Heaving a deep sigh, Hannah stared at him and said, “I’m sorry too, Ethan, but I can’t do this.” She said and started walking away again. Confused, Ethan hastened towards her and grabbed her hand. She yanked it away forcefully and snapped, “What do you want from me, Ethan?!”“I want you to say something! Anything!” Liam met her sharp words with frustration.“So what, just because you’ve opened up about your feelings and emotions, you think that solves everything? Because you’ve said a few sad words, you think everything is supposed to be fine?”Ethan opened
“It’s getting late,” Ethan managed to find his voice after the heartfelt speech he had given to his wife. Even though Hannah felt partly unconvinced, she couldn’t help the invisible smile tugging on her lips. His confession still felt surreal. Ethan loved her? Truly and deeply? How could it not feel surreal? Despite her embarrassing past, Ethan Ford loved her. After they arrived at the mansion, Ethan opened up her doors. She’d never felt so seen or so loved. “Truly, it’s the little things,” she muttered. “What?” Ethan asked, having heard her low mumble. “It’s nothing,” Hannah smiled, looking away. Ethan went quiet for a while, but after the confession, he suddenly felt the need to do more to show he meant it. He wanted to talk to her more and pay more attention.He glanced at Hannah, and all he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her. His hand went to her thigh, but before he could hold her, his gaze involuntarily landed on his rearview mirror, which unexpectedly caught Lily’s ga
Ethan pressed his lips deeper—it felt good; it was magical. His heart throbbed like it would jump out of his chest.This was a breach of contract, and he knew it. But what could he do when his heart wanted nothing else but Hannah? But Hannah wasn’t kissing him back.She went rigid, her lips unmoving beneath his. Her breath hitched, her fingers curling into weak fists. It took a minute for her mind to catch up, but Hannah gasped and pulled away when it did.“Ethan…” her voice came out a bit breathy than intended. Ethan looked up. His eyes flashed with fear—fear that he had upset Hannah and ruined the relationship before it even started. “I thought… I just…” he paused to catch his breath. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” he admitted. He just wanted to kiss her. He had been wanting to do that for a while now. Hannah frowned, disappointment etched on her face. “Do you think I’m easy?” “Do you think this is appropriate considering the kind of relationship we have?”Ethan’s gaze so
Lily had thought she was over Ethan. Maybe it was Hannah’s firm claim on him that stirred the jealousy within. “Really?” Lily’s expression darkened. “You care about his reputation that much? Then, have him pay off the debt. Saves us all the trouble.”Hannah let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Was this your plan all along? Is this why you came here with all these troubles? First, Alfred, then you, now Michael?”“My husband has no business paying off the money you stole, Lily! I won’t let it happen. You took that money; you should’ve thought about the consequences. Now, face it and leave Ethan out of it! If I receive one more threatening message, I’ll report you to the police myself.”Before Lily could say anything, the door was slammed on her face. Lily released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She had never seen Hannah look so feral.“Make Ethan pay?” Lily inhaled a sharp breath. “Is that all you could come up with?!”—————Ethan glanced at his wristwatch for the thi
Torn between running after Hannah, and answering the phone, Ethan chose the latter.He picked up the phone and walked outside, right into his garden before pressing the phone to his ear. “Just because I called you once doesn’t give you the right to call me at any time, do you understand?”“I can’t make it,” Lily calmly spoke, yet apprehension laced through the calm. “I can’t see you today.”Ethan raised a brow, not from disappointment but confusion. “Why not?” He asked, this time calmer than before.“I just can’t.”“I need to know what’s going on between you and Hannah. Did you say anything to upset her?”The line went silent. Lily’s words dried up.“Lily?” Ethan called, “What did you say?”“I didn’t mean it, Ethan, I swear. It came out wrong.”“What happened?!” Ethan repeated, his patience slipping Lily contemplated the situation. Would telling Ethan the truth solve the problem? Or would it worsen it?“This is between me and Hannah, Ethan. We will figure it out, but if you must kno
Lucian leaned forward, watching Ethan closely. The misery on Ethan’s face made him wish he could simply wipe it away, but matters of the heart were more complex than closing a business deal. He would know because he’d been there.“Does she know…?”Ethan furrowed his brows, confusion weaved into the lines of his frown.“Your wife… does she know how you feel?“Ethan’s gaze dropped to the table, his jaw tightened as if the question physically hurt. He took a deep breath to steady himself but it didn’t help.“I don’t know, Lucian.” He replied, his voice was low and strained— either from the alcohol, the misery, or both. “I don’t know anything anymore.”Lucian’s gaze softened, “I think you should tell her how you feel, explicitly. Tell her the way it is in your head.”“What if it doesn’t work, man?”“At least, you can say you tried.“Ethan swallowed hard, nodding his head in agreement. He didn’t want to think about it not working but Lucian was right, at least he would say he tried.The ni
