"Thank you," I said to the woman who guided me to Ethan's mud house, while Ethan stayed back to drink with some of the guys."Did you grow up in the same orphanage as Ethan?" I asked. She looked a little older than Ethan and most of the other people I saw him mingling with.A warm smile spread across her face, and she shook her head. "No, only a few people here know Mr. Marcel from the orphanage. The rest of us are rescues," she replied."Rescues?" I repeated, confused. "Would you mind explaining it to me?"She smiled as she opened the door, and a cool, natural breeze welcomed us, carrying an earthy scent. I looked around and noticed the cozy, well-ventilated space. The living room was small, with chairs made of bamboo, and there was a tiny kitchen in the corner. A staircase beside the kitchen led to an open room upstairs. Even from the doorway, I could see some of the room's features.I stared in awe. It was the smallest space I’d ever seen Ethan own, but it also looked the most com
Ethan smiled at me, gently brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. "You need to go back home to your father, and I have to get back to work," he said.I rolled my eyes, frustration bubbling up. "What work? Importing illegal goods and killing people who annoy you?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Deep down, I didn’t want Ethan returning to that life.His smile faded, and I caught a glimpse of hurt in his eyes. "Is that really all you think I do?" he asked, his brows knitting together.I sighed, pulling away slightly. "What else am I supposed to think?" I snapped, unable to contain my frustration. After everything I’d seen, I knew I should’ve chosen my words more carefully, but the truth was, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.Ethan’s voice softened, his tone almost pleading. "How many times do I have to tell you, Emily? I’m not the villain you’ve made me out to be.""But you’re not a saint either," I countered. "It doesn’t matter if those people deserved what
A Week Later"Are we really going to Gloria's funeral?" I asked Ethan as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. Though I knew from the moment we arrived in New York last night, part of me still hoped I could convince him otherwise."I am, but it’s fine if you don’t want to," Ethan replied, straightening his black tie with ease."If you’re going, I’m going," I insisted, rising to my feet. I knew I couldn’t protect him if Wayne and Christof had something planned, but at the very least, I could be by his side and warn him if necessary."Are you sure?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with concern. "I know Gloria hasn’t exactly left you with good memories, and Jennifer and all your other friends will be there." "I don’t mind," I said. "I just want to stay by your side." I honestly didn’t mind seeing Jennifer again. She was still a good friend, but avoiding her had been essential for my sanity."Okay, if you insist," Ethan said, giving in. I nodded and slipped on a black, three-quarter-sleeved
"I’m so sorry, sir," I stammered as soon as Christof spoke. He turned to Ethan, who stared at me with a reassuring smile."He's joking," Ethan whispered, and Christof burst into laughter."I see why she makes you want to change, she’s so innocent," Christof said, glancing back at me. I felt an unexpected sense of calm; like Ethan, Christof didn’t match his fearsome reputation. He looked more like a lovable old man than the ruthless figure I'd heard about."Make yourself comfortable, my dear. Take a seat," Christof said, gesturing to a reserved table near his own."Ethan, my boy, we’ll talk after the party," he added, and Ethan nodded before leading me to the table.As soon as we sat down, I looked at Ethan in shock. "Is that really Gloria’s father?" I asked, still trying to process the scene.Ethan smiled gently. "Not what you expected, is it?" he asked."Definitely not," I replied. After meeting Gloria’s father and seeing the genuine affection he had for Ethan, I felt a bit more at e
My heart sank as Wayne threatened me. I stared into his eyes, hoping he was bluffing, but there was no trace of doubt in his gaze. "Don’t do this," I pleaded, hoping to appeal to his better nature. "If you hurt my father, you’ll be doing to me what Ethan did to you," I reminded him, desperation seeping into my voice."Do you think I care?" he sneered, his smirk cold and unfeeling. "You need to get Ethan to this address or get ready to lose a father," Wayne said, shoving a piece of paper into my hands. "The time and date are on there. Don’t mess this up," he added, moving closer until I could feel his breath on my neck."Don’t mess this up, Emily," he repeated, his voice deepening, making me swallow hard. I nodded, taking in his words as he walked away. As soon as he was out of the closet-like space, I let out a shaky breath, staring at the paper."Are you really going to do this?" I asked myself, my hands trembling as I stared at the address. Without thinking too much, I tucked the pa
A Week Later (Saturday) For the past week, I hadn’t slept a wink. Wayne's threats echoed in my mind as I stared at the piece of paper he'd given me. *Protect your father. Ethan deserves it,* my conscience urged, but every time I considered betraying Ethan, a wave of heart-pounding fear would overwhelm me. "Still having trouble sleeping?" Ethan asked, noticing my wide-open eyes as he moved closer, wrapping me in his arms. "Is everything okay, darling?" Ethan's voice was soft and concerned, and I turned to him, tears streaming down my cheeks. "No!" I cried, staring into his eyes. He looked confused, but he pulled me into a tighter embrace. "What's going on?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern as he held me tenderly. "Talk to me, please." But what could I say? How could I tell him that in less than eight hours, I was leading him to his death? "I just miss my father," I lied, sobbing louder into his chest. "Is that all?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as
"Say something," I pleaded with Ethan after minutes of silence. Guilt gnawed at me as I noticed his expressionless face."I know, Emily," Ethan finally said, surprising me. I narrowed my eyes, confusion setting in. What did he mean by that?"I don't understand," I said, shaking my head."I'm not a fool, Emily. I knew the moment the phone I gave you in Miami got disconnected, the moment my men spotted Wayne. Alpha also told me. Did you really think you could hack my computer without me noticing?" Ethan's voice deepened as he spoke, making my heart race."Honestly, you were terrible at hiding it," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I stared at him with wide eyes, my heart pounding and my mind swirling. If Ethan knew all this, why didn’t he stop me? Why did he let it go this far? Was this ambush for me, not him?"Are you going to kill me now?" I asked, the only question that came to mind amidst the chaos in my head. A smile appeared on Ethan's face as he shook his head.
