Ethan''s grip was like iron around my wrist, his fingers digging painfully into my


    skin as he dragged me across the living room of Rosewood Haven. My struggles were futile against his superior strength. I felt like a broken doll helpless and small in the face of his rage.


    "Let me gol" I demanded, my voice stronger than I felt. "You have no right to handle me this way!


    His pace never slowed, his amber eyes fixed straight ahead, refusing to even look


    at me


    f you truly believe I''m guilty, send me to the police I shouted, hoping to appeal to whatever sense of justice might remain in him. "Let them investigate properly!"


    That finally got a reaction. Ethan stopped abruptly, turning to face me with eyes that had darkened to the color of burnt honey


    "Shut up!" he snarled, his voice vibrating with barely contained fury. "You want the police involved? So you can manipte the system again? So you can escape proper justice?"


    His usation struck me like a physical blow. What system had I ever manipted? When had I ever escaped justice?


    "You''re so fearless because you think my grandmother will protect you," he continued, his grip tightening further. "Just like before."


    Understanding dawned, cold and bitter. He thought I was confident because his grandmother would shield me from consequences, just as he blindly sided with Victoria. The realization stung, despite my attempts to harden my heart against his betrayal.


    1 bit my lip, fighting back tears of frustration. With my free hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. James would help me. He always did.


    Before I could even unlock the screen, Ethan snatched the device from my hand. He powered it off with a decisive click and tossed it carelessly onto the sofa.


    “Ethan, what do you want?" I demanded, struggling to keep my voice steady despite my trembling body. My eyes burned with unshed tears of anger and fear.


    He didn''t answer, Instead, he pulled me toward a door I hadn''t noticed before, tucked away in a corner of the room. With a swift motion, he flung it open, revealing a yawning darkness beyond.


    My heart stopped. A basement. Dark and forbidding, with stone steps disappearing into ckness.


    My entire body went cold with recognition and terror. Not again. Not this.


    "Ethan, no!" I pleaded, digging my heels into the floor, fighting his pull with every ounce of strength I possessed. "Don''t lock me in there, I...