Chapter three

Ethan’s Point of View

Regina’s townhouse was far from the opulence I expected for a woman with such a sharp tongue. It was modest, even charming, but I wasn’t here to admire the decor. I stepped out of the car, adjusting my cufflinks, and made my way to the door. My driver had already announced my arrival, so I wasn’t surprised when the door opened before I could knock.

“Ethan,” Regina greeted with a sly smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”

I didn’t return the smile. “We need to talk.”

She stepped aside, waving me in. “By all means. You didn’t have to come all this way, though. A man like you must have better things to do.”

“Nothing is more important than protecting my interests,” I replied, stepping into the living room.

She closed the door and followed me, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. “You sound so serious. What’s the matter? Is the perfect marriage already falling apart?”

I turned to face her, my expression cold. “Let’s skip the games, Regina. I know what you’re trying to do, and it ends now.”

She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I took a step closer, my voice low and menacing. “Don’t insult my intelligence. You’ve been meddling in my marriage, calling me, and making veiled threats. If you think you can manipulate me, you’re mistaken.”

Her smile faltered, but only for a moment. “You’re quite bold, aren’t you? But you’re wrong about one thing. I’m not trying to manipulate you—I’m protecting my stepdaughter.”

“Protecting her?” I scoffed. “From what? A life of financial security and stability? Spare me the act, Regina. You don’t care about Emma. You care about what you can get from her situation.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice turned icy. “Watch your tone, Mr. Ethan. You may be rich, but that doesn’t mean you can come into my home and insult me.”

I smirked, leaning closer. “And you don’t get to threaten me or my marriage. This is your final warning—stay out of our lives. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

She stared at me, her composure cracking just enough for me to see the fear beneath. “Is that a threat?”

“No,” I said, turning to leave. “It’s a promise.”

Emma’s Point of View

When Ethan returned to the estate. He didn’t say a word as he walked past me, heading straight for his study. I followed him, my curiosity outweighing my better judgment.

“What didn't you do?” I demanded as I stepped into the room.

He didn’t look up from the papers on his desk. “I handled it.”

“What does that mean?” I pressed, my frustration bubbling over.

He sighed, finally meeting my gaze. “It means Regina won’t be bothering us anymore.”

I frowned, unsure whether to feel relieved or worried. “What did you say to her?”

“Nothing she didn’t need to hear,” he replied, his tone dismissive.

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. “Ethan, I need to know. Did you threaten her?”

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Let’s just say I made it clear that meddling in our lives would come with consequences.”

My stomach twisted. “You didn’t—”

“No,” he interrupted, his voice sharp. “I didn’t harm her, if that’s what you’re worried about. But I won’t apologize for protecting what’s mine.”

The possessiveness in his words sent a shiver down my spine. “I didn’t ask you to fight my battles for me.”

“And yet here we are,” he said, standing and walking toward me. “You’re my wife now, Emma. Whether you like it or not, your problems are my problems.”

I stared at him, unsure how to respond. He was infuriating, but a part of me couldn’t deny the strange sense of security his words brought.

“I don’t want this to get worse,” I said quietly.

“It won’t,” he assured me. “Not if she knows what’s good for her.”

Later That Night

Sleep didn’t come easily. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Regina’s face, her smug smile haunting me. Part of me wanted to believe Ethan, to trust that he had handled the situation without crossing any lines. But another part of me knew better.

I was about to drift off when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I groaned, reaching for it, and frowned when I saw the caller ID.

“Cassie? It’s late,” I said, answering the call.

“I know,” she replied, her voice trembling. “But you need to know something.”

My stomach dropped. “What is it?”

“It’s about Regina,” she said hesitantly. “I heard something... strange.”

“What kind of strange?” I pressed, sitting up.

“She was talking to someone earlier, a man. I didn’t catch his name, but he sounded... dangerous. They were discussing you and Ethan.”

My blood ran cold. “What did they say?”

“I couldn’t hear everything, but it sounded like they were planning something. Regina mentioned the press and... leverage.”

Leverage. The word echoed in my mind, a warning bell I couldn’t ignore.

“Cassie, are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Emma, I think you need to be careful. I don’t trust her.”

“Neither do I,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s Point of View

The knock on my study door was hesitant, almost timid. I looked up to see Emma standing there, her expression a mix of fear and determination.

“We need to talk,” she said, stepping inside.

I gestured for her to sit, but she remained standing.

“Cassie called me,” she began. “She overheard Regina talking to someone. They’re planning something.”

I frowned, leaning forward. “What kind of something?”

“She mentioned the press and... leverage,” Emma said, her voice shaking slightly.

I clenched my jaw, anger simmering beneath the surface. “I warned her.”

“Ethan, this isn’t a game,” she said, her tone pleading. “If she goes public, it could ruin everything.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” I snapped, standing abruptly. “I’m not going to let her destroy us.”

“Then what are you going to do?” she demanded, her eyes blazing.

I stared at her, weighing my options. “I’ll take care of it.”

Her expression hardened. “You can’t just keep saying that. I need to know what you’re planning.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Emma, trust me. This is what I do. I fix problems.”

“This isn’t a business deal, Ethan,” she said, her voice rising. “This is our lives.”

“And that’s exactly why I won’t let her win,” I said firmly.

The room fell silent, the tension between us thick and unyielding. Finally, Emma looked away, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Just... don’t make it worse,” she said quietly.

I watched her leave. Regina had made her move, but she was about to learn that I always played to win.