Anthony stepped into the hotel lobby from the lift, his arm draped around the waist of a blonde woman who giggled at something he murmured in her ear. But Anthony's mood darkened the moment his gaze landed on the café at the hotel lobby.
There, seated by the window, was Lena. Her soft laughter carried through the glass as she leaned slightly toward Ethan, her fingers brushing against his as they shared a quiet conversation. The way her cheeks flushed pink when Ethan said something, the way her eyes sparkled—it was unmistakable. She was happy. Truly, unreservedly happy.
And it made Anthony's blood boil.
His jaw clenched as he watched them. The way Ethan's thumb traced Lena's knuckles, the intimate glances they exchanged—it wasn't hard to guess what had happened the night before. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
The woman beside him tugged at his arm, her voice saccharine. "Anthony, darling, we should go—"
"Leave," he cut in, his voice dangerously low.
She blinked. "What?"
"I said leave." His tone left no room for argument.
With a huff, she snatched her purse and stormed off, but Anthony didn't spare her a glance. His entire focus was on Lena—on the way Ethan's hand now rested on the small of her back as they stood, on the way she smiled up at him like he was the only man in the world.
Something inside him snapped.
Eight years. Eight years he had waited, played the patient boyfriend, respected her boundaries. And yet, within a month of knowing this man, she had given herself to him?
The blonde beside him said something flirtatious, but Anthony barely registered it. His grip on her waist tightened unconsciously, his mind consumed by a storm of rage and betrayal.
*****
After breakfast, Ethan walked Lena to her apartment, his hand resting gently on the small of her back.
"You sure you don't want me to stay?" he asked, his voice low with concern.
Lena smiled, shaking her head. "I'll be fine. You have work to finish, and I could use some quiet time."
He cupped her face, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Last night was… unforgettable."
A blush warmed Lena's cheeks as she bit her lip. "For me too."
Ethan smirked, pulling her into a deep kiss, one hand sliding into her hair. When they finally parted, both were breathless. "Go home," he said huskily. "Rest. I'll check on you later."
Lena nodded, her heart fluttering as he walked her to her car, his fingers intertwined with hers until the last possible second.
Ethan cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Text me if you need anything. Anything."
"I will." Lena nodded, her heart fluttering as he walked her to her car, his fingers intertwined with hers until the last possible second.
Back at her apartment, Lena hummed to herself as she tidied up, her body still humming with the memory of Ethan's touch. She curled up on the sofa with a book, occasionally scrolling through videos, her mind drifting to the way his strong arms had held her through the night. A contented sigh escaped her. She had never felt so… cherished.
That night, after a long, steaming shower, Lena wrapped herself in a towel and stepped into her walk-in wardrobe. The cool air brushed her damp skin as she reached for her sleepwear, a soft, silky camisole and shorts and put it on.
"I didn't know you had such a beautiful body."
The whisper against her ear sent a jolt of terror down her spine. Lena gasped, whirling around—but strong arms locked around her from behind before she could move.
Anthony.
Lena gasped, struggling. "Let go of me!"
He only tightened his grip, his breath hot and sour against her neck. "I saw you with Ethan this morning," he hissed. "You let him fucked you, didn't you?"
Lena's blood ran cold. She twisted in his hold, but his fingers dug into her hips painfully.
Anthony spun her around, his face twisted with fury. "Eight years, Lena. Eight years I waited for you, and you wouldn't even let me touch you!" His voice rose to a snarl. "But some stranger gets you in a month?"
Lena then scolded, "you're a bastard!"
And then the slap came without warning.
The force sent her crashing to the floor, her cheek stinging, vision blurring. Before she could scramble up, Anthony was on her, pinning her down, his weight crushing her.
"Doesn't matter if you're a virgin or not now," he growled, yanking up her camisole. Her breasts spilled free, and his eyes darkened with hunger. "I'm taking what's mine."
Lena screamed, thrashing as his rough hands groped her, his mouth slobbering over her neck. "Stop! Anthony!"
He yanked up her sleepwear, his hands groping roughly, his breath hot against her skin. Lena screamed, thrashing beneath him, but he was too strong.
"Stop! Stop!" she sobbed, clawing at his arms.
