EVAI barely slept after the incident that occurred on my engagement night. Henry had left almost immediately since I couldn't give him an answer.Every time I closed my eyes, the flash of cameras and Ethan's calm voice echoed through my head like a curse.
By dawn, the news had already exploded everywhere.
"CEO Ethan Brooks Crashes Ex-Wife's Engagement."
Every headline carved another wound into me, the bad comments thrown at my nobody status.
By eight, I was standing in front of Brooks Enterprises' glass tower with a fury I didn't know how to contain.
I told myself I came here for answers, but somewhere deep down, I knew there was another reason, one I didn't want to think about.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. My reflection in the mirrored walls stared back at me looking pale.
When the doors opened, his secretary looked startled seeing me. "Mrs Brooks.."
"Ms. Sinclair," I cut in sharply before I could stop myself, three years ago I would have been happy hearing me called by that title but not anymore.
"Is he in his office?" I asked and she blinked, uncertain, before she buzzed me through.
I glanced toward his office door and it was slightly ajar. I pushed it wider and stepped in.
Ethan stood by the window, his profile outlined by the morning light, hands in his pockets as if nothing had happened.
He didn't even turn when he spoke. "I was wondering how long it would take you."
"Don't play games with me," I snapped, slamming the door behind me. "You humiliated me last night and ruined everything."
He turned slowly, his expression maddeningly calm. "I told the truth."
"You told a lie to the world!" I stepped closer. "You said I am still your wife!"
His gaze didn't waver. "Because you are." This pissed me off.
"That contract was three years ago, I left you to be with your lover… You can't take it seriously…
"I can," he interrupted.
Anger burned in my chest. "You forged my signature! I am pretty sure I wouldn't sign that stupid agreement then."
"No," he answered softly. "You signed without reading and that's on you."
I wanted to throw my shoes at him. "You manipulated me and took advantage of me when I trusted you."
He walked around the desk, closing the distance between us one step at a time. "I am protecting what was mine."
"I am not yours," I bit out, but my voice betrayed me trembling.
His eyes darkened as he leaned closer. "Then why do you look at me like you still are?" I quickly turned away, but he was already in front of me. His nearness pulled at something I had spent years burying.
"Three years," he said quietly, "and I still know what you are thinking just by the way you breathe." I hated how true that sounded.
"Stop this," I whispered. "You can't just walk into my life and claim me again."
He smiled faintly, that dangerous curve of his lips that used to undo me. "Funny how you say that while standing in my office, still wearing the necklace I had given to you."
My hands clamped around the necklace as my heart stuttered. I tugged at it instantly. "It doesn't mean anything…. I love it and it was too expensive to discard so… I kept it." I tried explaining but that gaze laced on his face said otherwise.
"If you don't believe me," I said, about yanking it off, but he quickly grabbed my hand before I could pull it off.
The moment his fingers brushed my wrist that warm, familiar, far too gentle.
"I won't accept that it means nothing to you because everything between us means something, Eva," he murmured.
I tried to pull away, but he only held tighter, eyes never leaving mine. "Do you remember what you said when we got married?"
I stayed silent, refusing to look up at him.
"You said you wanted to belong somewhere that felt like home." His voice softened. "You still do."
My throat tightened, if he had said it three years ago I would be jumping around.
"Don't twist my words," I argued.
"I am not," he said quietly. "I am reminding you what we were."
A dirty chuckle escaped my lips, "What were we? Didn't you always say I am never your type? Didn't you get together with your lover! Why the heck are you pissing me off now!"
His thumb brushed over my pulse. I hated that it reacted beating wildly under his touch.
But then his hand slipped from my wrist to my chin, tilting my face up. His eyes were dark, blank.
"You can lie to everyone else," he whispered, "but not to me." Again he had ignored my question.
"Ethan…" My voice broke. "Please."
"Please what?" he asked, stepping closer.
My breath caught, the room suddenly felt too small and quiet, with the ghost of what we used to be. He leaned in just enough that I could feel his breath against my skin close, but not touching.
"Tell me you don't want this," he murmured. I couldn't. My lips parted, but no sound came.
"Exactly," he whispered.
I closed my eyes, desperate to steady myself. "You don't get to ruin me and then pretend you are the only solution," I argued.
He smiled faintly, pain flickering through it. "Maybe I never stopped being both."
I was about to answer him and shove him away when my phone rang. The sound shattered everything and I was grateful for it.
I stepped back, fumbling to grab it from my bag. The screen flashed "Secretary Grace."
I swiped to answer instantly. "Grace?" My voice came out quicker than I meant.
Her words tumbled through in a rush. "Miss Eva… It's Mr. Scott. He…he collapsed this morning. He's in the Hospital. They said he asked for you."
For a moment, I forgot to breathe. "What? What happened?"
"I don't know the details yet, ma'am. The doctors are running tests." I didn't wait for more before I ended the call and grabbed my bag.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"
"Henry 's in the hospital," I said, already heading for the door. "I have to go."
He moved toward me. "I will come with you."
"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "You have done enough."
"Eva…"
"I mean it." My voice cracked, but I didn't stop. I reached for the handle, pausing only for a second when he spoke again.
"Don't trust him fully." I rolled my eyes and stepped out slamming his office door so loudly.