"What do you say, son? Do you still want this to end now, or have you changed your mind?" Christof asked Ethan with a smile."I've changed my mind," Ethan replied, and the next moment, I heard the deafening sound of a gunshot. "Ethan!" I screamed, pushing the door open and rushing inside. I ran straight to Ethan, who looked at me with a mixture of surprise and concern. "I told you to stay in the car," he said, but his words barely registered as I frantically inspected his body, searching for any signs of a gunshot wound."What are you doing, Christof?" I heard Wayne yell. I turned to see Wayne clutching his hand, blood gushing from it as he nearly collapsed to the ground, his gun falling beside him. "You shot me, Christof, not him!" Wayne shouted in disbelief.Christof only chuckled. "That was the plan, you fool," he said, stepping closer to Wayne and pointing his gun directly at his head, kicking Wayne’s weapon further away. "Did you really think I would betray Ethan? He’s like a so
"What are you waiting for? Don’t leave the poor guy hanging," my father teased, raising his fist in the air. "Say yes," he said, joining the chants. The moment those words left his lips, it felt like the world paused. Everything I had ever wanted, everything I had ever hoped for, was falling into place. My father’s approval was the last piece of the puzzle. With a heart full of joy, I turned to Ethan, my voice shaky with excitement. "Yes!" I said, extending my hand to him. Ethan's smile widened as he slid the ring onto my finger. He lifted me into the air, swirling me around, and I giggled, my heart fluttering with excitement. It was a moment of pure bliss, as though nothing else existed in the world but us. When he finally set me down, I noticed Jennifer walking toward me, a soft smile on her face as she held a beautiful white dress in her hands. "You always said you wanted to get married in your mother's dress," she said, holding out my mother’s wedding gown, now perfectly alte
"What's going on, Dad?" I asked, my voice rising above its normal pitch, my heart starting to race. "Just come home, Emily. Now!" he yelled, ending the call abruptly. I stared at the phone, my mind blank. What could possibly be the problem? I couldn't think of anything, except maybe, like my mother, my father was sick too. I took a deep breath, dialing Ethan's number to inform him that I was getting on the next flight to Ashville."My dad just called me. He sounded really panicked. I think something is going on, and I have to go home now," I said as soon as Ethan picked up the call."Is everything okay? Did he say what was wrong?" Ethan asked. I shook my head as if he could see me."No, he just said I should come home. I'm going to the airport now to get the first ticket home," I felt the need to keep him informed."Just hold on. I'll call the pilot to take you," Ethan said, reminding me that he had a private jet. "I'll call the driver to take you to the hangar right now," he added,
"Long story short, his parents aren’t dead," Ethan said as he pulled into one of his mansions."What?" I exclaimed. "Don't shorten the story! Please, tell me the full details," I demanded, watching him park in the underground garage.Ethan sighed and turned to face me. "Wayne’s parents are not dead," he repeated.I narrowed my eyes, waiting for more. "They're at the island," Ethan continued.My eyes widened. "When I took you to the island, I used the opportunity to see them. They've been hiding from Christof because he wanted them dead. They stole from both me and Christof," Ethan explained.I nodded, starting to piece things together. "And the video?" I asked.Ethan smiled. "Faked. It was a video I made to convince Christof they were dead. He was starting to doubt my kills," he said with a shrug."And you didn't tell me? You let me judge you all this time?" I said, feeling a pang of guilt."Your judgment wasn’t far from the truth. I have killed people, Emily," Ethan said, locking eye
"So, tell me," I said, staring at him, my eyes glistening with curiosity.Ethan smiled. "A very important person owed me a favor. When Rose called, I decided to cash it in," he said.I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who is this very important person who could easily turn a death sentence into nothing?" I wondered aloud.Ethan chuckled. "That’s my little secret," he teased, and I smiled."But," he added, "it wasn’t exactly changed from a death sentence to nothing. Someone else took the blame."My eyes widened, and I shot him a sharp glance. "An innocent man took the blame for you? That’s not fair!" I scolded."I wouldn’t call him innocent," Ethan replied casually, his tone so nonchalant it made me roll my eyes."I thought you said you’ve changed," I huffed, folding my arms across my chest."I have changed," Ethan insisted, but I just rolled my eyes again."Then tell me exactly what happened," I demanded, noticing he was only giving me snippets of the story. My eyes stayed fixed on him,
"Please, let's be a family," Ethan pleaded, kneeling before me and pulling out the ring, the same ring he had proposed with over three years ago. I watched him, a weak smile tugging at my lips. "I don't think this is the best place to propose," I said softly, glancing around the hospital room. "Besides, the floor isn't exactly sanitary. Please, get up." I said everything except what he wanted to hear."Well, answer me so I can get up," he replied, a smile playing on his lips. I glanced over at Jennifer, who nodded, urging me to say yes. I looked back at Ethan, my sweet Ethan, still on his knees."I love you," I said slowly, "and I would love to have a family with you. But I can't marry you." The words felt heavy as they left my mouth. I helped him to his feet, but I could see the hurt in his eyes."Why not, Em?" Jennifer’s voice cut through the silence that followed my answer."Marriage is... too heavy," I explained, feeling the weight of my father’s disapproval bearing down on me.
