Chapter 4

AMELIA'S POV 

I couldn’t focus. My mind was a mess after leaving Ethan’s company earlier, so I came back. 

I felt this strong feeling that something is wrong with Ethan, a pull I couldn’t ignore, I just had to check on him. I didn’t go into his office, though. 

I hid behind a cabinet outside, out of Victoria’s sight. I heard everything, saw it all through the glass door, he was in pain.

The crash of a frame hitting the floor made my chest tighten. He ran a hand through his slicked-back black hair, ruining it. 

His eyes fixed on his desk, and I knew he was replaying how I walked in, how I spoke, how I told his mother I was rich now. I could see the hurt in his face, the betrayal cutting deep.

My goodness, how could I do this to him? Nine years he’d waited, convincing himself I had a reason for leaving that night, that I’d come back and explain that we could be us again. 

But married? I saw the shock in his eyes. 

Edward, my late husband, married me eight years ago. Ethan was probably thinking we were together while I was still with him. 

The thought was killing him. He swept everything off his desk, papers, his computer, all of it crashing down. My throat tightened. He grabbed the glass tea jug from the coffee table and smashed it against the wall. Then he went for the frames, the art, destroying it all.

 In less than a minute, his perfect office was a big mess. My heart ached seeing him like this, so broken, so lost. I did this to him.

 The door creaked, and I pressed myself deeper into the shadows.

 His secretary, Salina, stepped in, voice trembling. “I’m…I’m sorry, sir. I heard the breaking sounds and wanted to know if you’re okay.”

“Get out!” Ethan yelled.

“Y…yes, sir,” she stammered, turning to run.

“Salina,” he called, stopping her. 

“I don’t want to see anybody. If I see anybody, you’re fired, is that clear?” She nodded like her life depended on it. “Yes, sir, very well understood.”

“Get out.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, closing the door softly.I watched Ethan slump beside his desk, knees to his chest, hands gripping his head. 

He was crying. My eyes stung, and I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep quiet. I hadn’t seen him like this since I left nine years ago. 

Now, here he was, breaking again because of me. I felt so sorry, so guilty. I wanted to run to him, to hold him, but I couldn’t move. 

I love you so much Ethan but you will understand soon, I didn't know when I was already crying seeing him in this state. I had to use my handkerchief to clean my face.

He got up, went to his private room, and came back with a whiskey bottle and a glass. He poured half a glass, sat in his chair, and stared at the mess. 

 If someone had told him this morning his day would end like this, he wouldn’t have believed it. I remembered how he looked at me earlier, like I was his world. 

 He thought my love was a lie, and it broke my heart in pieces to see him believe that.

The door opened again, and I shrank back. 

Victoria walked in, my goodness this bitch again, her heels clicking. 

“My goodness, Ethan, what kind of mess is this? I can’t believe you did this over that girl. She’s Edward’s wife and she grabbed a thick thigh. Never would I have expected Edward, a man of his status, to marry someone like her.” 

She sighed, shaking her head.

“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, she’s got us on her whim. We can’t let her sell her shares to Julian Pierce. Something has to be done,” Victoria said.

 “She claims she wants to be part of the company, but I don’t believe she won’t sell those shares. Before she does, we need to get them from her. This could be a blessing in disguise. You don’t have to charm her, just make her fall for you again, if she ever really loved you. You two were close once. Can you get her to sign her shares over? I know you can. Make her think you still love her, that you’re on her side. A few romantic moments get her to sign the papers no big deal. Take your time, but don't take time.

  I don’t want her holding those shares long. Step up, Ethan. Make Amelia Fall for you again. We can’t let Julian or anyone else get to her first.” 

I froze, stunned. What??!! Make me fall for him?!! What did Victoria take me for some naive girl to be played? The nerve of her.

She hasn't changed I guess.  

My attention was still on Ethan, I couldn’t care less about Victoria’s schemes right now. All I could feel was the ache of seeing him so hurt, the weight of knowing I caused it. I wanted to fix this, to reach out, but the distance between us felt like a chasm.

Victoria kept talking. “I have something to handle in the office. And yes the board agreed to give her an office another thing to prepare. I’ll see you at home. Don’t be late for dinner.” She patted his shoulder twice, then paused at the door. 

“And call Salina to send for Martha to clean this place up.” Then she left.

Ethan closed his eyes, sighing. I could tell he barely heard her, too lost in his pain. He pulled out a photo from a drawer. My heart twisted. 

 His thumb brushed the photo, and he shut his eyes again. When he opened his eyes, something changed. His gaze hardened. He crumpled the photo and tossed it into the trash.

 My breath caught a piece of him shut down, I wanted to run to him and hug him but I couldn't not until my mission was fulfilled. 

 He sipped his whiskey, his sad gray eyes turning colder.

At that instant my phone rang out causing Salina to stand up and check .. shit.. shit.. she must not see me. 

I slipped away quickly, making sure nobody sees me, and ran to my limo where Lucas was waiting for me.