Ethan's POVHe ran to me immediately, then hugged me. He embraced me like he didn't hear what I just said. He embraced me... and tried to protect me against our mother after every word I said."Don't beg, Ethan! You don't need to do that!" His voice screams pain, and I know that when I speak, I will be mirroring his pain.I remained silent; I didn't answer him. I just cried there and continued sobbing, even with my brother already comforting me. He's whispering words after words to me, but I can't focus on him anymore. I just wanted to get out of this. I just don't want to be with our mother. I want to stay in here.Thinking of my promise to Killian, I feel guilty that I am ready to trade my brother just so my mother won't take me. I feel guilty... because I am ready to sacrifice everything and everyone just for myself. Just to achieve what I want in life.Peace.Am I selfish for doing it?I just want to get out of the noise of cursing, shouting, and breaking glasses and plates. I jus
Ethan's POVThe only way to move forward is to forget and start over. And part of it is forgetting about my brother. And acting like I am the only Falcon in the family."Soon, we will find Killian. For now, you need to study and ace everything, Ethan. You are the next owner of the Falcon empire, so you have to prove yourself to me that you deserve it." Daddy said to me one time we had a dinner together. I simply nodded my head. "Yes, dad," I coldly answered.I did not know how to smile again. It seemed like I had already forgotten it too, just like how I forgot my brother. Almost every night, I am haunted by the past. I could not sleep at night. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Killian crying while telling me that I had betrayed him. Even in my dreams, he's all I can think about.I got what I wanted. There was no noise anymore. Our house was quiet, and there was no shouting, cursing, or breaking of glasses and plates anymore. I thought this was the real meaning of pea
Ethan's POVIt had been my way to relax myself and fight stress; it was sex. Some wanted to be in a relationship with me, but every time they would ask me that terrible question, I would just raise my eyebrow and silently decline them.I could not understand why women needed to have a relationship with me when all I wanted was to fuck. Most of them are believers in love, like it was some kind of spell that they got cast with, and they can't get away from the trance of that magic."Where are you going?" Alysa, my classmate in one of my subjects in college, asked me. I glanced at her and raised an eyebrow at her. She was still on the bed, and she was wrapped in the cushion of the hotel we checked into. I shook my head at her and put my pants back, put my belt on, and then locked it. I took my white polo and wore it, then buckled its buttons. "Ethan, I am asking you. Are you not going to cuddle with me?" She said in a soft voice. I could see from the side of my eyes that she stood up
Pennelope's POVThe days passed by too quickly. Ethan and I never talked about it again, even if I think we have to settle most of our problems. I may hate to admit it, but since the last time we talked, there has already been a barrier between us. A barrier that, when we do not destroy it, will soon destroy us.I have realized that we will never be happy if we do not talk about what happened in the past. I did not know what happen about his relationship with Elyse. After he asked me to leave him and divorce our marriage five years ago just so he could be with the only woman he loved, Elyse, he came into my arms and asked me back again. I could not understand those things, which is why his father, David Falcon, told me that he was only after Jared. I could not understand everything. And just because I loved Ethan too much, I was ready to give up everything just so I could be with him. I was ready to just set aside all of my questions about the past because I loved him.But it was wr
Pennelope's POVThe performance of the masscott has already started. Instead of watching the Masscott perform, my eyes are focused on my son, and I could not help but smile widely because of how happy he was. After the performance, we are guided to our table, which is already near our visitors' tables. Jared went back to us, still wearing his wide smile. "Did you enjoy it, baby?" I asked him as we walked to our table. He lifted his eyes at me and nodded happily. "Yes, mom! My friends liked it too!" he laughed, which made me smile even more."Ethan!" A familiar politician went to greet him, then he tapped Ethan's shoulder. "Is this your idea? My grandson enjoyed the theme! And he really enjoyed the performance a while back!"Ethan chuckled then glanced proudly at Jared. "No, Mr. Lucidro. It was actually my son, Jared, who chose the design for his birthday celebration." Ethan answered with wide smile, like he was ready to shout it to the whole world that it was Jared who chose the d
Pennelope's POVEthan immediately stood up from his seat. The crowd starts to whisper and gossip around, also shocked about what Elyse has said. My heart is starting to beat fast as I clench my jaw out of frustration.I have stopped myself from getting back on Elyse many times after everything that she has done to me. But this time, to ruin my son's day, was the worst. I could not take this anymore. I glanced at the table near us, where Jared's nanny was sitting. It seemed like she was just waiting for me to signal her to come here because, when she saw me glancing at her, she immediately stood up from her seat and came to us."Please take Jared with you to go back to the house first. Ethan's men will guide you outside the hotel," I told his nanny. She nodded at me nervously. "Y-Yes, mom."I kneeled down and kissed Jared's cheek. He looked confused, burned out, and tired. And I know for sure that he could not take all of these anymore. My son is still young, and although he is smart
Ethan's POV Did I just marry Pennelope because I wanted to own the Falcon Empire all by myself alone? Am I deserving to be her husband? Watching her cry every night since our marriage kills my heart. I cannot focus on working. My father had started transferring everything to me in my own name, but I cannot find any reason to be happy. This was what I wanted, right? This was what I desired in the beginning. But why do I feel like my soul, my life, has been taken away from me just by watching my wife cry? And it was because I loved her. I love her so much that it kills my heart everytime I see her hurt. I love her so much more than I could love anyone."I love you, Pennelope. I love you so much," I whispered at her one night after we made love. I promised myself I would never hurt her. I would never let anyone hurt her. I do not think I can handle it if she ever feel pain. Nobody is going to hurt her. From the moment I married her, from the moment I gave her my name, she will fore
Ethan's POVI felt like I was living in a dark world. I was waking up each day without even feeling the excitement of being alive. I was always surrounded by darkness. I once felt the sun lighting me up, but in just one night, it vanished quickly, and I know that I might never see it again. The night Pennelope left the house, I was kissing Elyse torridly. We were exchanging deep kisses because I wanted Pennelope to know that I do not love her anymore, even though my heart screams the opposite. When she was already gone, I quickly pushed Elyse away from my lap. I do not feel anything. I did not have sex with Elyse. I just made her moan last night to sound like we were fucking. But I never did. The only thing I did to her was kiss her. That was the only thing we did, kissing. And I am disgusted with myself already. "What's wrong, Ethan?" She asked me, then held my arm.I did not move. I did not talk to her. My eyes were focused on the divorce paper that Pennelope just signed. I gulpe