When he finally stepped out of the car, the mansion’s grandeur felt hollow, a stark reminder of everything he had lost. He followed Mara inside, his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty halls. She was already halfway through the room.
"Mara," he called out, his voice echoing through the silence. She paused but didn’t turn around. "This is still your ho. You belong here. With ."
Mara’s shoulders stiffened as she walked away, her silent retreat punctuating the tension in the air. For a fleeting mont, Ethan dared to hope she might call back, but her determined steps only grew fainter, swallowed by the distance.
Just then, Mrs. Morgan’s cheerful voice cut through the stillness. "Oh my God, it’s so good! To see you, madam, I’m so glad you ca back. We were all so worried about you!" Her warm greeting ca as Ethan and Mara appeared, a brief pause in their troubled dance.
Without missing a beat, Ethan closed the gap between them, scooped Mara up and carried her toward the staircase leading to their bedroom. "Put down, Ethan!" she protested, struggling against his grip as they ascended. With a mischievous glint, he replied, "Not yet," giving her a light, teasing tap on the butt. Mara’s angry cry of "Ethan!" fell on unyielding ears as he continued his determined climb.
Once in the sanctuary of their bedroom, Ethan set her down as gently as he could. Seizing the mont, Mara made a desperate dash for the door, a bid for freedom. "Ah, no, Mrs. Anderson, not under my watch, you are not leaving again!" she exclaid. In an instant, Ethan’s arms enveloped her from behind, his embrace firm and unrelenting. With a swift motion, he locked the door and held the key high, a silent promise that her escape was not an option tonight.
Mara slamd her fists against the door, her voice sharp with frustration. "Ethan, open the door. I want to leave."
Ethan leaned against the dresser, twirling the key between his fingers, his lips curling into a teasing smirk. "You want this? Co and get it."
Mara lunged for it, but he was quicker. With a flick of his wrist, he slipped the key into his side pocket, his eyes gleaming with challenge.
"If you really want it, you’ll have to take it yourself," he taunted.
Her jaw clenched. "I’m not joking, Ethan. Open the damn door."
"Then take it," he dared, tilting his head as if daring her to make a move.
Mara let out a sharp breath, her shoulders rising and falling as she tried to steady herself. But then, her expression changed, the fire in her eyes dimming into sothing raw—sothing that cut deeper than her anger.
Her voice was quieter now, but the pain in it hit harder than any of her earlier screams. "What’s your plan, Ethan? To lock up here forever?" Her gaze darkened. "Where you’ve been with your lover?"
Ethan’s smirk faded instantly. His stomach twisted as he saw the tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill. The betrayal, the heartbreak—it was all there, carved into her features, staring back at him like an open wound.
He swallowed hard, his chest tightening. He wanted to fix this. God, he wanted to fix this. But how could he, when every move he made only seed to shatter her further?
"Mara..." he began, his voice softer now, the teasing tone gone. He took a step toward her, but she backed away, her hands raised as if to ward him off.
"Don’t," she said, her voice trembling. "Don’t co near . You think this is a ga? Locking in here, tossing the key around like it’s so kind of joke? Do you even realize how ssed up this is?"
Ethan’s chest tightened, guilt clawing at him. He hadn’t ant to hurt her—not like this. He had just wanted to keep her close, to buy himself ti to fix things. But now, seeing the pain in her eyes, he realized how badly he had misjudged the situation.
"I’m sorry," he said, his voice raw. "I didn’t an to—I just... I don’t know how to fix this, Mara. I don’t know how to make things right between us. But I can’t lose you. I can’t."
Mara shook her head, tears still falling as she wrapped her arms around herself. "You already did, Ethan. The mont you chose her over , you lost . And now you’re just making it worse by trying to trap here. Do you really think this is how you win soone back? By locking them up and playing gas?"
Ethan’s shoulders slumped, the weight of her words crushing him.
Ethan’s heart clenched at the sight of her tears. The pain in her eyes was unbearable, and knowing he was the cause of it shattered him. He stepped closer, his voice thick with desperation.
"Tell what I have to do, Mara. Anything, I’ll do it. I’m sorry. I was wrong. Just let make it up to you." His hands trembled as he reached for her, his grip gentle but pleading. "Give a chance to prove how much I love you. With every part of , Mara, I love you. These past two days without you felt like hell, and I never want to go through that again. Please."
But Mara recoiled as if his touch burned her. She thrashed against him, her body trembling as she fought to put distance between them. She couldn’t let herself falter, not now. Not after everything.
Tears stread down her face as she struggled, her breath coming in ragged sobs. "Let go, Ethan!" Her voice cracked, the sheer agony behind it cutting like a blade. "I hate you!"
The words struck Ethan harder than any blow ever could. His body stiffened, his breath hitching as he stared at her in disbelief. "No," he whispered, shaking his head as his grip tightened around her. "Please, don’t say that." His voice broke, raw with emotion.
But Mara only struggled harder, the mories of that night flooding her mind, suffocating her. She couldn’t bear his touch, it was too much, too soon.
Ethan held onto her as if letting go would an losing her forever. "I’m sorry," he begged again, his tears spilling over now. With a strong push Mara frees herself from his grips.
"Let’s talk, please," Ethan begged, his voice thick with emotion. "Just 30 minutes, that’s all I’m asking."
Mara crossed her arms, studying him carefully. A long silence stretched between them before she let out a slow breath. "Fine. You’ve got it. Start talking. I’m listening."
Relief washed over Ethan’s face, and a small, grateful smile tugged at his lips. "Thank you." Without hesitation, he reached for her hand and gently guided her to sit on the bed beside him.
Mara sat stiffly, waiting. "Well? I’m listening."
But Ethan didn’t speak. Instead, he lowered his head, resting it against her lap with a deep, weary sigh.
"Ethan?" she whispered, confused by his sudden silence. He didn’t respond, didn’t move. And before she even realized it, he had drifted into sleep.
Mara stared at him, her lips parting in surprise. For the first ti in days, there was no tension in his face, no tornt in his eyes, just exhaustion. A tired, broken man seeking comfort in the only place he ever truly found it.
"Poor thing," she murmured, a small, bittersweet smile forming as she instinctively ran her fingers through his hair. Despite everything, a part of her couldn’t help but feel the weight of his pain.
Minutes turned into an hour, and without realizing it, Mara’s own eyes fluttered shut.
Ethan stirred, blinking as his eyes flushed open. His heart clenched at the sight beside him, Mara, sleeping peacefully, her breathing slow and steady.
A rare, genuine smile spread across his face as he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. He wasn’t sure if he deserved this mont, but he would take it.
Carefully, he slipped out of bed, stretching as he made his way to her closet. His fingers skimd over the fabric before settling on the perfect outfit. He had sothing planned, a surprise for her.
Would she like it? He had no idea.
But one thing was certain, he wasn’t giving up. Not now. Never.
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