The Billionaire Broken Bride

Strike Back

When Ethan went back to the hospital room, Adian looked impossibly small against the white sheets. A deep cut marked at the side of her forehead, her arms were colored with bruises, her breathing was steady but seeing her like this broken, vulnerable is what Ethan couldn't stand and that twisted something violently dark inside of him. He walked slowly towards her bed then stopped beside her. For a moment, he just stared as if reassuring himself she was still there, alive, his hand moved before he could stop himself he brushed her hair gently and that was when she slowly opened her eyes.

“Ethan….”

He was so relieved instantly as she called his name softly, he felt so relieved that he almost burst into tears.

“You're awake”. He said calmly.

“What happened “?. Her voice was weak.

“You were attacked”. He explained.

Then the memory of a black car, the impact returned instantly. She was so afraid.

“They tried to kill me”. She panicked.

Ethan’s expression darkened.

“Yes”.

Adian looked at him carefully and suddenly realized he looked furious like pure fury burned behind his eyes not cold,not controlled but furious.

“It was David”. She said quietly.

“I know”.

The room fell silent.

Then Adian noticed something strange he was still holding her hand tightly as if letting go wasn't an option. Her heart skipped.

“Ethan….”.

His gaze lifted towards hers and fir the first time since she met him she saw fear there, real fear.

“You could have died”. He said quietly.

The words hit harder than she expected.

Adian swallowed hard.

“That doesn't matter”. His voice was sharp now barely controlled by anger.

“It matters to me”.

There was heavy emotional silence now.

Adian stared at him and slowly she realized something terrifying. This wasn't just revenge for him any more. This was protection.

Ethan Blackwood cared deeply, maybe too deeply and judging by the look in her eyes. David Carter had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

That same night, David sat alone in his office pouring himself another drink. The news of Adian’s accident had already spread quietly through certain circles. He smiled slightly.

“Good”.

Maybe now she would finally understand what happened when people turned against him but then his phone rang. It was from an unknown number. David picked and answered drunk.

“Hello..?”

“Run”.

A calm voice spoke on the other end.

David frowned.

“What”?.

“You should run now”.

Ethan Blackwood said quietly.

Suddenly David felt cold, he could feel a cold chill run through his spine. Real fear caught him, crept into his chest. For the first time because the voice on the other end didn't sound angry it sounded certain and determined and that was what terrified him more.

David Carter couldn't sleep that night after he received the phone call after hearing Ethan Blackwood's calm voice from the other end warning him softly to run.

The word echoed endlessly in his mind, cold, deliberate carrying a promise far more terrifying than a threat.

David sat alone in his office, the city lights beaming faintly through the massive windows, his half empty bottle lingered on the table beside him but no amount of alcohol could calm the growing fear crawling under his skin. He kept replaying the messages. The most terrifying thing was that Ethan wasn't angry but calm because men like Ethan Blackwood didn't yell when they were emotional, they destroyed things quietly, systematically and completely.

David grabbed his phone and dialled a number quickly.

“Get me every update on Blackwood Holdings, his every movement, every investor, meetings, everything and find out what happened at the accident scene, was there a name? I want names”. He barked.

His assistant hesitated but ….

“Sir, there is something else”.

David's stomach tightened.

“What”?!

“Our overseas investors pulled out completely this morning”.

“What?!

“The contracts were terminated an hour ago”.

There was silence. David stood up abruptly, he was full of anger that he might explode anytime soon.

“That's impossible”.

“I am sorry sir but…..”.

David ended the call angrily, he threw his phone across the room violently and it shattered against the wall. His breathing became too fast, too sharp, uneven, this was happening too quickly.

Ethan was moving faster than expected much faster and David was beginning to realize something horrifying, he was obviously losing.

At St Theresa hospital, Adian slowly woke to the soft sound of rain tapping against the windows. The room was quiet except for the distant sounds of nurses moving through the hallway.

For a moment, she almost forgot where she was, then the pain hit her again, her shoulder hurt, her heart increased, there were bruises across her skin beneath the hospital gown.

The accident, the black car, David.

Adian closed her eyes for a few seconds taking in a slow breath. Then she noticed him, Ethan.

Ethan sat behind the window, still dressed in yesterday’s cloth, his tie loosen, the top buttons of his shirt loosen too. There was a dark shadow under his eyes as she stared at him and the look of his face is something she hadn't seen before “exhaustion”. He had left, Adian chest tightened unexpectedly.

“You should rest”. She said softly.

Ethan looked up immediately, the moment their eyes met hers, he was relieved instantly, obviously he felt relieved.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Just now”.

He stood instantly walking towards her bed.

“Are you in pain”?

“A little”.

“I will call the doctor”. He suggested

Adian reached out before he could move, her fingers lightly brushing his wrist

“I am okie”.

Their body contact stopped immediately. There was silence in the room and neither of them moved. Then slowly, very slowly, Ethan looked down at her hand and realized what she had done . She pulled away quickly.

“Sorry”.

Ethan's gaze lingered on her for a brief second before he sat down again .

“You don't apologize enough”. He said quietly

Adian blinked.

“What”?

“You apologize for things that aren't your fault”. Her breathing caught unexpectedly.

“I guess I am used to it”.

Ethan's eyes changed to something dark.

“That's going to change”. Certainly in his tone sent warmth through her chest despite everything.