Chapter 3: First Glimpse of Darkness

"I can’t believe you invited him," I whispered to Ethan, my voice barely audible over the roar of the party. The lavish ballroom, with its shimmering chandeliers and gleaming marble floors, felt too cold, too perfect. The laughter of the guests seemed distant, disconnected. I kept my gaze fixed on the man who stood just across the room, a glass of champagne in his hand. Richard Calloway.

Ethan's jaw tightened as he followed my stare. "You should be honored," he said, his tone low, controlled. "Calloway is one of the most powerful men in the city."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling uneasily in my chest. Richard Calloway, Ethan’s business rival, was a name I’d heard only in hushed tones, a man whose influence seemed to seep into every corner of the world Ethan occupied. But it wasn’t just his reputation that unsettled me. It was the way he looked at me. That cold, calculating smirk that lingered on his lips every time our eyes met.

"Do you want me to introduce you?" Ethan asked, his voice strained with a hint of possessiveness that made my skin crawl.

Before I could respond, Richard was already moving toward us, his presence commanding attention as he walked through the crowd with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. He extended a hand to Ethan first, his smile charming, if not a little too practiced.

"Ethan, it’s good to see you," Richard said, his voice smooth, with an undertone of something darker I couldn’t quite place.

"Likewise," Ethan replied, his grip firm as he shook Richard’s hand. But there was something in his eyes that shifted, something almost territorial as if he was already measuring the distance between me and Richard, calculating the potential threat.

Richard turned his gaze to me, his eyes scanning me with an unsettling precision. "Sienna," he said, his smile widening. "A pleasure. Ethan’s told me so much about you."

I forced a smile, trying to suppress the uncomfortable feeling that had begun to settle in my stomach. "I’m sure he’s only told you the good things."

"Ah, but I prefer the truth," Richard said, his voice dripping with something I couldn’t quite identify. His eyes flickered with amusement as he leaned in a little closer, his breath warm against my ear. "You’ve got to watch out for men like Ethan," he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "They’ll charm you into believing they’re something they’re not."

Before I could process his words, Ethan’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist tightly. I winced at the pressure, and Richard’s smirk only grew.

"Don’t ever make me look weak in front of him," Ethan growled under his breath, his eyes dark with an emotion I couldn’t place.

I wanted to pull away, to demand that he let go of me, but I froze, trapped in the tension between the two men. My pulse quickened, my heart pounding in my ears.

"Sorry, Richard," Ethan said, his tone forced, his smile thin. "She’s a little new to this world. I’ll make sure she doesn’t embarrass me."

Richard just chuckled, though the look he gave me was far from friendly. "No problem, Ethan. But I’ll be keeping an eye on her," he said, his words laced with something I couldn’t ignore.

I managed a tight smile, trying to mask the unease I felt. Ethan’s grip loosened slightly, but the weight of his control still hung over me like a storm cloud. I didn’t know what game they were playing, but it was clear to me that I was just a pawn.

The night dragged on, but the discomfort never left me. Everywhere I went, Ethan was there—watching me, guiding me, like a shadow I couldn’t escape. He made sure no one spoke to me for too long, that no one dared to touch me. And when Richard found an excuse to approach me again, I felt Ethan’s eyes burning into my back.

I had almost forgotten how suffocating it was to be in Ethan’s world, to feel like I was constantly under his watchful eye. And as much as I tried to keep my distance from Richard, I couldn’t ignore the unsettling attraction I felt when he looked at me. It was dangerous, the way he saw through me, the way he seemed to understand things about me that I wasn’t ready to confront.

As the night came to a close, Ethan took my hand in his, his fingers cold and unyielding. "Come on," he said, his voice tight. "We’re leaving."

I didn’t protest. It wasn’t worth it. We moved through the crowd, and just as I thought we were finally free of the tension, I felt Richard’s gaze on me again. He was leaning against the wall, watching us with that same, unsettling smirk.

Ethan led me to the car, and as we climbed inside, he turned to me, his expression softening just slightly. "I’m sorry about earlier," he said, his voice sincere, though there was an edge to it. "I know it’s not easy for you, but you need to understand something."

I looked at him, confusion clouding my thoughts. "What do you mean?"

Ethan’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "That man—Calloway—he’s dangerous. You have no idea what he’s capable of."

I didn’t know how to respond. The way Ethan spoke about Richard was different from anything he’d said before. There was a vulnerability in his voice, a fear that I hadn’t expected. But there was also something else, something darker, that lingered beneath the surface.

As the car sped down the street, I felt a sudden chill. I had married Ethan because I believed in his power, his strength. But now, I couldn’t help but wonder: How much of that power came from control? How much of it was based on fear?

The questions gnawed at me, and before I could ask, Ethan reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small box, the velvet lining catching the light.

"Here," he said, his tone softer now. "I’ve been thinking about you. I know I haven’t been the easiest to be around, but I want to make it right."

He opened the box to reveal a diamond necklace—expensive, flawless, just like everything else Ethan owned.

I stared at it for a long moment before I looked back up at him. "I don’t need this, Ethan."

He frowned, his face hardening once again. "I’m doing this for you, Sienna. You should be grateful."

His words were laced with a bitterness I couldn’t ignore, and I knew, deep down, that this wasn’t about me. This was about keeping me in his world, a world where he controlled everything.

Just as I thought the moment had passed, Richard’s voice echoed in my mind. "You don’t know the man you married."

I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I didn’t understand. Something dark, something that Ethan had kept hidden from me all this time.

And just as I was about to voice my doubts, my phone buzzed.

A message from Richard.

“Meet me tomorrow. There’s something you need to know about your husband.”

I looked at Ethan, his eyes focused on the road ahead, unaware of the message that was now burning a hole in my pocket.

What did Richard know that I didn’t?