The school bus rounded up at 6 Gavin Avenue, a large field of white daisies with large clay pots holding nothing but the wishes of tourists and locals. The Screenwriting school had carefully chosen this spot. They were particular about it. It was supposed to inspire them for an entry into the school’s fourth annual contest. “Can this inspire anyone?” Gloria asked, the petite young woman with large spectacles would have passed for the quiet, timid one in the group, but Gloria was far from reserved. She was outspoken, voicing her opinions and perspectives whether you liked it or not. As talkative as she was, she was also the observant one. Her attention to detail was commendable and just like every other day, despite the number of people trooping into the daisy field, amidst the noises, she was the first to notice that Hannah hadn’t said a word all day. Instead, she repeatedly glanced at her phone, like she was expecting a call any minute, unfortunately, all day, her phone didn’t ri
The ocean stretched endlessly before them, its deep blue waters shimmering under the afternoon sun. The waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, filling the air with the scent of salt and freedom. The soft hum of distant laughter, the occasional cry of a seagull, and the warmth of the sand beneath his feet made Ethan feel something he hadn’t in a long time—at peace.He lay back in his beach chair, sunglasses shielding his eyes as he took in the scene before him. Hannah and Lily were walking along the shoreline, their bare feet sinking into the wet sand with each step. Hannah’s laughter carried over the breeze, light and unguarded.Ethan couldn’t stop staring at her. It had been years since he’d seen her this carefree. No worries, no burdens—just pure, unfiltered joy.Lucian, lounging beside him, sipped his drink and smirked. “Didn’t think you were the vacation type.”Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Didn’t think I’d get a second chance at this kind of peace.”Lucian nodded slow
The evening air carried the soft scent of roses and freshly cut grass as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the garden. Strings of twinkling lights hung above, flickering gently in the breeze. It was simple, intimate—exactly what they needed.Ethan adjusted the cuff of his suit, taking a deep breath. He never thought he’d be standing here again, vowing himself to Hannah, not because they had to, but because they chose to.Lucian clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Nervous?”Ethan scoffed. “Since when do I get nervous?”Lucian smirked. “You’re literally sweating.”Ethan wiped his palms against his pants, rolling his eyes. “It’s just hot out.”Lucian chuckled. “Sure it is.”But the truth was, Ethan was nervous—not because he doubted what he was about to do, but because of how much it meant.He glanced around. The guest list was small, just their closest friends and family. Noah stood in the corner, ever the watchful guardian. Lily adjusted Hannah’s bouquet, whisper
Ethan sat across from Hannah in their bedroom, the quiet between them stretching long and heavy, filled with everything they hadn’t yet said. The past few days had been a storm—one they had barely made it through. And yet, in this moment, it wasn’t the past battles that scared Ethan the most. It was this. Sitting here, looking at Hannah, knowing he had nearly lost her in more ways than one.Hannah sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped together in her lap. There was no anger in her eyes, but there was something else—something deeper. A sadness. A weariness. And maybe, just maybe, a little hope.Ethan exhaled slowly, rubbing his hands together as if that would ease the tension in his chest. “I should’ve told you everything from the beginning,” he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. “I thought keeping things from you would protect you, but all it did was push you away. I was scared of losing you.”Hannah sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Ethan, I knew you had secrets. I c
The explosion was deafening. A wave of heat and force slammed into Ethan, knocking him off balance as shards of debris flew through the air. The ground beneath him trembled. Smoke curled into the night sky, filling his lungs with the acrid scent of burning metal and dust.Ethan coughed, trying to steady himself as his vision swam. He turned his head and saw Anderson slumped beside him, barely conscious, his breathing shallow.A few feet away, the man in the tailored suit—his enemy, his nightmare—stumbled back from the force of the blast. But even through the chaos, he recovered quickly, brushing the dust off his expensive jacket. A smirk tugged at his lips, as if none of this fazed him.Lucian, always the fastest to react, grabbed Ethan’s arm. His grip was firm, urgent. “Move!”Ethan didn’t waste time. He wrapped an arm around Anderson and hoisted him up, supporting most of his weight. Anderson groaned in pain, but he didn’t resist.Flames crackled from the black SUVs parked nearby. T
