Chapter 7

Peace Denied

Ethan’s POV

“There’s a reason why there's a door,” I barked. “You knock before you open, unless this place is burning, don't disturb me.”

“Tough crowd. I expected balloons.”

The voice looked very familiar as I looked up to see who it was.

“Julian…” My old-time friend was leaning on the door frame, wearing a designer suit with the same old smirk from prep school.

​“Julian… you’re back. You didn't even let me know,” I said, trying to keep a fake scowl on my face.

​“Guilty as charged,” he said softly, as we both reached out for another long, tight hug.

"When the hell did you get back? I thought you were still busy playing 'International Lawyer' in London.”

​"Landed an hour ago, I came straight here to see our newlywed man, So, tell me. Is she everything the papers said, or are you already looking for the exit?”

​"Don't go there," I snapped. "She’s a wife by name only, nothing more.”

Julian’s smirk vanished. He sat forward, his eyes narrowing. "A wife by name only? Ethan, don’t sound like an abusive husband. You’re better than that.”

"I don't 'abuse,'" I defended myself. "I don't want her near me, "My father hand-delivered her to my doorstep to keep his grip on my inheritance. It's his fault I'm stuck with her.”

Julian's expression turned into pity. "So you're punishing a girl because you're mad at your old man? Really mature, Ethan.”

“So…let's talk about you, how were your studies? Did London actually teach you anything, or just how to drink warm beer?"

​Julian spent the next twenty minutes rambling about his time abroad, and we both laughed at his funny and shocking encounters.

As Julian stood up to leave, he paused at the door, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

​"You know, Ethan," he said, his voice dropping. "I get it. Your dad is quite a character. But don't tell me you're throwing away your chance at being happy just because of her."

​The name went unsaid, but the ghost of the girl from our past filled the room.

​"She’s gone, Ethan. If you're keeping this new girl at a distance because you're still waiting for a ghost to come back... then you're more of a fool than I thought."

​He shut the door, leaving me in a silence that felt suddenly, suffocatingly loud.

At home, the thought of Julian’s words was still stuck in my head, I was unable to focus on the company's project so I shut my computer preparing to leave my study room.

Maybe he was right about directing my anger at the wrong person, I was forced into this marriage so she could be forced into it as well.

I dragged my palms down my face.

"Fine I will try and be nicer to her," I told myself like it was some new goals to achieve.

I walked toward the guest wing instead, stopping in front of her door, I hesitated for a little bit before knocking.

After a few minutes of no response, I was about to knock again but the door opened halfway revealing Serena.

"What do you want," she questioned in a dry tone, keeping a guarded face.

"I....look I realised I was wrong so I came to apologize,"

"Stop the acting I'm not a baby, I know the game you're trying to play," Serena raged at me.

"What games, I'm just trying to apologize sincerely, "

"Why because your father threatened you again," Her words shocked me as I wondered how she knew about that.

"​"Oh, please spare me the rehearsed apology, we both know the only reason you’re standing here is because you’re terrified of losing your little throne."Her words were becoming very insulting.

"Well, if you weren't a gold digger, you wouldn't have accepted to marry a man you never knew."

"My presence here was never about you. It was the only price I could pay to keep someone I love safe, nothing would have made me live under the same room with a demon like you." My anger towards her drained out after hearing that she had been forced as well.

I inhaled slowly, forcing calm. “Look. We don’t have to like each other. But we live under the same roof. We can be civil.”

"I don't need your kindness, go give it to someone who is in need of it," Serena continued to rage, making me feel frustrated.

"Look, I'm trying here Serena,"

"I tried as well," She said banging the door at me.

I stood there, staring at the door with my hand still half-raised.

Regret crept in as I turned away, irritation rebuilding like armor over a wound.

So much for trying.

Serena’s POV

I leaned on the door and let out a long shaky breath, slamming door at him brought great satisfaction to me.

Finally, I was able to say what needed to be said and take matters into my own hands.

His half-hearted apology made my blood boil, like how dare he stand there pretending to make peace while knowing exactly what he's put me through, the audacity of him to act as if we could simply 'be civil' after everything, it's a good thing that I had fallen for none of it.

But the truth I hated admitting was that part of me wanted him to mean it. Even a fraction. Just a tiny bit of acknowledgment that he understood the mess we were forced into.

I jumped back on my bed, my chest rose and fell with each shaky breath and with every exhale, a little of the anger faded.

For the first time in weeks, I felt happy.

"The night is truly mine," I said to myself as I closed my eyes and surrendered to a deep, dreamy sleep, clutching that small, cold triumph to my chest.