The moment I opened the link, my eyes flew wide. I pushed my chair back with a loud scrape and jumped to my feet.“What the hell…” I whispered, scrolling through the headline, my heart pounding.Ethan was still sitting there, just watching me but this wasn’t about him. Not now.I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Tiara. Straight to voicemail.“She literally just sent me this... why is her phone off now of all times?” I muttered, hitting redial, still nothing.But then it hit me, Tiara wasn’t the one I needed to call.I dialed Levi next. The line rang once, twice then dead. Switched off.Damn it. I had to go.I turned and rushed upstairs, straight into the dressing room. I rifled through the racks until I found something and then I tossed it on the bed.And of course, that was the exact moment Ethan chose to walk in.He glanced at the dress, then at me, like he was trying to piece it together.“And where exactly are you going?” he asked“I’m going to work,” I said, snatching the
“Emily?” I repeated, staring at her.Mrs Mabel immediately looked up, almost like she’d been snapped out of a daze.“What?” she asked, blinking like she’d just realized I was there.“You just said someone’s name… Emily,” I said.She smiled faintly and turned back to what she was doing. “Oh, I must’ve lost it for a second,” she said casually. “Can you pass me that paste over there?”She was definitely trying to change the subject.I followed her hand and passed the paste to her, but I wasn’t letting it go.“So… who is Emily?” I asked, watching her closely.She paused just slightly, just enough to notice before adding the paste to the pot.“Is she like… his first love or something?” I pressed.This time, she closed the pot slowly and turned to face me.“Why exactly did you decide to get close to Ethan?” she asked instead.Seriously?Throwing a question at me to dodge mine?And how was I supposed to answer that when Ethan himself didn’t even know the full truth?I stayed quiet, and when
When I didn’t answer, he took a step closer.“So, you’re here for revenge?” he asked looking at me. I had to be careful, if he didn’t know my real reason yet, I wasn’t about to give it away.“What are you talking about?” I replied, keeping my voice steady. He studied me for a moment, like trying to figure out a puzzle.“The more I get to know you, the more confusing you become. You try to seduce me, even though you clearly don’t have feelings for me. Then you just waltz into my life, saying you want to help, but I can’t shake the feeling you’re after something,” he said in a low voice but I just kept quiet.“Are you trying to use me to get to my father? Or what exactly?” He asked but after few seconds, he smirked. “Why do I even bother? You’re not going to answer.” Then he chuckled, a dark sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes.“But still... like I said before, you’re the first woman who’s ever caught my attention. Every day I find myself wanting to know more about you,” he admitted,
My eyes shot open and I suddenly sat up, taking in where I was. The couch. I was still on the couch.It was just a dream.A stupid, messed-up dream.Why on earth would I dream something like that? And with him, the one I hated the most?What’s wrong with me?Maybe it’s because I’m sleeping here for the first time?No, wait. That’s not right. It’s not the first time I’ve stayed here, and the last time, I didn’t have any erotic dreams like this.Then my eyes caught the blanket draped over me. I didn’t even remember pulling it over myself. How did it get there?“You awake?” a voice broke the silence.I turned and saw Ethan, fully dressed, walking into the kitchen area.My gaze flicked between the blanket and then back to him as he poured himself a glass of milk or something.Nothing happened last night, I told myself firmly. It was just a dream. A messy, stupid dream that made me feel disgusted with myself.“The blanket?” I said softly, surprised at how low and unsure my voice sounded
I looked at him as he said those words, my chest still pressed against his.“And what if I refuse? Say no? You gonna jump on me or something?” I asked in a steady voiceHe just stared at me for what felt like forever then slowly let go, his hands dropping to his sides.“That’s my answer,” he said.I raised a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“I always follow consent. You say no, then it’s no,” he replied.I scoffed. That line might make him sound like a real man, but I know better.“But don’t mistake that for weakness,” he added, his eyes still on mine. I tried not to let my gaze drift to the very obvious abs right in front of me.“I won’t always need your words. Sometimes your eyes say enough. And tonight, they’re saying you don’t want to share a bed with me. So fine… I’ll let it go.”Oh, so now he reads eyes?I crossed my arms, giving him a look. “You really think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”He smirked. “I don’t need to figure you out. I just know what I want.”“And wh
When we got to his house, I didn’t feel surprised. I’d been here before, so everything felt familiar, too familiar, maybe.“This is ridiculous,” I muttered under my breath, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of actually living with him.“Don’t you want to know where you’ll be sleeping?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.I looked at him. “I’ll have my own room, right?”Why did I even ask that? Obviously I should. This place is big enough, more than enough rooms, right?“Your own room?” he repeated, like the idea actually amused him.“Yes. My own room,” I said more firmly. “I’ll be staying here five days a week, so I should at least have that.”He didn’t say anything at first. Just cleared his throat and said, “You should follow me.”I trailed behind him upstairs, and he stopped in front of a door.“There are three rooms up here,” he started. “One’s a bedroom, one’s a study, and the last one… well, it’s not really a room.”I gave him a look. “So what exactly are you saying