A thick silence fell over the room. Ethan’s breath hitched in his throat, his pulse thundering as Anderson’s words settled in. “You should have left things alone.” What did he even mean by that? Ethan wondered.Lucian exchanged a glance with Ethan, his body shifting uncomfortably. He took a step toward the door, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun at his waist. Something was wrong. Very wrong.Ethan turned back to Anderson, whose face was pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling with effort. But it wasn’t pain that twisted his features—it was terror.“Anderson,” Ethan pressed, his fingers tightening around Anderson’s cold wrist. “What do you mean? Who did this to you?”Anderson tried to move, but his body was too weak. He clenched his jaw, forcing out a whisper between his shallow breaths.“They know.”Ethan’s blood ran cold.Before he could ask what Anderson meant, Lucian moved abruptly, shoving Ethan back.“Get down
As Ethan entered the room again, his heart sank as he saw Anderson. He looked even worse than he was before. Ethan hesitated for a moment, and then pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, gripping the armrest tightly.This time around, Lucian stood by the door, arms crossed and his eyes scanning the room like he expected danger to come crashing through at any moment. Somewhere deep down, he knew Anderson was not in the clear yet. Not while he was still in this hospital.Ethan barely noticed, Lucian’s demeanor. He reached out, hesitating before lightly grasping Anderson’s wrist. It was cold. Too cold.His throat felt tight. “You have to wake up,” he whispered. “You have to tell me who did this.”Anderson didn’t move.Ethan exhaled shakily, his grip tightening. “I thought you were dead. Do you get that? I—” His voice wavered, and he clenched his jaw. “I grieved you. And now you’re back, but you’re barely here, and I—”He shook his head, frustration burning beneath his skin. “Damn
The hospital room felt smaller, like the walls were closing in, pressing down on Ethan’s chest as he watched Anderson convulse on the bed. The shrill beeping of the heart monitor filled his ears, drowning out everything else. Nurses and doctors shouted, moving quickly, but all Ethan could focus on was Anderson—pale, shaking, slipping away right in front of him.“They know.”The words echoed in his mind like a warning, a scream he couldn’t ignore. Lucian was still gripping his arm, holding him back, but Ethan barely felt it. His entire body was tense, his breath coming in short, shallow bursts.A nurse shoved past them, her voice sharp and urgent. “We need to stabilize him now!”“BP’s dropping fast!” another called.“Charging to 200!”Ethan flinched as the defibrillator paddles pressed against Anderson’s chest.“Clear!”Anderson’s body jerked, then slumped.Ethan’s stomach twisted.“Again!”Another jolt. Another lifeless slump.Panic gripped Ethan so hard his pulse pounded against his
Lucian paced. He couldn’t help it. His body was too charged, his mind too overwhelmed to stay still. His breaths came in sharp, measured inhales as he kept his eyes on Anderson.Ethan hadn’t moved. He was still kneeling beside his cousin, gripping his arm as if afraid that if he let go, Anderson would disappear again. His lips moved in whispers, too low for Lucian to hear. Maybe he was apologizing. Maybe he was making promises.Lucian clenched his jaw. He could hear the distant wail of sirens now, cutting through the silence of Greenville’s ruins. Help was coming. But was it fast enough? He didn’t know how Anderson had managed to survive this long, but one thing was sure, if he hadn’t gotten any help soon, he might not make it much longer anymore.His eyes flickered to Ethan. The man had barely reacted to anything else since they found Anderson. The emotions flickering across his face were too raw to name, shock, disbelief, agony, relief. All tangled into something indescribable.Luci
The drive to Greenville was short, but every mile stretched on like an eternity. With each passing second, Lucian’s hand gripped the wheel tighter, his mind caught in an endless loop of Ethan’s chilling words.“The earthquake should’ve taken me, not him.” Those words replayed once again in his mind, followed by guilt, regret and pain.Ethan had been drowning in it, and Lucian had missed all the signs. This weighed heavily on him considering his welfare was one of the main things he was supposed to look out for. How could he have been so blind? Lucian groaned.He should have stopped him. Should have made him stay. Should have—He exhaled sharply. “No. No more should-haves.” He muttered. He was here now, and in a matter of time, he would find Ethan before it was too late.As he looked at the place now, the road cracked at the edges, debris scattered across the pavement like fallen memories. The photos had not done it justice, the ruins of this place was more than what was shown. Buildin