Part 19 – The Final Decision
The night was heavy with silence, broken only by the faint hum of cars passing outside the Carter mansion. Anna Rosé stood in the garden, her eyes lost in the soft glow of the moon. Everything she had been through—the parties, the stolen kisses, the fights, the whispers at school—swirled in her mind like a storm she couldn't escape. Two names echoed in her heart: Ethan Carter and Nick Carter.
Her lips still tingled with the memory of Nick's desperate kiss, and her neck carried the faint mark he had left on her as if to say you're mine. Yet, Ethan's voice haunted her just as strongly, the way he had whispered her name, the fire in his eyes when he touched her, the way he made her laugh even when the world felt like it was collapsing. She was trapped in a triangle of passion, loyalty, and desire.
Nick walked toward her slowly, his jaw tense, fists clenched. "Anna," he said, his voice breaking with suppressed anger and pain, "you have to see what Ethan is doing. He's playing with you like he did with all the others. Don't let him ruin you."
Anna's chest tightened. She had heard those words before—from students, from whispers in corridors—but Ethan had been different with her. Or had he? Before she could answer, the sound of footsteps approached, and Ethan appeared from the shadows, smirking in that careless, reckless way that always made her heart race. His cousin's presence only made the air sharper, thicker with tension.
"Still poisoning her against me, Nick?" Ethan said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "You can't stand the fact that she chose me first, can you? You've always hated that I get what you want."
Nick's control snapped. He shoved Ethan hard, fury sparking in his eyes. "You don't love her! You're just using her like you used every other girl. Anna deserves better than to be your next broken toy."
Ethan shoved him back, eyes darkening. "Don't talk like you know her better than I do. She kissed me, Nick. She let me in. And you're jealous because deep down you know—she feels something for me too."
The fight escalated quickly, their fists flying, anger spilling like wildfire. Anna cried out, rushing between them, pushing them apart, her hands trembling as she shouted, "Stop it! Both of you! This isn't love—it's madness!"
Tears blurred her vision. She turned to Ethan, her voice breaking. "You say you love me, but I don't know if it's love or just another game to you. Do you even realize how much you've hurt people? How much you've hurt me with your careless ways?"
Ethan's cocky expression faltered. For the first time, the mask slipped. His voice was softer, almost broken. "Anna… I didn't mean to. At first, yes, I wanted to trap you. But then… everything changed. For the first time in my life, I actually cared. I'm not perfect, but with you… I want to be."
Anna's heart thudded painfully. She turned to Nick. His eyes were filled with raw sincerity, no charm, no games—just truth. "Anna," Nick whispered, "I've never wanted anyone else. It's always been you. I don't care about the gossip, the fights, the chaos. I just want you safe, happy, and mine. Choose me, not because I'm Carter's son, not because I can protect you, but because you feel it too."
Silence stretched. The night seemed to hold its breath. Both boys looked at her—the dangerous flame of Ethan and the steady warmth of Nick. Anna closed her eyes, every memory flashing in her mind: Ethan's fire, Nick's tenderness, the kisses, the pain, the passion.
When she finally spoke, her voice was steady. "My heart has been torn in two, but tonight… I know where it belongs."
She stepped forward. Her hand reached out—not to Ethan, but to Nick. His breath caught, eyes wide with disbelief and relief as Anna whispered, "It's you, Nick. It's always been you. I don't want games. I want love."
Ethan's face froze, pain flashing through his perfect mask. He turned away, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Then I guess this game's over," he muttered, walking into the shadows, leaving them behind.
Nick pulled Anna into his arms, his lips pressing against hers in a kiss that was gentle yet filled with every ounce of passion he had held back for so long. This time, there was no audience, no jealousy, no rivalry—just love.
The night sky seemed to sigh in relief. And as Anna melted into Nick's embrace, she knew her story with the Carters had finally found its ending.
Not with fire. Not with games. But with love.
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