A Deal for Love

Ethan's Point of view

The laughter and chatter of the reunion faded as I stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air hitting my face like a refreshing slap. I needed a moment to clear my head after that awkward encounter with Alessia. How had I let her get under my skin so easily?

As I walked towards the balcony, I caught sight of her silhouette, leaning against the balcony’s edge, lost in thought. The way her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders made my heart skip a beat.

She looked different—more mature, more beautiful. The soft glow of the moon illuminated her features, highlighting her dimples and the delicate curve of her jaw. Damn it, she looked like a goddess.

“Alessia,” I called out, unable to stop myself. The moment my voice broke through the silence, she startled, spinning around as if she hadn’t expected anyone to follow her.

“What are you doing here? Why did you follow me out here?” she shot back defensively, backing into the rail as if trying to create distance between us.

I stalked toward her, closing the gap until she was pressed against the iron railing. “You’ve grown into a really beautiful woman,” I teased, a mischievous glint in my eyes. It was a statement of fact wrapped in playful sarcasm, but I could see the surprise flicker across her face.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and for a moment, I reveled in the effect I had on her. It was satisfying to see that even after all this time, I could still provoke such a reaction. Then I noticed how she instinctively walked backward, creating more space between us.

“What do you want, Ethan? We are not friends, so why are you acting this way?” Her voice trembled slightly, but there was an edge of defiance in it.

I stepped closer again, my heart racing as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear—a gesture that sent a shiver down her spine. “I just wanted to see how you were doing,” I said softly, letting my gaze linger on her pouty lips then back up to her chocolate brown eyes which sparkled with a mix of anger and something else—something vulnerable.

“Yeah? Well, you could have done that without following me out here,” she retorted sharply, though there was less bite in her words now.

I smirked at her defiance; it was part of what had drawn me to her back in college—the fire beneath that cool exterior. “Maybe I wanted to see if you’d crumble under pressure like you used to.”

“Nice try,” she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. “But I’m not that girl anymore.”

“Clearly.” My voice dropped lower as I took another step closer, watching as her breath hitched slightly. “You’re stronger now.”

For a brief moment, we stood there in silence, the tension crackling between us like static electricity. Despite everything—the history between us and the harsh words exchanged—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted.

“Why do you care?” she finally asked, breaking the silence with an edge of vulnerability that caught me off guard.

“Because,” I replied honestly, “I’ve always cared more than I let on.”

Her expression softened for just a moment before she masked it with irritation again. “Just stay away from me, Ethan.”

As she turned to leave, something inside me urged me to stop her—to tell her how much she had changed and how much it affected me.

“I heard about your Mum.” the words escaped my mouth before I could properly process the thought. She halted in her tracks and slowly turned to face me.

Her expression softened. “How did...” she stuttered. “How did you find out?”

“Mark -”

“You know what?” she interrupted sharply, her tone hardening. “It’s no business of mine how you found out.” Her eyes flashed with anger, but I could see the hurt lurking beneath the surface.

“Alessia, wait,” I said, taking a step closer. “I’m not here to make things worse for you.”

“Then why are you acting like you care?” she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. “You didn’t care at all back then, so don’t pretend to be concerned now.”

I felt a pang of guilt at her words. “I also heard about the problems you’re going through trying to run the restaurant alone,” I replied, my voice steady despite the tension.

“Alone?” She scoffed, raising an eyebrow. “Who the hell fed you that lie? I’m not doing it alone.” She denied.

“Really?” I pressed, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. “Your father is sick, Alessia. You are the only one in charge now. And even that which you have—the bank wants to take it from you and leave you with nothing.”

Her eyes widened in shock as my words sank in, leaving her momentarily speechless. I took her silence as a sign that I had struck the right chord.

“I can help you,” I offered softly, my heart racing as I watched her process what I had just said.

“What do you mean?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I can help save your restaurant. I'll clear out your debts” I added. “We could work something out—”

“No!” she interrupted fiercely, shaking her head as if trying to dispel my offer. “I don’t need your help! Not now, not ever.”

“Why not?” I challenged, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You’re clearly struggling, and I can’t just stand by and watch you lose everything.” I added to make my act more convincing.

She took a step back, putting distance between us as if my words were too much to bear. “You don’t get to swoop in and act like a hero after all this time,” she snapped. “You’ve made your choices; don’t try to rewrite our history.”

I opened my mouth to respond but found myself at a loss for words. Her anger was palpable. “Just... just leave me alone,” she finally said, turning away from me again.

“Marry me, Alessia and I will get your father the kidney transplant he desperately needs.” I called out, issuing my trump card.

That got her attention. She turned back to me. “Go to hell, Ethan!”