"You have no right to question my choices," I continued, my voice cold. "Not when you made yours so clear."


    Ethan''s knuckles whitened as he gripped the armrest. "Answer the question, Olivia."


    "Two years ago," I replied tly. "After Lily''s funeral. After you had me thrown in jail for pping your precious Victoria."


    His jaw tightened visibly. "James found you."


    It wasn''t a question, but I answered anyway. "Yes. He''s the only one who bothered to look."


    Ethan fell silent, his amber eyes unreadable in the dim light of the car. I turned away, pressing my forehead against the cool


    window.


    "Don''t pretend you care now," I whispered, closing my eyes against fresh tears.


    Back at Ethan''s residence, a sudden, sharp pain doubled me over. I clutched my abdomen, gasping as cramps tore through me.


    "What''s wrong?" Ethan demanded, his hand on my shoulder.


    I shook my head, unable to speak through the pain. I''d been drinking special


    herbal tea for days, deliberately triggering my cycle early. It was a desperate measure to keep Ethan at bay, but I hadn''t anticipated how severe the side effects would be.


    "I need my medication," I managed to say, fumbling in my purse.


    Ethan found the pills and handed them to me with a ss of water. I swallowed them quickly, then curled into a ball on the couch,


    waiting for the pain to subside.


    To my surprise, Ethan sat beside me, cing his warm hands over my abdomen. The heat from his palms provided some relief,


    but the cramps only intensified.


    "This isn''t normal," he said, concern evident in his voice. "I''m taking you to the medical den."


    Before I could protest, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the car. I was in too much pain to fight him, my body


    trembling uncontrobly.


    At the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den, Dr. Reba Winters examined me with professional efficiency. Her expression grew


    increasingly stern as shepleted her assessment.


    "What did you take?" she asked bluntly once Ethan had stepped out of the room.


    I hesitated, then admitted the truth. She shook her head, her professional demeanor slipping.


    "This herbal mixture is harmful," she exined sternly. "Using it to manipte your cycle could permanently damage your


    reproductive system."


    I looked away, unable to meet her disapproving gaze. "I didn''t have a choice."


    +15 Bonus


    "There are always choices," she replied, preparing an injection to ease my pain. "Just not always good ones."


    As she administered the medication, I noticed Ethan standing in the doorway, his expression darkening as he overheard our conversation. Dr. Winters finished her treatment and left, giving Ethan a respectful nod as she passed.


    He entered the room slowly, his anger evident in every controlled movement. "You deliberately harmed yourself to avoid me."


    It wasn''t a question, so I didn''t answer. The medication was beginning to take effect, dulling the sharp edges of my pain.


    "If you ever do something like this again," he said, his voice dangerously low, "I


    will cancel your mother''s surgery permanently."


    My eyes snapped to his, filled with hatred. "You''re a monster."


    "You''re not only harming yourself but risking our future," he continued, ignoring my insult. "I won''t allow it."


    Iughed weakly, the sound hollow and bitter. "What future? You threw that away when you chose Victoria and Emma over Lily and me."


    His expression remained impassive, but something flickered in his amber eyes. "You have no idea what you''re talking about."


    "Then enlighten me," I challenged. "Why keep chasing what you threw away? Victoria is right there, waiting for you with open arms.”


    Ithan moved closer, his tall frame looming over my hospital bed. "Because you''re mine."


    hose three words, spoken with such cold finality, sent a chill down my spine. There was no emotion in them, just the statement f what he considered an irrefutable fact.


    1. r. Harold Bet entered with a syringe containing a sedative. I didn''t resist as he administered it, weing the oblivion itised.


    = consciousness began to slip away, I felt Ethan''s fingers on my wrist, gently tracing the scars that marked my darkest moment. s touch was surprisingly tender, at odds with the hardness in his eyes.


    ictoria''s POV)


    as reviewing Emma''s school reports when my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but somethingpelled me to


    swer.


    ello, Victoria," came a sinister voice that made my blood run cold. "I''ve been released from Moonstone County Correctional ility."


    hand trembled as I clutched the phone tighter. "Connor ckthorn," I whispered, recognizing the voice immediately.


    O years ago, I had manipted him into sabotaging Olivia''s car, convincing him that she was responsible for his dismissal n Dr. Reba Winters'' father''s care. The n had been for her to have an "ident" - nothing fatal, just enough to keep her y from Ethan for a while.