THE ROCKSTAR SECRET THERAPIST

CHAPTER5

Emma's POV

The air left my lungs.

For one frozen moment neither of us moved… Neither of us Spoke.

The mansion seemed to disappear around us.

He looked at me and the look on his face is not anger… It was Pain.

The kind of Pain People Spent years trying to bury.

His eyes locked onto the Clipping then onto me, then back to the Clipping.

The vulnerability vanished instantly.

His expression hardened.

"What are you doing here?"

His voice was dangerously low.

I Swallowed.

"I found it on the floor."

The explanation Sounded weak even to my own ears.

Ethan Crossed the room in three long Strides.

Before I could react, he Snatched the Clipping from my hand.

The movement was so Sudden I flinched.

"Hey!"

He folded the Paper immediately as if hiding it.

His jaw tightened.

"You Shouldn't be in here."

I Stood.

"You left your door open."

"And that gave you Permission to Snoop through my room?"

My temper Sparked.

"I wasn't Snooping."

"You were reading Private things."

"They were lying on the floor."

His eyes flashed.

The Same blue eyes that made teenage girls faint apparently is also making me, a grown woman want to Punch him.

"Get out." He Said.

I blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

His voice turned Colder.

"Get out of my room."

Something inside me Snapped..

"No."

His eyebrows Shot up.

"No?"

"No."

The Silence that followed Could have frozen lava.

And judging by his expression, he wasn't Sure whether to be furious or impressed.

"You don't get to bark orders at me."

His jaw Clenched.

"This is my room."

"And that's your trauma talking."

The words Slipped out before I Could Stop them.

His entire body went Still.

For Several Seconds Ethan Simply Stared at me.

Then he laughed, a harsh humorless laugh.

"You think you've got me figured out already?"

"No."

"Good, because you don't know anything about me."

For a brief Second, I saw Something negative behind the anger.

I Softened Slightly.

"Ethan—"

"Leave."

This time the word Sounded tired.

And Somehow that was worse.

I hesitated then Sighed.

"Fine."

I headed toward the door.

But before leaving, I glanced back.

Ethan Stood by the window.

Still Clutching the newspaper Clipping.

Like it was the most important thing in the world.

Like letting go might break him.

My Chest tightened.

Then I quietly left…

The following morning officially marked my first full day at the mansion.

I found Noah in the kitchen.

He was attempting to make Pancakes.

Attempting being the key word.

Smoke filled the room and Something black and unrecognizable Sat inside a frying Pan.

I Stared.

"What is that?"

Noah looked offended.

"Breakfast."

"It looks illegal."

Laughter burst out of him.

Within minutes we were Sitting at the kitchen island eating Cereal instead.

Apparently Noah and Cooking were mortal enemies.

"So," he Said.

"How long before Ethan drives you Crazy?"

I Considered the question.

"Too late."

Noah nearly Choked laughing.

And just like that a friendship formed between us.

Something I desperately needed.

Especially in a mansion full of Chaos like this.

The next few days Settled into a Strange routine.

I observed Ethan or at least tried to.

Unfortunately Ethan made observation difficult.

Because he Seemed Personally Committed to being annoying.

Every Conversation became an argument.

Every interaction became a battle.

Every Sentence became a Challenge.

It was exhausting and weirdly entertaining.

"You're Staring again."

I looked up from my notebook.

Ethan lounged across the living room looking annoyingly attractive.

"Occupational hazard."

"You write everything down?"

"Only the Concerning things."

His eyes narrowed.

"Am I on the list?"

"You are the list."

Noah burst out laughing.

Jake looked impressed despite himself.

Liam Covered his Smile and Ethan glared.

I Smiled Sweetly…

His glare deepened.

Despite the Constant bickering, I Slowly began noticing things.

Things Ethan Probably didn't want anyone to See.

He barely Sleeps. He Skips meals anytime he’s Stressed and he Carries impossible expectations on his Shoulders.

Every interview. Every Concert. Every Performance. Everything had to be Perfect and if it wasn't, he blames himself every Single time.

The Pressure looked exhausting.

Three days later I got lost which sounds ridiculous.

But the mansion had approximately eight million rooms.

Okay… Slight exaggeration.

It has eight rooms.

I turned down a hallway I hadn't explored before.

Music drifted through the air.

It Sounded Soft, beautiful and haunting.

I froze.

The melody wrapped around me and Pulling me Closer.

Without thinking, I followed it.

The Sound led me to a Partially open door.

Inside Sat Ethan.

A guitar rested across his lap and Sunlight Streamed through enormous windows.

His eyes remained Closed as he Played.

The music was incredible…

Not Polished. Not finished but emotional and raw

The Complete opposite of the man himself.

I Stood there listening, Completely mesmerized.

Then the music Stopped Suddenly..

Slowly, Ethan looked up and our eyes met.

For Several Seconds neither of us Spoke.

Then he talked.

"Enjoying the Show?"

I winced. "Sorry."

His expression remained unreadable.

"This room is off-limits."

"Then maybe don't leave the door open."

The Corner of his mouth twitched.

But instead of kicking me out, he looked away.

His fingers brushed the guitar Strings.

The unfinished melody echoed Softly.

"It's beautiful."

The Compliment Slipped out before I Could stop it.

His Shoulders Stiffened.

Then unexpectedly he talked.

"I can't finish it."

I blinked. "What?"

"The Song."

His gaze Stayed on the guitar.

"I've been trying for months."

That Surprised me because Ethan wasn't opening up but this was more honesty than I'd gotten from him all week.

"Why Can't you finish it?"

His jaw tightened.

"What if People hate it?"

The words landed Softly but they hit hard.

Because for the first time I Saw the man behind the Celebrity.

Not Ethan Knight the Superstar. Not Ethan Knight the rock god… Just Ethan.

A guy terrified of disappointing People.

I Stared at him.

"You've Sold millions of records."

"So?"

"You fill Stadiums."

"So?"

I laughed. "You are unbelievably difficult."

That earned a real Smile from him.

And for Some reason my Stomach fluttered.

Ethan looked up and our eyes met.

The air Shifted.

Something Strange Passed between us.

Something warm and unexpected.

Then Noah burst through the door.

"Found you!"

The moment Shattered instantly.

Ethan rolled his eyes.

I exhaled.

And Silently thanked Noah for Saving me from whatever that had been.

That night I Couldn't Sleep.

Apparently insomnia was Contagious.

The mansion remained quiet and Peaceful.

Until a Sound echoed down the hallway.

My eyes opened immediately and I Sat up listening.

The voice Came again.

It was Ethan.

I rushed into the hallway… His bedroom door Stood open.

Noah and Liam were already there watching too.

"Ethan?" Noah whispered.

No response.

Ethan Stood beside the window asleep and Sleepwalking again.

But this time was different.

He wasn't moving toward danger.

Instead, he was talking and repeating the Same name over and over again.

My heartbeat quickened.

The name was soft and broken.

Almost desperate like a prayer. Like a plea. Like Someone begging a ghost not to leave.

"Evelyn..."

The room fell Silent.

Noah frowned and Liam looked Confused.

I glanced between them.

Neither Seemed to recognize the name either.

"Evelyn..."

Ethan whispered again.

Pain twisted across his Sleeping face.

A heartbreak So deep it made my Chest ache.

"Evelyn..."

My Pulse raced.

Who was Evelyn?

His mother? A friend? A girlfriend?

Someone he'd lost?

Another broken Piece of his Past?

Before anyone Could answer, Ethan Suddenly turned and began walking toward the hallway Still asleep Still whispering. Still Chasing Someone none of us Could See.

"Evelyn..."