Lucy's pov. My eyes opened to the sharp rays of morning sunlight that poured into Ethan Caldwell's mansion. The day seemed so bright and beautiful but I couldn't let go of the thoughts of Ella's scream. I stood up, rubbed my eyes and tapped Grandma who slept beside me. But she didn't wake up immediately so I had to let her sleep. Everywhere was so quiet, I could hear the clinking of glass and plates from the kitchen, it was probably the maids getting breakfast ready. I went towards the window and looked out, the beautiful roses and orchids blossomed as the sunrise shone beautifully on its petals with glowing colours. I stood for a few minutes and admired every bit of the flowers. The morning birds chirped and in the still of quietness I could just hear their sound. Grandma finally woke up, and had a face wash up. I asked her if she heard someone scream the previous night but she didn't hear any. I was glad because she won't have to worry about Ella. Some moments later she insis
Lucy’s POV.My eyes opened to the sharp rays of morning sunlight that poured into Ethan Caldwell's mansion. The day seemed so bright and beautiful, but I couldn't let go of the thoughts of Ella's scream. I stood up, rubbed my eyes, and tapped Grandma, who slept beside me. She didn’t wake up immediately, so I had to let her sleep.Everywhere was so quiet. I could hear the clinking of glass and plates from the kitchen—it was probably the maids getting breakfast ready. I went towards the window and looked out. The beautiful roses and orchids blossomed as the sunrise shone beautifully on their petals with glowing colours. I stood for a few minutes and admired every bit of the flowers. The morning birds chirped, and in the stillness of quietness, I could just hear their sound.Grandma finally woke up and had a face wash. I asked her if she heard someone scream the previous night, but she didn’t hear any. I was glad because she wouldn’t have to worry about Ella. Some moments later, she insi
Ella's Pov.I couldn't sleep. I left Ethan's room as he fell deep asleep. My bed welcomed me warmly, but I was tense and I couldn't fall asleep. Ethan's words echoed ceaselessly in my head like the eerie voices in the dark woods.It was just mere words that came from a drunken man, but Ethan is always careful not to spill the beans. I tried to convince myself it was just the alcohol speaking, but the words kept ringing in my head and I could feel a pang of honesty in his words.“El… I've done so many terrible things…..you'd never stay… if you knew… I don’t deserve you…”The night felt so long and dragged on slowly. I could hear the rustling sound of the leaves outside, the wind was calm but the sound howled, it brushed against the curtains and it felt like a shadow passed by the window. Every sound I heard sent chills through me—from the little bangs of doors as though someone tried to creak them open slowly, to silent footsteps—although I couldn't tell if I was hallucinating.At some
Ella's pov..I sat holding Ethan in my arms, it was my first time seeing him this vulnerable, he looked so wasted and the stench of alcohol was like his second skin, the stench oozing from his breath filled the room, his breath burning with whisky, he was a shadow of himself.I helped him take off his shoes and his clothes. But he kept talking under the influence of alcohol, only that he probably was careful about spilling his secrets. I gently brushed off the damped hair from his forehead, he looked too weakened, and spent, for a man who stood in boardrooms, anchored meetings and conferences, a man who commands respect and walks with ego.He buried his face on my bosom and muttered “El, you promise to always be here right?” “ Yes Ethan, " I said, running my fingers through his hair. I’d always be here” I uttered as I gently planted a kiss on the crown of his head and traced my fingers on his neck. I hated alcohol, but I hated how wasted it made a person, how it reduced people to m
Ethan's pov. As I stormed out of my father's house, the night air slapped my face. I was so bitter and torn apart that I was unable to win my father over. He wasn't on anyone's side, but he was adamant about supporting whoever took the greatest risk to preserve his name and carry on his legacy. I would have done that, but it made me weaker because the woman I love was involved. For an unclear moment, I detested myself because I felt so weak. Everything my father said to me stuck in my memory, from his tacit support of Victoria to his dismissal and mockery of Ella. His body language spoke louder than words could have. He disregarded me as he always had when I was a child because, in his opinion, it gave me strength and the ability to face the outside world. I was driving quickly when I noticed a bar's neon glow. I instantly stopped, got out of my car and entered it. I had to get my thoughts straight before I made a mistake. My mind was racing with ideas of driving to Victoria
Ethan pov.I drove speedily to Caldwell's estate determined to make it there in under 20 minutes. My car almost bumped into a pretty lady standing by the curb. I took a quick glance at her and she was strikingly beautiful, the type of beauty that made men turn heads. But then I sped off. Ella wouldn't forgive me if she ever saw me moping around women and truthfully I had no desire to at this point it was only Ella who mattered the most to me. As I got to the Caldwell's estate, the iron gates stood so tall like a fortress from a little distance, I could feel it still exhume the coldness my father carried all his life. I pulled to a stop outside the tall gates even though the security had opened them for me to drive in. I just entered without my car. And hastily walked up the stairs jumping the stairs two at a time. I needed my father to feel the heat of my anger. And there he sat, my father, the senior CEO of all Caldwell's properties and companies. Grandpa gave it all to him,