Ex-Husband(Your Step-Brother Is Hotter)

Chapter eleven

~FIRST MORNING IN HIS HOUSE~

AMAYA’S POV

There was something about the way Ethan looked at people that made me feel too seen, and after years of trying to disappear inside my marriage, I didn’t know how to handle that.

“Good morning, Mr. Ethan,” I said quietly. Then after a small pause, I added, “You never told me your last name.”

He slipped his phone into his pocket and started walking toward us. “Just Ethan,” he replied smoothly.

The answer sounded intentional. Like a man used to revealing only what he wanted people to know.

As he got closer, I noticed how his grey eyes were incredibly captivating, but it was the cross tattoo on the side of his neck that made him look even more dangerous. My eyes automatically trailed to his lips, making me panic. I shook my head and broke the eye contact first.

Before I could think more about it, he gestured toward the dining area.

“Come eat.”

The dining table was already filled with different dishes—pancakes, eggs, toast, fruits, pastries, fresh juice. The smell alone made me realize how hungry I actually was. Still, when I sat down, I instinctively chose a seat three chairs away from Ethan and settled Ariel beside me. It was an old habit, because distance felt safer.

Ariel’s eyes widened immediately at the pancakes stacked in the middle of the table. She grabbed my hand dramatically and pouted up at me for permission, already halfway tempted to steal one herself. I couldn’t help smiling beneath the scarf.

Before I could respond, Ethan spoke.

“Please, help yourselves. Don’t wait for me.” His tone was calm, casual. “You and Ariel can do whatever you want in this house. And if there’s something specific you want to eat, tell Maria. She’ll have the chef make it.”

The statement caught me off guard slightly.

Not because of the food, but because I couldn’t remember the last time someone said make yourself comfortable and genuinely meant it.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

Beside me, Ariel gasped like she had just been handed freedom itself. “Mummy,” she whispered loudly, tugging my sleeve, “Mr. Angel said we can eat now.”

A small laugh escaped Ethan as he pulled out his chair. “Mr. Angel?” he repeated, amused. “Is that my new name?”

I shook my head lightly while tearing a pancake into smaller pieces for Ariel’s little hands.

“Yes,” Ariel answered proudly before stuffing part of the pancake into her mouth. “You saved Mummy and me. So you’re Mr. Angel.”

Ethan leaned back slightly in his chair, clearly entertained by her seriousness. “You talk very well for a…” He paused mid sentence, glancing toward me.

“She’s four,” I finished for him.

His brows lifted slightly. “Four?”

Ariel nodded proudly. “I’m a big girl.”

“That explains it,” he said with a faint smile. “You negotiate like an adult already.”

Ariel giggled happily while I quietly watched the interaction between them. And strangely, it felt completely normal. So normal that it actually scared me a little.

Ariel ate happily beside me, swinging her legs under the chair while making soft little sounds every few seconds whenever she liked something.

The sight alone eased something inside me.

Last night she was crying in my arms with guns pointed at us. This morning she was arguing with pancakes and drinking warm milk with a tiny milk moustache above her lip. Children really were resilient.

I finally started eating too, though slower. My appetite was still uncertain, but the food was warm and comforting in a way I hadn’t realized I missed.

A few times, I caught Ethan glancing at me briefly from across the table. I knew he was probably wondering about the scarf wrapped around my face.

But I appreciated that he didn’t ask. Most people would have.

After breakfast, Maria gently took Ariel upstairs to brush her teeth and give her a proper bath. The moment I stood to follow them, Ethan stopped me.

“You’re not doing anything until your body heals properly,” he said firmly.

“I’m her mother,” I replied automatically.

“And you’re injured,” he countered calmly. “Maria can handle Ariel for now.”

I opened my mouth to argue again, but honestly… my body was exhausted. Even standing too long still hurt.

“And,” he added, “I need to speak with you privately.”

That made me pause.

I nodded slowly and watched Maria disappear upstairs with Ariel before following Ethan into the sitting room.

The space looked even larger in daylight. Modern, quiet, expensive without trying too hard. Huge glass walls overlooked the city while sunlight reflected softly across the marble floors.

I sat on one couch while Ethan took the one across from me. I still avoided looking at him directly for too long.

He noticed. I knew he did.

“Your husband is looking for you,” he said without wasting time. “Both of you.”

My stomach tightened immediately.

“The police are involved too. They found the car you abandoned last night.”

A chill crept down my spine.

I wasn’t surprised Brown reacted quickly, but hearing it out loud made everything feel more real and scary. And Ethan knowing all this already only confirmed one thing, he had people everywhere.

I had questions about that. A lot of questions. But something told me not to push too hard yet.

I swallowed slowly.

“He can’t find us here… right?”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change. “No,” he said calmly. “He won’t.”

The certainty in his voice should have comforted me more than it did. Instead, it reminded me how powerful he probably was.

Then his gaze sharpened slightly.

“Your phone,” he said. “We need to make sure it’s off before it gets tracked.”

“It’s already off,” I replied. “Broken too.”

He nodded once, satisfied. Silence settled briefly between us.Then I finally asked the question that had been sitting in my chest since last night.

“Who exactly are you?” I held his gaze this time.

“Because right now, all I know is your first name.”