Seeing Blood

Ethan's voice softened, carrying a hint of vulnerability. "Lana, have you had dinner yet? I haven't eaten."No matter how late one of us came home, sometimes even past midnight, we would wait for each other and eat dinner together. It was an unspoken rule we had set many years ago.Back then, it was almost always me staying out all night. I would stumble through the door, drunk and disoriented, while Ethan waited for me in the living room.He would clean me up, making sure that I would not choke on my own vomit. I would complain about how annoyingly fussy he was, but he never got mad.He would just smile and ask, "What if I take care of you like this for the rest of my life?"His eyes were so bright, like the surface of a lake. In that moment, through the haze of alcohol clouding my mind, I felt a rare trace of fear.That light was too pure and bright, revealing me for who I was.The filth churning inside me was something detestable and loathsome. It was so overwhelming that I d

After those words, Amber could not hold back her anger anymore."Stop! So., what you're saying is that you're choosing to save Tara, but you're not going to take her place, are you?"Ethan's face was dark, as he silently locked his eyes on me. Amber waved a hand, signaling her men to release her.The newly-freed Tara did not show the slightest bit of fear. She ran straight into Ethan's arms, trembling like a fragile, helpless bird."Impressive, Mr. West. Truly, you're a once-in-a-lifetime perfect husband," Amber mocked, her every word like a slap across Ethan's face.However, his body instinctively shielded the woman in his arms.I looked into his eyes, my body pressed against the railing. I calmly said, "Ethan West, you want me dead."His brows furrowed even deeper. He denied it, saying he did not want to play childish games with me anymore.'Ethan, don't you remember that I can't swim?'The moment my body fell, I thought I saw his face go pale. His eyes seemed to be filled

The heir of the Howe family, the infamous 'venomous snake' Zach Howe, was the only man who held sway in both the underworld and high society. However, for some reason, he became obsessed with me and would not let go.I had once asked him about it. Back then, Zach sat on the sofa with his gaze fixed on me. As he exhaled a cloud of smoke, his striking features looked even more unreal in the haze.He said, "There's no reason. I just like you."I replied, "If you want to repay me for saving your life, you can just give me money. There's no need to waste your time here."For a moment, he looked surprised. Then, he smiled, an unsettling, languid smile, as he said, "How much do you think you're worth?"I thought for a moment and held up one hand.The smile on his face widened, and he even laughed out loud. It was not a pleasant kind of laughter.I narrowed my eyes and asked, "Is that funny to you?""Funny? Of course, it's funny. How could it not be?"His face twitched slightly, and h

"No, it's you, Lana. It's always been you. Do you have any idea what Ethan's life has been like these past years?"He hasn't slept a single night peacefully. He searched for you like a madman even when everyone told him you were dead. Why? What gives you the right?"I watched Tara scream at me like she had lost her mind, but all I felt was indifference."Do you want to know why? Ethan is nothing but a dog I discarded. Even seeing me depends on my mood, and you, you're just a pathetic fool, wallowing in self-pity. That's the answer. Understand now?"Tara froze, staring at me in shock. I did not care. I turned around to leave, but a shadow blocked my path.I looked up. I did not know how long he had been standing there.Ethan's bloodshot eyes told me everything. He had cleaned himself up, trying to look sharp, but no matter how polished his appearance, eyes never lied. No one could fake the exhaustion of countless sleepless nights.His voice was hoarse and tinged with nervousness.