We’re not calling it off.” We were so close I
could see the tiny hairs on his cheek. He
looked so vulnerable. I touched his hair. “Tell
me why you want to marry me.” He hesitated,
trying to look away, but I cupped his chin.
“Tell me, Ethan. Babe. Tell me.” I stared at
him. “I don’t want to be kept in the dark.” His
eyelashes fluttered. He mumbled, “I want to
marry you.” “Why?” Tears spilled down his
cheeks. He looked at me, a silent plea in his
eyes. I said it for him. “You love me. Don’t
you? Silly, why is that so hard to say?” I
caressed his cheek, trying to stand, but he
pulled me onto the sofa, holding me tight. The
cool composure shattered. He buried his face
in my neck, sobbing. “This is… disgusting,
isn’t it? Me… like this… loving you. It’s
repulsive.”
<
I stared at him, stunned. Disgusting?
Repulsive? Didn’t he know he topped every
“Most Eligible Bachelor” list? How could
someone like him be so insecure? I thought I
finally understood. I lifted his face, wiping his
tears. “My friends are jealous I’m marrying
you. They say I’m the luckiest girl alive. Why
are you acting like it’s something to be
ashamed of?” He hid his face in my neck.
again, silent. At least he’d stopped crying. I patted his back, sighing. “Ethan, please. Have
some confidence.” “You own a thirty–two
story building. People call you ‘sir.‘ You’re
ridiculously good–looking. If I fell for you, wouldn’t that be… normal?” He trembled.
“You… love me?” “What do you think? Do
you think I come here every day because I have nothing better to do?” I patted his back.
“Ethan, girls don’t waste time on men they’re
not interested in
<
not interested in. Have a little faith in
yourself. You’re amazing. Truly amazing. And
we’ll be amazing together. Trust me.” He
started crying again, his tears hot against my
neck. “You can’t lie to me.” “I’m not lying.”
My heart ached for him. I touched his earlobe,
feeling his tears, the frantic beat of his heart
against mine. “He was different from anyone
I’d ever dated. It was… intriguing.” I thought.
Ethan was so fragile. A word, a look, could
shatter him. It was strange to see in a man
who ruled a corporate empire. But his
assistant’s warnings echoed in my head:
Don’t trigger him. I asked, “Has he gotten
worse?” “No.” The assistant hesitated.
‘Actually, he’s been much better. He hasn’t
needed sleeping pills.” “Then why are you so
worried?” “He’s better because of you. If you
leave, if you get tired of this… it could be
L
very bad.” He pleaded, “I don’t know why
you’re doing this, but please… don’t leave
him. He’ll break.” He’ll die, I finished the
thought silently. I touched his arm. “Don’t
worry. I care about him more than you know.”
I wasn’t a savior, or a therapist. All I could do
was try to make him happy. Maybe if he was
happy, the rest would follow.
I was surprised when Ethan’s father
contacted me. I hadn’t even known he had a
father. He was from New York, impeccably
dressed, with the same sharp features as
Ethan, but a completely different aura. He
radiated menace. He got straight to the point.
“Ms. Gray, I want you to leave my son.” |
blinked, taking a sip of tea. “How much are
you offering?” “Two million. Enough to solve
your family’s… financial difficulties.” I
paused. I hadn’t known we had financial
paustu, 1 HAUN & NHUWII WO TAU TIIanutaι
difficulties. I studied him. “We’re in love.
You’ll have to do better than that. Ethan
bought me a necklace worth three million.
Two million isn’t nearly enough.” He scoffed.
“You think being with him is a good thing?”
He sneered. “Have you spoken to your ex-
boyfriends lately? See how many are still…
around. And that Liam fellow? You think
Ethan will let him be? Or your brother? Blood
relation won’t protect him. Ethan will destroy
everyone around you. And you’ll be none the
wiser, a pawn in his little game. How
pathetic.” I frowned, disgust rising in my
throat. “I trust Ethan. He wouldn’t do that.
وو
“Check for yourself.” He smiled, a chillingly
confident smile. “Like father, like son. I used
these tactics on his mother. He’ll use them on
you. Just wait and see.”
<
“So, I assume your wife isn’t with your
anymore?”
“Quite the contrary. We’re very happy.” He smiled smugly. “She couldn’t escape. She
resigned herself to her fate. She has family,
you see, couldn’t abandon them. She’s very…
docile now. Obedient. Waits for me at home
every day… soft, gentle. I’ve clipped her
claws, filed her teeth. Tamed her. She’s a bird
in a gilded cage.”
I woke up with a gasp, my back drenched
