QUIET SACRIFICES😌
1051 Words
HIS POSSESSION
Chapter Twenty-Two: QUIET SACRIFICES
Wednesday afternoon arrived with a crisp autumn breeze.
Golden leaves drifted lazily across the sidewalks as students hurried home from school.
At a small bus stop a few blocks from Le Château, Ethan stood beside Lily.
“You have your math test tomorrow,” he reminded her.
“I know.”
“And?”
She sighed dramatically.
“And I studied.”
“You don’t sound convincing.”
“I sound exhausted.”
Ethan laughed.
“I’ll quiz you after dinner tomorrow.”
Lily groaned.
“I liked you better five seconds ago.”
The bus pulled up.
Before climbing aboard, she hugged him quickly.
“Don’t work too hard.”
“I’ll try.”
“You always say that.”
“And one day I’ll mean it.”
She smiled before disappearing onto the bus.
Ethan waited until it pulled away before turning toward the restaurant.
Le Château was already alive when he arrived.
Chef Marcel glanced up from the kitchen.
“You’re early.”
“I wanted to help with prep.”
“You were here until almost midnight.”
“I know.”
The chef studied him for a moment.
Then simply nodded.
“I’ve already made you a sandwich.”
Ethan smiled sheepishly.
“I knew you would.”
“And yet you still skipped lunch.”
“…Maybe.”
Chef Marcel pointed toward the staff room.
“Eat.”
“Yes, Chef.”
By evening…
The restaurant settled into its familiar rhythm.
At exactly eight o’clock…
The doors opened.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good evening.”
Table nine waited.
Just as promised.
Ethan approached with his usual smile.
“Welcome back.”
“Thank you.”
“You look well.”
“So do you.”
The words were polite.
Yet Adrian noticed the faint hesitation before Ethan answered.
“That’s kind of you.”
Kind.
Not true.
Dinner progressed peacefully.
A violin accompanied the piano tonight, filling the dining room with gentle harmony.
As Ethan served another table, a businessman accidentally knocked his briefcase to the floor.
Papers scattered everywhere.
Before anyone else could react, Ethan knelt to gather them.
“I’m so sorry, sir.”
“It was my fault,” the man replied, embarrassed.
Within moments, everything was neatly arranged again.
“No harm done.”
The businessman smiled gratefully.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Adrian watched silently.
Ethan treated every inconvenience as though it belonged to him.
Not because he had to.
Because he wanted everyone else to feel at ease.
Later, Noah joined Adrian for a moment while Ethan disappeared into the kitchen.
“He finally ate.”
Adrian looked up.
“The sandwich?”
Noah nodded.
“Chef practically stood there until he finished.”
“I’m glad.”
“We all are.”
Noah smiled faintly.
“He spends so much time taking care of everyone else…”
“…sometimes we have to return the favor.”
Before Adrian could answer, Noah was called away to another table.
The words stayed with him.
A little later, Ethan returned carrying fresh coffee.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“You didn’t.”
He poured the coffee carefully.
“Busy evening.”
“It usually is on Wednesdays.”
“You still remembered the coffee.”
Ethan smiled.
“I remember a lot of things.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Their eyes met briefly.
Then Ethan excused himself to another table.
As the night drew on, a young waitress approached Ethan quietly.
“My train was cancelled.”
“Oh.”
“I’m worried I won’t get home.”
Without hesitation, Ethan reached into his wallet.
“There are taxis outside.”
She shook her head.
“I can’t ask you—”
“You didn’t.”
He slipped a few bills into her hand.
“You can pay me back whenever.”
“Ethan…”
“It’s alright.”
She smiled gratefully.
“Thank you.”
Adrian had witnessed the exchange from across the room.
Ethan never looked around to see who was watching.
He simply helped.
Then carried on working.
Closing time arrived.
The last guests filtered out into the cool night.
As Adrian settled the bill, he spoke quietly.
“You seem to know exactly when people need help.”
Ethan looked thoughtful.
“I don’t always.”
“But when I can…”
He shrugged gently.
“…why wouldn’t I?”
The answer was so simple.
So sincere.
That Adrian found he had no response.
Because in his world…
People usually asked what they would gain.
Ethan asked only what someone else needed.
Outside, Luca waited beside the sedan.
“You’ve been thinking all evening.”
“I have.”
“What about?”
Adrian looked back through the restaurant window.
Ethan was helping Noah stack chairs while laughing at something Chef Marcel had said.
“He gives.”
Luca frowned slightly.
“Who does?”
“Ethan.”
“He gives his time.”
“His energy.”
“His attention.”
A quiet pause.
“And tonight…”
“…his money.”
Luca nodded slowly.
“You noticed.”
“I notice everything.”
The words were calm.
Yet something had changed.
For the first time…
Adrian wasn’t simply observing Ethan’s kindness.
He was beginning to understand its cost.
Inside Le Château, Chef Marcel locked the front door.
“Ethan.”
“Yes, Chef?”
“Take tomorrow morning off.”
“What?”
“You’ve covered three extra shifts this month.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I do.”
Ethan smiled.
“I’ll think about it.”
Chef Marcel folded his arms.
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
Ethan laughed softly.
“Yes, Chef.”
As he gathered his bag, the paper lunch Chef Marcel had packed the day before was nowhere to be seen.
Noah noticed.
“You ate it?”
Ethan smiled.
“No.”
“I gave it to the dishwasher.”
“He forgot his lunch.”
Noah simply shook his head.
“You really don’t know how to stop, do you?”
Ethan looked genuinely puzzled.
“Stop what?”
Noah smiled to himself.
Being Ethan.
End of Chapter 22 🖤
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD