Return To Paradise

Ethan

“How long?” I asked, my finger tracing the edge of the envelope.

“How long have you had this?” 

Jane glanced at Reginald nervously and the latter avoided her gaze.

“How long, Jane?!” I bellowed angrily, causing her to tremble in fear.

“I’m-I’m sorry Master Ethan, I didn’t know how to tell you. I found the letter about a month ago in Ms. Young’s room.” Aunt Jane said quickly and breathed out as if a heavy load had been lifted from her chest.

A soft scoff escaped my lips. It took a while to process what she had said. I couldn’t believe it, I didn't want to. This entire time, I imagined the worst had happened to her, but it turned out she wasn’t lost, she just didn’t want to come back to me. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks as a wry smile parted my lips.

Slowly, I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter, my heart beating faster as I unfolded it.

“Ethan, I’m sorry I have to say goodbye this way. You deserve more than a piece of paper, but it’s the only way I can get you to stop looking for me. The truth is I’m not lost, at least not anymore. I’ve loved you since the moment we met, but I got scared towards our marriage. You are perfect, but that perfection scared me because it reminded me I’m not as special as you are. I’ve always lived in the shadows of your greatness and deep down I guess I always knew I would get lost in that shadow if we got married, and I want my own life, I want to be seen and known for the person I am.

The funny thing about life is that it always finds a way to make everything work together for good. I didn’t want to leave you standing there alone on the altar that day, but I was kidnapped and it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. It stopped me from making a mistake because I would have married you and lost myself, but instead, I ended up meeting Michael. We fell in love, and I just knew I had to stay away because if I came back, you never would have let me go. I’m sorry things ended up this way.” 

I crumpled the paper as I finished reading, my chest tightening in anger. Her departure shattered my heart, filling me with deep betrayal and loss. It felt like I had lost her all over again, only this time, the pain and anger I felt was more.

A few months after she disappeared, I combed through every city trying to find her. At first, I was worried about her safety, but that feeling had soon been replaced with something else – hate. I hated her for leaving and wanted to find her, not because of love but because I wanted her to suffer. However, despite my attempts to find her, somehow she always managed to be elusive. Now I knew why.

As her words replayed in my mind, I started to feel more irritated, and my hatred for her intensified.

‘She left me for a man that kidnapped her?!’ I groaned inwardly. 

“Ethan…” Reginald’s voice filtered into my ear softly.

“Are you…”

“Don’t say it.” I growled softly, my chest rising and falling in anger.

“Don’t you dare say it!” I repeated, furrowing my brows in irritation. Her betrayal stung deep and cost me even more.

“My father suffered a stroke because she chose not to show up for our engagement party! I had to oversee all the activities of this company, losing every other aspect of my life because she felt threatened by my greatness?!”

“Well, I didn’t ask for it!” I snapped irritably.

“I didn’t ask for any of this. She did this to me! She made me lose myself in my work just so I could not feel her absence so much, and I tried.” I growled, stomping my feet in frustration.

“I tried to bury my emotions behind a pile of paperwork, winning over any small or major business, dominating the business world with my cutthroat ruthless deals, just so I wouldn’t have to be consumed by her absence, only to find out that she left me on our engagement day for someone else.”

Reginald gasped in shock, not knowing what to say. 

Clenching my fist in anger, I stormed away wordlessly, not bothering to look back.

My head was still spinning from her letter, as I rejoined Clint at the car. 

“Drive,” I instructed coldly.

“Everything okay, Master Ethan?” Clint asked, raising his brow with concern.

“Just drive!” I blurted in anger.

“I need to find her,” I added vaguely. 

Clint turned and entered the car, glancing at me through the rearview mirror as he ignited the engine, “Where exactly are we heading to?” He asked cautiously. 

“The nightclub, Earthly Paradise,” I answered leaning back on the car seat.

I didn’t know why my mind called for her now, but I needed to see her again and didn’t know where else to find her. She reminded me of Lily but without the cold and unhinged cruelty. Even though we met briefly, Hannah was softer and more gentle. I realized now what I needed to do. If I had to get over Lily, I needed to replace her memories with someone new and leave the past behind. I needed someone new to focus on, someone to make me forget and finally fulfill my father’s wishes. 

I had to make Hannah marry me.