Anthony stood just long enough to unbuckle his belt, and Lena seized the chance to bolt—but he caught her wrist, wrenching her back.
"You're not running," he snarled, slamming her onto the bed.
His mouth crashed against her neck, teeth scraping skin. Lena squeezed her eyes shut, terror choking her—
Then—
A force ripped Anthony away.
Lena's eyes flew open just in time to see Ethan's fist connect with Anthony's face. Once. Twice. Again.
Anthony staggered, blood dripping from his nose, but Ethan didn't stop. His punches were brutal, precise—every strike fueled by raw fury. As an ex-soldier, Ethan was trained to incapacitate, and Anthony was no match.
When Anthony crumpled to the floor, Ethan kicked him—once in the ribs, once in the gut—his expression terrifyingly cold.
"Ethan—stop!" Lena cried, grabbing his arm.
He froze, chest heaving, before stepping back, his gaze snapping to Lena. "Did he hurt you?"
Her tears spilled over. "N-no. You came in time."
Ethan exhaled sharply, pulling her into his arms. She clung to him, trembling, as he called the police.
The officers arrived quickly, cuffing a dazed Anthony and dragging him out. Lena gave her statement, her voice steady despite the fear still coiled in her stomach.
When they were finally alone, Ethan turned to her, his hands framing her face. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner."
Lena shook her head, fresh tears falling. "You came when it mattered."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "If I hadn't decided to drop by…"
She pressed her forehead against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "But you did."
He held her tighter, his lips brushing her hair. "I'll always come for you."
Ethan chose to stay with Lena, feeling that, after everything that had happened, it was the right decision. Lena smiled, pulling him toward the bedroom.
"I have something to show you," she said softly, her voice light, trying to distract herself from the tension of the morning. "Just in case you decide to stay over again."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You've got a whole setup ready for me?"
Lena nodded, her smile warming him as she moved toward her closet. She opened a drawer and pulled out a small, neatly packed bag. "I've prepared… just in case," she said, winking at him as she handed it over.
Ethan chuckled softly, taking the bag and looking inside. It was filled with the basics—extra toothbrush, comfy socks, even a spare T-shirt.
"You really thought of everything," he said, feeling a bit touched by her thoughtfulness. "Guess I'll have to make this a regular thing then, huh?"
Lena smiled shyly, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks as she changed into something more comfortable. When she was done, she turned to face him, her expression serious.
"Ethan, I… I wanted to tell you about something." She hesitated, sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
Ethan sat down beside her, giving her space but offering his full attention. "You can tell me anything."
Lena took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "This morning, when we were at the hotel, Anthony saw us together. He guessed what happened… that we slept together. And, to be honest, it made him lose it. He was so angry."
She paused, the memory still fresh, and he could see the flicker of tension in her eyes. "He didn't even let me breathe. He kept blaming me for everything… because we've been together for eight years, and I didn't let him touch me. He didn't understand why I didn't want him like that."
Ethan's heart tightened at the mention of Anthony's rage, but he gently placed his hand over hers, squeezing it softly.
"Lena, you don't need to explain yourself to anyone. Especially not him." His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with quiet intensity. "You've always had control over your own choices. Anthony should have respected that."
She smiled faintly at his words, but the weight of the conversation lingered in the air. It felt like a moment of clarity for both of them.
To lighten the mood, Ethan leaned back slightly, an impish grin playing on his lips. "So, tell me," he teased, his voice dropping to a playful tone, "is it my undeniable charm? Or is it that I'm just way more physically attractive than Anthony?"
Lena couldn't help but laugh, the tension in the room dissipating instantly. She reached out and playfully smacked his chest, a soft giggle escaping her lips.
"Maybe it's a bit of both," she teased back, her eyes sparkling. "But I'm not going to lie… there's something about you, Ethan. You make me feel like I'm seen for who I truly am."
Ethan's chest swelled with pride, a warmth spreading through him at her words. He reached over to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his expression softening.
"I'm proud you trust me," he said quietly, his voice sincere. "I know you've been hurt before. And I want you to know, I'm here for you. Always. No one else will ever make you feel like you're less than you deserve."
Lena looked at him, her heart full of emotion. "Thank you, Ethan. For everything."
He smiled, pulling her closer to him. "You don't need to thank me. And I'm not going anywhere."