I locked eyes with Ethan, his gaze wild and bloodshot, and spoke one word at a time, as steady as if I were sitting across a negotiation table.
"You want me to release them. Fine. I have two conditions."
Ethan's breathing was ragged and erratic, his chest heaving, like a caged animal with no way out.
He had nowhere left to go.
"Say it."
The word ground out from between his teeth.
"First, you walk away with nothing. Everything in your name, the apartment, the Tesla, the savings, the studio, your company shares, all of it comes back to me. You keep nothing."
Ethan's eyes went wide. His lips trembled for a long time.
Those assets combined were worth well over ten million dollars.
But right now, he had no choice.
"Fine... I agree."
Three small words, bitten out like he was cracking
