Chapter 3 Ghosts of the history

Chapter 3 Ghosts of the history

“Why are you holding that” Ethan’s voice was low, but the ice in his tone cut through the stillness of the room.

Maya jumped, the photograph pulsing in her hands. She hadn’t heard him approach, his wheelchair rolling quietly across the carpet. “I wasn’t. I wasn’t prying,” she stammered, her grip tensing on the edge of the frame. “It was just lying then on the desk.”

Ethan’s jaw tensed as he rolled closer. “That’s a lie. My desk is hardly a public gallery for you to browse through.” He reached out and snared the picture from her grasp, his hand pulsing slightly. “Coming time, you feel the urge to snoop, don’t.”

Maya drew in a steadying breath, forcing herself to meet his piercing gaze. “I wasn’t poking, Ethan. It caught my eye. The woman in the picture — she looks. important.”

Ethan’s grip on the frame tensed, and for a moment, his expression softened. It was transitory, however, snappily replaced by the hardened mask he wore so frequently these days. “Amelia is none of your business,” he said compactly, turning the wheelchair sprucely down from her.

The name dallied in the air like a dropped glass shattering across the floor. Maya blinked, trying to erect together the fragments. She couldn’t let the moment slip down — not when Ethan was letting something particular crack through his wall of indifference.

“She must have been,” Maya said cautiously, her voice quiet but steady. “You wouldn’t keep her picture else.”

Ethan stopped, his reverse to her now. His shoulders were rigid, the pressure in his body palpable indeed from where she stood. “Leave it alone, Maya,” he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. “You don’t get to dig into my past.”

“Fine,” she said, lifting her chin. “But for what it’s worth, whoever she was, she doesn’t feel to be then presently. So perhaps stop chastising me for whatever she did — or didn’t do.”

Ethan wheeled himself toward the door without a word, his silence louder than any retort. Maya soughed, brushing her hair back as she leaned against the desk. She could feel the weight of the photograph still on her fingertips, as if it had transferred some of its sorrow to her. Who was Amelia? And why did just the mention of her name turn Ethan into a storm of rage and grief?

The following morning, the mansion’s mood imaged Ethan’s — cold and relaxing. Maya set up herself wandering through the halls, her footsteps echoing against the marble floors. Every corner of this place sounded to tell a story, though none of them felt complete.

In the study, she saw something new a brace of dumbbells resting on the floor next to a stack of untouched medical journals. A fine set of resistance bands hung limply from the back of a chair. It was as if someone had started something and abandoned it half through.

“Curious again?” Ethan’s voice startled her from before. He was sitting at the doorway, his arms crossed.

“I was just. wondering,” Maya admitted, waving toward the equipment. “You used to work out, didn’t you?”

“Observation of the year,” he said dryly. “Why? Allowing of offering me a particular training session?”

Ignoring his sarcasm, Maya stepped closer. “It’s egregious you were trying to get better. Why did you stop?”

Ethan let out a sharp laugh, however there was no humour in it. “What makes you suppose I stopped? perhaps this is as good as it gets, Doctor.”

“I’m not a doctor,” she replied, folding her arms. “But I know enough to see implicit when I see it. You’re able of further than this, Ethan.”

He rolled forward, his face undecipherable." And what would you know about it, Maya? You've been then, what? Two weeks? You do not know anything about me."

" Perhaps not," she allowed." But I know quitting when I see it.

The air between them bristled, and for a moment, Maya allowed she would gone too far. Ethan's jaw gripped, and he goggled at her as if trying to decide whether to argue or dismiss her fully.

Eventually, he spoke." You suppose you are so clever, do not you?" His voice was low, nearly dangerous." Picking piecemeal my life like it's some case study for you to break."

“I’m not trying to break you, Ethan,” she replied forcefully. “But I do suppose you’re better than this. this pity party you’ve thrown for yourself.”

Ethan’s eyes flashed with anger, but before he could respond, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Ethan barked, easily bothered.

The door opened to reveal Thomas, his rival. Thomas walked in ideally dressed, with all the air of a man who knew he was not wanted but loved pushing boundaries.

" Well, well," Thomas drawled, looking between Ethan and Maya." Is this a bad time? I wouldn't want to intrude. whatever this is."

" What do you want, Thomas?" Ethan asked flatly.

Thomas signed, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Just checking in on an old friend. Heard you’re back in therapy. It’s good to see you’re trying again.”

Ethan’s grip on his chair tensed. “What’s your point?”

No point," Thomas said with a smirk." Just wondering if your lovely new wife then knows about all the people who've failed you ahead. You have a habit of pushing people down, Ethan. Or have not you told her about Amelia?"

Maya's heart sank at the name, but she refused to let it show. rather, she stepped forward, her voice sharp." I suppose it's time you leave.

Thomas raised an eyebrow, easily amused. “Contentious. I like her, Ethan. perhaps this one will last longer than the others.”

Ethan’s face was a storm pall, but before he could lash out, Maya spoke again. “Get out. Now.”

Thomas chortled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. No need to get worked up. But don’t say I didn’t advise you, Maya. Being near to him. it comes with risks.”

As he left, the room felt heavier, the pressure between Maya and Ethan nearly suffocating.

latterly that evening, Maya sat in the kitchen, her thoughts swirling. Thomas’s words had struck a whim-whams, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was further to Ethan’s story than he was letting on.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her from her thoughts. She picked it up and lowered at the message “Stay down from him if you value your life.”

Her breath hitched, and her fingers quivered as she reread the words. Who had transferred it? And why?

“Maya?” Ethan’s voice came from behind her, startling her enough that she nearly dropped the phone. She snappily locked the screen and turned to face him.

“Yes?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray her nerves.

He looked at her distrustfully but said nothing about her reaction. “I wanted to. thank you. For earlier. With Thomas.”

Maya blinked, surprised. “You’re thanking me?”

Ethan signed; his expression guarded. “Don’t get used to it.”

She couldn’t help but smile, though her mind was still contending with questions. Who was behind the message? And what did they mean by it?