Chapter 139 ~ They think I did it

[MY DEAR READERS, TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND TO CELEBRATE THE NEW MILESTONE, I WROTE A FREE CHAPTER FOR YOU. HOPE YOU’LL LIKE IT]

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Ethan growled staring daggers at Nathaniel Jacobs...

“I know you’re a powerful man and you can wipe me off the face of the earth, but I also know you’re powerful enough to get me back my life.”

Ethan chuckled darkly, “No shit.”

“I know he’s a pain in the ass but please hear him out. Then decide later.” Micheal pleaded.

“You have five minutes, you better make it count,” Ethan said coldly.

“Well, I don’t think we’ve met officially. My name is Nathaniel Jacobs. I’m Zoe’s father’s friend and her ex-husband” He laughed. 

Finding it amusing. 

Ethan looked at the guy and he looked younger than he claimed to be. He didn’t look past forty years.

“I know what you may be thinking. But I had surgery. I had to change my face because it was only a matter of time before they found me. In fact, I was going to die earlier than the love of your life. Although I must say you don’t look that heartbroken.” He mocked.

“Just keep talking,” Micheal grunted.

“Have you ever wondered why your grandfather never wanted you to marry her? I mean you practically grew up together, both rich, and yet he hates no scratch that, he despises her.”

“Her parents despise me just the same.” Ethan pointed out. “So, what’s your point?”

“They do. But what do you think could be the reason?” He asked making Ethan lean back in his chair.

He didn’t trust the Nathaniel guy but what he was saying had a point. He must have been so out of it that he never once stopped to think about why the two families couldn’t let them be together. But now looking back, he was grateful because he couldn’t imagine being stuck with a lie for the rest of his life. 

“Because of you? Her parents wanted her to marry you for a reason I presume?” Ethan asked, 

“Close enough. But I’ll leave you to speak to your grandfather about it. You should hear it from him.”

“I doubt it’s something serious. If it was, he would have told me a long time ago.” Ethan stood. 

“You’ve just wasted my time.”

“Rose.” Nathaniel began.

Ethan who was holding the door handle paused, his jaw hardening. 

“You don’t get to say my wife’s name.”

“Oh, you’re already married? The article said you’re engaged.” Nathaniel mocked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, “Engaged to a murderer.”

Ethan turned and was about to pounce on him but Micheal beat him to it and had already landed a punch on him. It was so hard that it sent him flying off the chair.

“What the fuck man?” He sneered as he wiped the blood off his face.

“I didn’t arrange this meeting for you to be an asshole. Maybe I should let him finish you off and I’ll clean what remains of you.”

“Fine! I’m sorry Okay!” He said standing but he had barely balanced himself when Ethan landed another punch on him and followed him to the floor stranding his thighs as he threw the painful punches at him making him groan in pain... 

“Whoever made you change your face can’t be compared to what I’ll do to you if you think you can toy with me.” His breathing was hard and his knuckles were covered in blood.

He stood angrily facing Micheal, “Your detective work is full of shit. Just quit and focus on selling tickets to a fucking clown show!” He growled and walked out of his office. 

Micheal sighed and turned to face him, “What the fuck was that? Why didn’t you tell him what you told me?”

Nathaniel laughed, blood trickling down his nose, “He will be back.”

…………………

Ethan opened the door and rushed into Rose’s office but she didn’t even hear him enter. Her eyes were focused on the screen.

He expected to find her angry or in tears but there was nothing on her face. She just had a blank look, staring at the screen without blinking.

[“BREAKING NEWS: TALENTED JEWELRY DESIGNER, ROSE COOPER IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE ONE BEHIND ZOE SMITH’S MURDER”

Sources say the two had been rivals since they were young and Rose has always been obsessed with Ethan Sinclair who only had eyes for Zoe.]

Attached to the article were pictures of Zoe and Ethan from high school and the picture that trended online when she returned to Sun City. 

The comment section was going crazy and many of Zoe’s fans had flooded the comments.

[I always knew she was a bitch on the day she slapped Zoe in front of her juniors during a show]

[She will pay for killing that poor soul]

[You’re next to die! We won’t let you live another day]

[Trying to be who you’re not! So desperate]

[No wonder her parents went bankrupt, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!]

“Rose? Baby?” Ethan’s deep voice was only a whisper.

His hand moved gently to shut the laptop in front of her, but Rose still didn’t look up. Her blank expression, so devoid of the spark he had grown to love, chilled him to the bone. Especially since she had no tears running down her face, it worried him even more. He knelt in front of her, resting his hands on her knees.

“Baby, talk to me,” he pleaded, his voice soft yet it had a panicking tone to it. The articles, the lies, the vicious comments, he wanted to tear it all down for her, to protect her from the world.

And he was going to do just that. But first, he had to make sure she was okay. 

She blinked slowly as if coming out of a daze, but her eyes were distant. 

“It’s true, isn’t it?” she whispered, her voice hollow before she added,

“They all believe it. The world thinks I killed her.”