Chapter 94

"Is this real?" I wondered. For someone about to have his head cut off, Ethan looked too comfortable.

"Stop this, Ethan!" I yelled, sitting down opposite him. "Please stop playing games with me. Just let me go, please," I pleaded, hating how easily everything he did affected me.

"This is me letting you go, Emily," Ethan said, his voice suddenly serious. I had almost forgotten how intense he could get. "I promise you, this isn’t a game. I really want to pay for my crimes."

His words tightened something in my chest. "Why?" I asked, my eyes filling with tears. Despite everything, I didn't want the man I loved to end up in prison.

"Because I deserve it," he replied, his tone all business.

"No, you don’t," I said, my voice cracking. "You’ve done so many good things too." But Ethan only gave me a faint smile.

"I love you, Emily. With all my heart. And I really hope you find someone who loves you as much as I do," Ethan said, his words feeling like a final goodbye. "Someone good and kind, so