Author’s POVThe possessiveness in Ethan’s voice made her stomach turn, but she swallowed down her disgust and nodded in response.“I understand,” she said softly, her fingers trailing down his arm in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture.Ethan let out a slow breath, his grip on her wrist loosening slightly. He stared at her for some time and then muttered softly, “Good. I expect you to be ready for tomorrow’s event. I need you to not embarrass me or do anything stupid.”Hannah nodded, forcing herself to meet his gaze, “Of course, Ethan.”With that, he slowly released her hand and stepped back, his cold demeanor slipping back into place, “Get some rest.” He said in a tone that seemed more authoritative than concerning, then turned and walked down the hall, his footsteps echoing as he walked away.As soon as he was completely out of sight, Hannah let out a relieved breath, her hand trembling as she rubbed her wrist where his fingers had gripped her.She couldn’t let him control her l
Author’s POVHannah’s breath hitched, her body frozen in place as the figure’s words played in her mind. She felt every instinct telling her to run, but her legs refused to move. She couldn’t, not without information about Lily. It was after all the only reason she came out here tonight.“What do you mean?” She demanded, her voice although shaky, she was determined, trying to hide the fear surging through her body.“Where is Lily? Tell me!”The figure’s grip tightened for a moment, and then released her and took a step back. The figure chuckled ominously for some time in a way that only irritated Hannah more.“It’s quite ironic that you’ve been searching the whole world for her and she has been closer than you think the whole time.”Immediately Hannah heard this, her eyes widened in surprise.‘Lily is close?’ She thought to herself, finding it hard to believe.She quickly searched her purse for her phone, fumbling with it to find her way out of the Pier. Clearly, she had wasted her t
Author’s POVThe figure took a step back, seeing how unsettled she was. “Why?!” Hannah yelled, and a dark sinister smile appeared beneath the shadow of the hood.“Why?” He repeated.“Because dear Hannah, this is just the beginning. You thought marrying Ethan was the solution to your problems, but it’s only led you into more danger.”“He’s not the man you think he is.” Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps cut through the air, startling both Hannah and the mysterious figure.Hannah quickly shifted her gaze toward the direction of the footsteps, but before she could turn back, the figure had disappeared into the shadows, just as a pair of headlights illuminated the Pier.Scanning her eyes in confusion, Hannah turned to see a black car pulling up slowly. Her pulse quickened as she glanced at the car, unsure of who was behind the wheel. Was it Ethan? Did he follow her? Or was it someone else entirely? These questions filled her mind as she cautiously walked toward the car, her h
Author’s POVThe closer Ethan got to her, the faster Hannah’s heart was beating. But she knew she could not allow her nervousness to show or else Ethan might feel more suspicious of her activities.“I just needed some air,” Hannah said, her voice wavering as she spoke.Hearing this, Ethan’s lips curled into a faint smile, almost as if he had her right where he wanted.“Air, at this hour?” He asked, circling her slowly with a scrutinizing gaze.“You really think you can sneak out without me knowing and then try lying about it? Do you take me for a fool, Hannah?”Hannah’s her started becoming shaky, but she clenched her fist, trying to hold her ground, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” She replied, her voice firmer this time.“I just needed to think. Alone.” She said and then locked gazes with him,“What? I can’t even do that?”Ethan suddenly stopped in front of her, his gaze piercing into hers, “You think I don’t know what’s going on in your head?” He asked softly, his hand brushing a stra
Author’s POVFor a short moment, Hannah did not move. She did not understand how a man who had just made her whole body yearn with desire a few moments ago, could suddenly turn so cold.She stared at him unflinchingly, her mind running wild with thoughts.‘What happened to him?’ She finally asked herself, trying to see another side of Ethan.She had heard so much from different people about him but had never formed her own opinion of him. Not that he had given her a chance to with how cold and controlling he acted toward her most times. At this point, Hannah did not know what to believe. Reginald had told her that Ethan was not as bad as he seemed, but then there was the hooded figure at the Pier, warning her that he wasn’t what she thought he was.“Did you hear me?” Ethan’s voice sounded, breaking her out of her thoughts.“Yes, Ethan.” She whimpered.Immediately she turned to leave, her feet shaking as she walked away, but then Ethan’s voice suddenly stopped her, “And oh, Hannah.”H
Author’s POVHannah held her breath, waiting for Grace’s response. She already knew how Grace felt about her marriage with Ethan and was not expecting her to jump to her aid, but the silence on the other end of the line was deafening.“You want me to investigate Ethan Ford?” Grace finally asked, breaking the silence, her voice laced with shock. Hannah bit her lip, her heart racing as she contemplated this idea again, doubts creeping in.‘Was this the right thing to do? Was she about to cross a line she couldn’t come back from?’ she wondered, staring blankly at her bedroom wall. Ethan did not seem like the kind of man she should mess with, but she had to know the truth. There was too much at stake, too many unanswered questions that left her intrigued.“I need to know who he really is Grace,” Hannah replied in a low tone.“There’s something… something dark about him. I can feel it.” She continued, her voice cracking with fear.Grace remained quiet for some time, processing the weight
Author’s POV The bustling sound of lawnmowers awoke Hannah by 8 a.m. that morning. She had spent some hours in the night, stuck on Lily’s picture, her mind filled with many thoughts and questions until eventually she drifted off to sleep. Stretching her arms, she glanced at the alarm clock by her bedside and sprang up immediately after she saw the time. Today was the party Ethan had been preaching about and if she was late or unprepared, he was going to kill her. She ran towards her box of clothes, searching for anything decent she could wear, which seemed a lot harder than she thought. Ethan had stretched the importance of this party so much, but in all those times he never mentioned what the party was really about, making her choice of outfit difficult to make, not as if she had anything suitable for an occasion as this. This was going to be her first ever party, surrounded by a set of wealthy class she only saw on TV broadcasts and read about in books. Certainly, even her most
Author’s POV Upon hearing this, Hannah stood frozen at the door, her pulse quickening as Ethan’s words echoed in her mind. ‘What did Nicolas mean by she was the right fit for Ethan?’ Was that supposed to be a compliment? A warning? Or something more sinister. Something about the way he said it, made her certain his words were not well meant. She slammed the door in frustration, leaning against it for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. Nicolas’ visit left her feeling doubtful. He seemed concerned, but she didn’t know if she could trust him. For all she knew, he could just as easily have been one of Ethan’s pawns, sent to find out if she was up to anything. Hannah quickly shook off the unease. She couldn’t allow herself to let her guard down now. She had kept Lily a secret all this time and could not afford to reveal her secret now. The party was just hours away, and she had to focus on making sure she was ready, so as not to incur Ethan’s wrath. This was an importan
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