Chapter 93

Fiona

Like I had planned, I keep to myself for the rest of the day. Angela’s words echo in my mind no matter what I do. Work, music, humming to myself, thinking about my mother’s money going to a jerk like Jack; nothing helps relieve the deep ache that is currently digging into my heart and creating a chasm.

Ethan came back to his office soon after I left the bathroom. I want to believe that he continued to turn down the marriage proposal, but when he didn’t say anything to me, I realized he probably accepted.

That or he’s trying to decide.

Either way, he doesn’t need me to pressure him, even if I want to stand up and scream for him to choose me. I understand now what it means when they say you don’t know what you have until you lose it.

I didn’t realize until the choice was taken from me that Ethan is the future I want. He’s the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, but now, he’s gone. The distance between us grows further and further with each passing moment, and no matter how badly I want to reach out, I won’t be able to reach him.

Our worlds are too different. We are too different and that makes our separation inevitable.

Inevitable and devastating, because he’s been my safe haven, but what will I do now? I don’t have a home, and I can’t return to Jack or my father.

The only option I have is Isla, and because the pain in my chest threatens to choke me and send me into an emotional breakdown, I pull out my phone to message Isla. If I try to call her, I won’t be able to speak. I’ll be a blubbering mess and that will only cause a scene.

So, through blurry eyes, I type out a message to my best friend.

ME: Could I stay at your place for a while?

The reply comes almost instantly.

ISLA: Yes!

ISLA: Wait. I thought you were staying at your mom’s old house

ME: I can’t.

My fingers hover over the keys, but I force myself to type out the message.

ME: Jessica went crazy. She set my house on fire the other night and tried to burn me alive.

ISLA: That bitch!

ISLA: ARE YOU OKAY?!!? IF SHE HURT YOU, I’LL KILL HER

My heart squeezes but another message swoops in before I can respond.

ISLA: I’ll kill her either way

ME: I had minor injuries, but that’s not important. I need somewhere to stay until I can get back on my feet

ISLA: What about Ethan?! Is he not helping you?

ISLA: Do I need to beat some sense into him?!

I can imagine her furiously typing these messages out as she hides behind her computer screen at work. The mental image makes me smile a bit.

ME: He’s busy

ISLA: WITH WHAT?!

Her anger and disbelief are almost tangible.

ME: He’s being pressured by his parents to marry someone they’ve chosen

The three little dots dance across my screen before they disappear and reappear again and then they disappear just for my phone to suddenly ring. I jump from the loud tone, glancing toward Ethan’s office.

He doesn’t lift his head, but just to be safe, I flip the sound to silence and scurry to the bathroom.

“I was texting you for a reason,” I hiss into the phone, checking over my shoulder to see if Ethan can hear me. I’m not sure how far his Lycan hearing can go, but I don’t need him hearing this.

He continues to flip through a file, giving no indication that he even noticed I’d gotten up from my desk.

“What the hell do you mean that he’s getting married to someone his parents set him up with?!” Isla screeches angrily.

“They came in today and—”

“Is it because he’s rich? Do rich people still force their kids into arranged marriages?” She shouts, making me pull the phone away from my ear. “That’s so messed up!”

“I know, but—”

“And he’s going to do it?! He’s going to marry this girl?”

“Could you let me finish a sentence please?” I ask, fighting back the rising tears.

You are not weak, Fiona.

You’re strong and competent.

You are not unworthy of love.

I repeat the chants in my head and push back the tears. With one more deep breath, I give her all the information I can.

“I don’t know if he’ll marry her, but they’re threatening some pretty heavy consequences. The worst part is the woman is Angela, the bratty rich girl that’s been bullying me, so at least I now know why she hates me. I can’t stay with him because it hurts to be around him. I’m barely holding myself together as is. I can’t—”

My voice cracks, and I close my eyes.

“I can’t be around him right now. I just need somewhere to go so I can pull myself together and regroup while thinking of a new plan,” I tell her. “I could also use a friend right now.”

“Oh, babe,” she coos, and I want nothing more than to reach through the phone and hug her. She’s all I have left. “I’ll come pick you up from work as soon as your done and then we can have a girl’s night, eat junk food, and watch a sad movie.”

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll see you soon.”

When our call ends, I go into he bathroom to splash cold water on my stinging eyes. Just two more hours, and I can leave.

Just two hours.

“Fiona, can you stop for a second,” Ethan calls as I walk through the lobby. I bite my lip, making a beeline to Isla who messaged that she’s waiting out front in her car.

“I’m going to Isla’s house, so no need to worry about me,” I tell him offhandedly. I don’t look at him because if I do, I feel like I might give in and ask him to choose me. The weaker part of me urges me to do just that, but the stronger half of me pushes me forward. It tells me I can’t let another man ruin my life.

“You still have a place in my home,” Ethan says, making me falter. “You don’t have to run from me, from us. She isn’t…”

His words trail off with a sigh.

“Ethan, I can’t be with you if you’re with Angela. That’s not who I am or what I want. I’ve been through enough pain, don’t you think?” I question, tilting my head ever so slightly toward him, but I close my eyes before I can look at him.

My control is slipping, the voices in my head whispering to run before I can change my mind.

He says nothing just releases a soft, keening growl.

“I’ll be at Isla’s house until further notice. When you’ve made up your mind, let me know,” I whisper, walking toward the front doors again. Before he can call after me or reach me, I run. I don’t care that it’s inappropriate to run through the company’s lobby. I just need to get out of here.

Bursting through the door, I rush to Isla’s car and climb in, telling her to go. The car jerks into drive, and a second later, her eyes widen.

“He’s…”

Lifting my eyes, I find his reflection in the mirror and watch as he runs after the moving car. My heart climbs into my throat as he follows, but eventually he stumbles to a stop, unable to catch us. Except, I know he could. He could catch us if he wanted, but he’s letting me go.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip like the knife that sinks fully into my heart.

He stands there, watching as we drive away, a look on his face that almost has me telling Isla to turn around.

“Do you want me to—”

“No. Get me out of here,” I beg, my voice cracking as I whisper, “Please.”