“A month ago, when you went out drinking with that guy from your company, I lost control and broke Chiara’s leg. But I would never do that to you. Forgive me, please,” he added.
A wave of nausea rolled through me. My voice shook. “That was our marketing director. I was out with him for a client dinner. I told you about it. Afterward, he got into a car accident and quit his job. Were you behind that?”
Ethan hung his head with shame.
I yanked my hand free and slapped him across the face. He took it without resistance, but that only made my rage burn hotter.
This wasn’t love or devotion. It was sheer madness.
The fact that he’d ever gone to school to learn what was right or wrong now felt like the cruelest joke.
Ethan was flustered by my rare anger.
“You don’t sleep well in unfamiliar beds,” he stammered. “I’ll go get your mattress.”
The island was empty. There wasn’t even a bird.
Barely an hour had passed, and already the crushing loneliness pressed down on me. I couldn’t imagine how Chiara had survived
in that basement for seven years.
If she hadn’t been locked away like that, she might have had a bright future.
The thought had barely crossed my mind when reality answered it.
Ethan returned, but he wasn’t alone.
Chiara trailed behind him, her gaze darting around in timid curiosity. Everything outside that dark cell must have seemed new
and strange.
“Chiara says she doesn’t want to leave me,” Ethan said. “She wants to stay and keep you company. You wouldn’t want her out in the world all alone with no way to fend for herself, would you?”
1/2
Chaptal &
His voice was hopeful. I couldn’t tell if he was doing that for me or himself.
I scoffed internally but said nothing.
After setting up the bed, he told Chiara to take care of me and headed out to buy supplies.
The moment the door closed, Chiara’s smile faded.
She wasn’t bound. Nothing was stopping her from walking away.
“Chiara, you have to leave,” I said urgently. “I’ll tell Ethan I kicked you out. Just run before it’s too late.”
My panic clashed with the eerie calm on her face.
+15 BONUS
“Why would I leave?” she scoffed. “If I go, wouldn’t that just make it easier for you to have Ethan all to yourself? As I said, the one
he loves is me. He’s used every means possible to keep me by his side. He’s tortured me, broken me, and made me swear I’d never
leave him. Why else would he do that if it’s not
love?”
Author Trophies