The Billionaire Broken Bride

Falling in love

Adian froze when Ethan confessed his love to her.

“I love you”. It was as if the world stopped running for a second. She stared at Ethan as she repeatedly remembered his words in her mind. She knew his love was real and genuine and that was the main reason why she was terrified because it didn't sound like an attachment or obligation.

Ethan didn't look away, he stared back at her softly. He didn't even try to soften his words or pretended he never meant it and somehow that made it more overwhelming.

The silence between them lasted longer painfully. It was filled with emotions that neither of them could take back now.

Ethan stepped closer slowly, his gaze still fixed on hers. He is genuinely staring at her in a lovely way which Adian really finds tempting.

“I didn't plan this. And if I could have stopped it maybe I would have”. He confesses.

Adian's heart is accelerating faster now in her chest in a way she is finding it difficult to compose herself.

“You….”. She struggles with words as words fail her completely. A shaky breath escaped her lips.

“You make me lose focus, you make me irritational”. Ethan said softly. The honesty in his voice was devastating because she believed him completely now.

“You?. Irrational?”. She laughed faintly.

“Yes, you almost died and I wanted to destroy the entire city because of it. That really scares me”. He replied.

He laughed slightly and his smile disappeared really quickly.

Adian's heart is really beating non stop now because this man standing in front of her is admitting fear for her, this impossible controlled man.

“You shouldn't say things like that”. She replied weakly.

“Why”?.

“Because you make it impossible to think clearly”.

“Good”. He replied instantly without hesitating. Narrowing his eyes slightly .

That single word sent a chill rushing through her spine instantly. A dangerous, real chill.

Adian's had to look away briefly. She is trying to steady herself then Ethan gently returns her chin with his fingers to face him.

“Look at me”. He said softly to her.

She immediately did. And she regretted it instantly because the way he looked at her melted her like she was the centre of his entire world and this completely destroyed her remaining defense.

“You don't have to answer me right now. I know what you have been through about David, his betrayal and all his humiliation so the fear of trusting someone again only to watch everything collapse…..I understood it all and somehow that made this harder not easier”. He quietly said.

Adian just stood there and listened.

“You make me feel things I wasn't ready for”. She replied to him softly.

“Same”. He replied. Stroking her chin gently.

His word broke her again because Ethan Blackwood is a man who has never shown weakness not even to anyone but now here he is falling for her and this was becoming something else entirely.

Adian didn't realize tears were dripping from her eyes until Ethan wipes them carefully.

“Sorry”. She whispered softly. She felt shy and embarrassed.

“Why are you apologising”?. Ethan asked softly.

“I don't know”. She admitted .

“You don't ever have to be afraid of me hurting you. I can never hurt”. He said quietly. His words make her heart fragile. Suddenly, everything she had been trying to hold back, completely crashed because deep inside her, she trusted him completely more than she should. Before she could stop herself from overthinking, Adian stretched her hands and reached for him. Her fingers touch his chest lightly. She stepped closer and Ethan went completely still as if he trying moving may change her mind or scares her away.

Adian looked at him slowly.

“You are really unfair, you know that”?

“Why”?. He looked at her

“Because I was trying very hard not to fall in love with you”. She said her confession stole the silence in the room. Ethan was completely mute. He was silent not out of weakness or shock he felt relief. Pure overwhelming relief.

“Adian”. He called her softly.

She barely had time to breathe before he kissed her again, this time there was nothing careful about it,no hesitation, months of tensions, fears, desires and all emotions crashed instantly.

He carefully wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him like he couldn't stand the distance anymore and honestly, neither could she.

Adian kissed him back without hesitation, she tightened her fingers in his shirt as emotions overwhelmed her completely. The kiss felt different now it was deeper and more intense because they both knew exactly what they wanted now. A real love, undeniable one and there was no hiding from it anymore.

Across the city, David Carter was angry about the fallout from Ethan's press conference. Carter's Holdings stock had crashed by fifteen percent overnight. The board members demanded an emergency meeting, investors abandoned him publicly even longtime allies cut ties with him and began distancing themselves from him.

David sat alone in his office, staring blankly at the News headlines. Every news felt like another punch in his chest.

“Blackwood exposes Carter's Holdings,faces collapse”.

“Blackwood exposes Carter's affairs” “David Carter lied about Adian Victory”.

“This isn't over”. He murmured. Squeezing his face. He then violently grabbed the mug beside him and broke it.

Suddenly, his office door opened and Molly walked in, she obviously looked nervous, anxious and afraid, one could easily tell.

“We need to leave”. She said immediately.

“What”!?. David looked at her sharply.

“People are turning against us, my social media accounts are flooded with threats, brands are cancelling partnership, reporters are outside my apartment”. She complained nervously.

“The deal with it”. David snapped.

Molly was surprised, she stared at him in disbelief.

“Deal with it?. You dragged me into this”!. She said bitterly.

David suddenly stood up.

“No, never did I. You were already in it the second you got into my bed”.

“You promised me”. She said shakily, her face went pale immediately

“I promised you exactly what? Love? Protection?. Look around Molly we are drowning”. He laughed bitterly and for the first time since all of this began, Molly just realized something terrifying that David Carter never lived gee, he only loved himself.

Back at the mansion, Adian sat against Ethan on the couch, she was putting on one of Ethan's oversized sweaters while it was raining outside slightly. Adian felt at peace. Everything felt strangely safe. Ethan's arm was wrapped around her waist while she leaned against his chest, listening to the steady rhymes of his heartbeat neither of them spoke in a while, words suddenly felt unnecessary. Adian closed her eyes and all she could feel was calm.

“I think this is the first time in months have felt calm”

“You deserve it”. Ethan replied softly , brushing her hair lightly.

“You really say dangerous things so casually”. Adian smiled softly against him

“ They are true”.

“You know before you I thought love was supposed to hurt”.

Ethan's expression changed immediately.

“Adian….”

“No, I mean… with David I was always anxious, always trying harder, always wondering if I was enough but with you ..I feel safe”.

Her words nearly destroyed him because no one had ever looked at Ethan Blackwood and seen safety before instead it always been power, fear but safety?. Never!.

“And you make this place feel like home”He touched her face gently .

Adian heart melted completely and somehow deep inside her she realized she was already gone completely hopeless in love with him neither of them knew yet because that their happiness was about to face its biggest threat yet because desperate people become dangerous and David Carter had just reached desperation.