Chapter 11: The Breakdown
Adrian showed up at Carter Tower two days later.
He bypassed security and somehow made it up to Ethan’s private floor. When Ethan’s assistant tried to stop him, Adrian pushed past her and stormed into Ethan’s office.
Ethan was on a call when the door slammed open.
Adrian stood there, eyes wild, looking nothing like the polished surgeon the city admired.
“You think you can take everything from me?” he shouted. “My reputation, my fiancée, my career?”
Ethan calmly ended his call and stood up.
“Get out of my office.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You don’t get it, do you? She’s mine. She’s always been mine. You think because you have money and power you can just steal her away? She’ll come crawling back. She always does.”
Ethan walked around his desk slowly.
“You put your hands on her,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet. “You left bruises on her body. And now you have the audacity to stand here and act like the victim.”
Adrian’s face twisted.
“She made me do it. She pushes me. She makes me lose control.”
Ethan took another step closer.
“No,” he said. “You chose to hurt her. And you’re going to pay for every single mark you left on her.”
Adrian lunged forward, but Ethan was faster. He grabbed Adrian by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
Security rushed in seconds later.
As they dragged Adrian out, he screamed over his shoulder.
“This isn’t over, Carter! She’ll never be free of me!”
Ethan stood in the middle of his office, breathing hard, his hands still clenched into fists.
Ava appeared in the doorway moments later, her face pale.
“Ethan…”
He turned to her.
“It’s over,” he said. “He’s not going to hurt you again.”
Ava walked toward him slowly.
For the first time since the night he found her in the dressing room, she reached out and took his hand.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Ethan looked down at their joined hands, then back at her.
“I’m not doing this because I’m a good man, Ava,” he said quietly. “I’m doing this because I care about you. More than I should have let myself.”
Ava’s eyes filled with tears.
May you like
“I know,” she said. “I’ve always known.”
And for the first time, neither of them looked away.
