No King Without A Battle
1079 Words
Later that afternoon, the doctor checked Adian out to see if she was fit to be discharged.
But Ethan's behavior changed completely, he became overprotective. Emotional over protective.
“You are not walking alone”.
“I can walk perfectly fine”. Adian said softly.
“You nearly got killed yesterday”.
“That doesn't mean I am weak”
“It means people are targeting you”.
Ethan said, looking completely unimpressed.
Adian crossed her arms carefully.
“You're been dramatic”.
“No, I am being realistic”. He said calmly.
She opened her mouth to say something again but stopped because deep down a part of her liked it, the way he stayed close, the way he protected her, the way his attention never left her, the way he makes her feel safe and that is enough to terrify her.
The ride back home to the mansion was very quiet. There was a heavy rain pouring outside, streaming against the windows as the thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Adian looked at Ethan briefly.
“You really think David did it”.
“Yes. Who else?. Is obviously him”!. He replied without hesitating.
“What if we can't prove it”?
“I don't need proof”.
His expression was calm .
“That sounds dangerous”. Adian frowned slightly as she said that.
“It is”. There was no hesitation in his answer, no shame, nothing.
Adian studied him carefully.
“Youre really going to destroy him? Aren't you?”.
Ethan looked at her directly, completely he stared.
“He tried to take you away from me. He tried to kill you and I won't let that go easily”.
The word stole the air from her lungs, for a second, neither of them moved. The rain outside is still pouring heavily.
“He doesn't get to do that”.
Adian heartbeat became uneven, this wasn't strategy anymore, this wasn't obligation, this was personally dangerous.
Meanwhile, David's situation had worsened, every hour of the day, reporters surrounded Carter Holdings headquarters relentlessly, investors abandoned him, board members started to question his leadership and worst of all, the whispers started.
“Blackwood is targeting him”
“No one survives when Blackwood get serious”
“David should have stayed away from Adian.
Fear was spreading and David hated it.
“You're losing control”. Molly said quietly as she stood across the room.
“I am handling it”. David glanced at her.
“Really?. Because from what I heard your company is completely collapsing”. She said bitterly.
“You think this is funny?. You think I am not doing anything”?. He barked.
“No, I think you underestimate ld Ethan Blackwood”. Molly snapped.
David banged his fist violently against the desk.
“I am not afraid of him, do you think I am?”.
Obviously as he said it he wasn't sure and Molly noticed it and for the first time since all this started she felt afraid too.
That evening, Adian stepped out onto the balcony outside her bedroom, leaving the city glowing with reflection of gold and silver lights. The cool breeze brushing against her skin gently. For the first time since the accident, she could breathe in properly again.
“You shouldn't be standing out here alone”. She turned, Ethan of course.
“You are really serious about the body guard act”.
“I am serious about keeping you alive”.
Adian laughed softly, she winced slightly from the soreness in her ribs.
Ethan noticed immediately.
“You're still hurting”.
“I am fine”
“You say that alot”.
“Because it's true”.
“No. It's because you're used to suffering quietly”. He said, stepping closer.
The words hit harder than they should have.
Adian looked away.
The city lights blurred slightly as emotions gathered unexpectedly in her chest.
“You notice too much”. She whispered softly.
“And you hide too much”.
Ethan stopped beside her, something awkwardly happened between them. It was just honest.
Then Ethan said, “when I got the call… I thought I was late”. His voice was lower.
Adian look at him slowly, the emotions in his expression surprised her. This is Ethan Blackwood. The man who controlled everything, the man who has never shown loss, the man who never showed weakness or emotion and yet right now in front of her he looked shaken.
“You barely know me”. She said softly.
Ethan squeezed his face slightly.
“That's the problem”.
Adian was confused.
“What does that mean “?
“It means, you matter more than you should”. He said carefully.
For just a second, her heart stopped, she could barely notice anything around them, everything seemed to fade completely, only the intensity in his eyes, only the dangerous truth hanging between them.
Adian swallowed hard
“We said no feelings”. She whispered.
Ethan stepped closer staring at her without blinking.
“So why does it feel impossible”?
Adian froze, her breathing was shaky now because he was too close, close enough for her to feel his warmth, close enough to forget every reason she should step away…..
“Adian”... He called her name softly, carefully like she was something precious and that completely ruined her defense and this time when he touched her face gently she didn't pull away
Adian stood frozen, she had forgotten how to breathe. Ethan’s hand rested against her face gently, his finger brushing lightly across her cheek as the cold night wind moved around them. They were unaware of their environment, everything else had faded. The city light below, the distant sounds of traffic, the rainwater that still dripping softly from the edges of the balcony all there doesn't mattered, only him, only the way he loved her, looked at her and makes her feel like she was something precious that needed to be handled with care and never to be lost.
“Adian…” He called her name differently and she likes how he pronounced it softly, romantically. Her name sounded different when he said it softer,more intimate.
- Writer
