Chapter 31

Crashing back onto the bed, I remain silent. I couldn’t understand it. This entire time he knew who I was, and he never said anything, but why? “Explain yourself,” I say.

Ethan nods. “I wasn’t lying when I said that my parents weren’t the cuddly or affectionate type or that I grew up with nannies most of my life. There was one particular one who was my favorite. Greta. She was the mother I never had, but always wanted. Even though my family had money, it didn’t stop her from bringing me trinkets and things that she said were important because they came from her heart, and not just her wallet.”

“She sounds wonderful.”

He smiled warmly. “She was. I think that’s why my mother eventually grew jealous of our relationship. My mother may not have wanted to do all the things that mothers do, but that didn’t mean that anyone else was going to come along and outshine her. Anyway, one day my parents received some tickets for a dance performance from a client. They knew not attending would be an insult, so they went and took me.

“It was one of the rare acts of bonding, and I appreciated it even though I knew that it was more about showing the perfect family than it was about being one. We sat in the first row, and soon the lights dimmed, and a very tiny ballerina made her way onto the stage.”

“…me.”

“You. As soon as I saw you, it was like my heart stopped. Here was this girl around my age who was the lead in Swan Lake. Here she was with adults following her every move as she gracefully glided across the stage.” Ethan chuckled. “Back then, I couldn’t dress myself without somehow being injured by my clumsiness, but you, you portrayed so much emotion that, for the first time in my life, I saw my mother cry. I fell in love the moment I saw you…or at least as much in love as a twelve-year-old could be. Karin, you are the reason to this day that I love dance.”

My eyes widened, and I bit the side of my cheek. “I don’t know what to say.”

He sat beside me. “You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know that so many things changed for me after that. I remember running home and telling Greta that I’d seen the most beautiful ballerina who was just like the princesses in the books that she read to me when I was younger. I showed her your picture in the playbill and proclaimed that when we grew older, I would approach you and declare marriage.”

“And what did she say?”

He chuckled again. “She bopped me on the head with it and said that proper men court the lady he is interested in, not club her over the head and carry her off.”

“Smart woman,” I say, smirking.

“Indeed. From then on out, I saved every bit of allowance so that she and I could attend all your performances. It became our thing, and it made me happy to do something as a thank you for all the things she’d done for me. I think the thing I love most is that she enjoyed going , and it wasn’t just something to appease me.” He paused, then faced me. “Do you remember the last time you danced in Blue Moon?”

“Yes, I do,” I reply, unable to keep the sadness at bay. “Five years ago.”

“Mhm. I was there, and I have to say that it was my favorite performance of yours, aside from Swan Lake. There was so much emotion in your dancing, it was almost as if you were running from something you longed to stay for. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. It was beautiful…you were beautiful.” He smiled softly. “Even though I was hurting about Greta not being there with me, your dancing reminded me of all the fond memories we shared.”

I remember vividly. It was the last dance I performed and my goodbye to Blue Moon. That night, I knew I was going to reject Ansel and I couldn’t help but shed tears as he happily watched me perform the dance we’d created together.

“What happened to Greta?” I ask, wishing the painful memory would fade.

“My mother happened,” he replied dryly. “When I said that my mother was jealous of Greta and my relationship, I meant it. She found out about our trips to the theatre and took away my allowance so I couldn’t buy tickets, and when that didn’t work because Greta started buying them instead, she fired her and sent her away. It took years to find out what happened to her, and when I did, I cut off all ties with my parents.” He exhaled sharply.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to. It’s just still hard to fathom how evil people you care about can be. Greta not only left our home, but she was blackballed by the gossip spreading about her departure. She couldn’t find a job, and eventually found herself homeless and unable to provide basic needs for herself. You and I both know older wolves need support from their pack to survive, without any, she—” Ethan stopped his words and shook his head. “No one should die that way, especially those who spend their entire lives giving to others, but that day I learned that suffering has no discernment. Misery and sorrow doesn’t care how great of a person you are, or how much you’re loved.”

“That’s awful,” I say as I fight back my tears at the amount of pain on his face. For as long as I’ve known him, Ethan has always been someone whose warm smile automatically brightened the room. I place my hand over his, and he interlocks our fingers.

“It is, but knowing her was the greatest thing that ever happened to me because I got to experience the love of a parent and”—he caressed my face—“I got to see the girl of my dreams as she grew into a woman I couldn’t forget.”

“I didn’t know you were the patient that I was taking over for Doc, but that day I walked in and saw you, it took everything in me to maintain being professional, Karin. It took everything to not to react to you…just like it’s taking everything in me not to kiss you right now.”

He leans in, but I pull away. “Ethan…”

“Lady Karin,” Maggie says from the door, scaring us apart. Her eyes locked on Ethan, the scowl on her face makes us both uncomfortable. “Apologies for interrupting such a professional appointment, but Joy has informed me she will arrive shortly. She’s excited to spend time with you. I’m sure the good doctor can continue with his examination another time.”

Ethan jumps to his feet and quickly grabs his things. “Yes, I should be going.” He tips his hat at us and tries to brush past Maggie, but she stops him. “Lady Karin seems to be progressing nicely.”

“She is.”

She grinned. “Great. I’ll relay that to Sir Ansel. I know he would love an

update on when she will be well enough to conceive.”

“I will have my report ready by his return,” he says, then silently exits the villa.