"Then don’t do it," Jennifer urged softly, her voice steady but filled with concern. I shook my head, tears streaming down. "I have to," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I don’t have enough love to give them at the moment. They deserve more than a broken mother," I thought to myself. The nurse, standing nearby, remained silent, her face professional yet kind. She quietly placed her Doppler aside and handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. “You can head back to the doctor’s office,” she instructed gently. Jennifer and I both nodded, and we made our way down the hallway, my heart heavy with each passing moment.As we got to the doctor's office, we pushed open the door without knocking, only to stop abruptly. Another patient was seated inside. “Oh! Sorry,” Jennifer exclaimed, starting to close the door, but the doctor’s voice cut in. “No, Ms. Sanders, come in,” the doctor urged, his tone serious but also welcoming. I hesitated at the door, reluctant to walk in or speak about my choice
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jennifer’s voice was soft, yet filled with concern as she held my hand tightly. We walked into the clinic, the sterile smell of the place overwhelming my senses, and my heart raced in my chest. I could barely focus as I tried to take deep, steady breaths. "Yes, Jen," I replied, though the words felt hollow, like I was trying to convince myself just as much as I was convincing her."You just found out you're pregnant," she continued, her eyes searching mine for any flicker of doubt. "Wouldn’t it be better to wait? To think it through a little more?" Her voice was gentle, but beneath it was a plea.I shook my head, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. "I don’t want to change my mind." The words came out firmer than I expected. I didn’t want to be swayed. I couldn’t be. I needed to do this before the weight of everything crushed me completely."I’ll go in myself," I urged, my voice quieter now. "Wait in the car with Irene and the others." I couldn’
“What!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening in disbelief. I turned to Jennifer, who looked just as shocked. “It can’t be,” I stuttered.Jennifer turned her head towards me, confusion etched across her face. “I thought you said you and Jason never…” she wondered.I nodded. “Never,” I echoed, panic rising within me.Jennifer looked back at the doctor, her voice firm and certain. “You must be mistaken, doctor. My friend has been celibate for over three…” Before Jennifer could finish, I cut her off. “I haven’t been celibate!” I whispered, feeling the heat of shame wash over me. My mind flashed back to the afternoon of her wedding, the memory of Ethan flooding back, the heat of the moment, our impulsive connection, and my frantic rush to escape afterward, forgetting the after pill.Jennifer’s expression shifted to one of motherly concern. “Who?” she asked, her voice firm. I bit my lip, avoiding her gaze, my eyes darting to the doctor, who was watching our exchange intently.“Ethan,” I murmured,
Six Weeks Later: The Final Hearing"Please, don't go through with it," I pleaded, my eyes fixed on Ethan as we stood together just before the trial. For almost six weeks, he had refused my visits, and this was the first time I'd seen him. He looked thinner, worn down by time in custody."You look pale. Are you okay?" Ethan asked, concern flickering in his eyes.I shook my head. How could I be? I had been feeling sick constantly, throwing up, dizzy, and suffering from headaches."Are you eating well?" Ethan’s voice softened. "Isn't Jason taking care of you?" He asked and I frowned at the mention of Jason. "We broke up," I whispered, my voice barely audible. After Ethan turned himself in I couldn't bear be with Jason, i was always sad around him, never giving him the time and attention he deserved, hence i had to break up with him, but he didn't takes it well, he insisted he could wait for me to heal and feel better, but i knew from the bottom of my heart that I could never love him. N