WAITING FOR ETHAN

CHAPTER TWO: SECRET BEHIND THE MOONLIGHT

Daniel Sterling sat inside his black car, his hands resting calmly on the steering wheel.From where he was parked, he could clearly see Ethan and Olivia standing on the dock.

Too close.Far too close.

A slow smile appeared on his face.

"So that's what's going on," he murmured,the moment he turned on the headlights, Ethan and Olivia quickly stepped away from each other.

Interesting, very interesting, Daniel stepped out of the car.

Olivia's eyes widened.

"Daniel? What are you doing here?"

He smiled casually."I could ask you the same thing."

"It's none of your business."

"Ouch."

Ethan remained silent, Daniel glanced at him,then back to Olivia.Your father has been looking for you, it’s almost midnight."

"Exactly." Olivia folded her arms,I don't need a babysitter,Daniel chuckled."Tell that to your father."

The tension between the three was so thick it almost felt visible.Finally Olivia turned away. "I'm going home."Daniel nodded.

"I'll drive you."

"No."

"Olivia—"

"I said no."

Without another word she walked away.Daniel watched her disappear into the darkness, then his eyes slowly moved toward Ethan,the smile disappeared.

"What exactly are your intentions?"

Ethan frowned.

"What?"

"With Olivia."

The question hung heavily in the night air.Ethan took a step forward."My intentions are none of your concern.Daniel laughed softly."Actually, they are."

"And why is that? "Daniel's eyes hardened. Because Olivia is going to be my wife.The words hit Ethan like a punch, for a moment neither man spoke,then Ethan answered quietly."Did she tell you that?"

Daniel's jaw tightened.

"No."

"I didn't think so." Daniel said with fear in his eyes, he was a bit dissappointed.

For the first time, Daniel's confidence cracked, only slightly. But Ethan noticed.Daniel stepped closer."You should know your place."Ethan's fists clenched.My place?"

"You're a poor boy with big dreams."Ethan stared directly into his eyes.

"And you're a rich boy who thinks money owns people."Daniel's smile vanished completely.For several dangerous seconds neither man moved.

Then Daniel laughed, not because he found anything funny.But because he was angry."You'll regret that."He turned and walked back to his car.

Before getting inside, he looked over his shoulder."Stay away from Olivia."The engine roared to life.Seconds later the car disappeared into the darkness.Ethan remained standing by the lake.

His heart pounded.Something about Daniel's words felt wrong, almost like a threat.And for the first time, Ethan felt that loving Olivia might be more dangerous than he had imagined.

The following morning, Olivia woke to loud voices downstairs.She immediately recognized them.

Her father.And Daniel's father.She quietly moved toward the staircase, the two men sat in her father's office.The door wasn't fully closed.

She stopped.

Listening.

"You need to handle this quickly," Mr. Sterling said.

Robert Hamilton sighed."I know."

"Before people start talking,"Olivia frowned.Talking about what?Her father's voice became lower."She cares about him.Mr. Sterling laughed."A farm boy?"Don't underestimate feelings. Daniel's father said.

"They disappear."Robert remained silent.Then Mr. Sterling added something that made Olivia's blood run cold."The engagement announcement should happen soon."Olivia nearly gasped.Engagement?Her heart began racing.

No, no, no.

She backed away before they could see her.Her entire body trembled.An engagement?Without asking her?Without even discussing it?Tears filled her eyes.She rushed to her room and immediately grabbed her phone.Ethan answered after the second ring.

"Olivia?"

"I need to see you."

"What's wrong?"

"Please.""I'll be there."

Thirty minutes later, Ethan met her near an abandoned barn outside town.The place had been their secret hideout for years.As soon as she saw him, she ran into his arms.Ethan froze.Then slowly wrapped his arms around her.

"What happened?"

She looked up.Her eyes were filled with tears."They want me to marry Daniel."

The words hit him hard.His stomach dropped."When?"

"I don't know."

"What exactly did they say?"She explained everything she had overheard.Ethan listened quietly.When she finished, neither spoke.The future they feared suddenly felt much closer, much more real.

Olivia wiped her tears. "What do I do?" Ethan looked away.Because deep inside, he already knew the answer.But he hated it.

"Fight them."

"And if I can't?"

"You can."

"And if I can't?" she repeated.This time her voice broke.Ethan couldn't answer, because for the first time, he wasn't sure.Olivia suddenly grabbed his hand.

"Ethan."

His heart raced."Yeah?"

"If things were different...She hesitated."If what?"

"If money didn't matter..." She looked directly into his eyes.

"What would you do?"The world seemed to stop.Ethan had imagined this moment a thousand times.A thousand different ways, yet now that it was here, he could barely breathe.Slowly, he lifted his hand and touched her face.His voice was barely a whisper.

"I'd choose you."

Olivia's eyes filled with tears again.And before either could think, she leaned forward.

Their lips met.Softly, gently.For one beautiful moment, the world disappeared.There were no rich families, no arranged marriages. no expectations.

Only Ethan and Olivia.Only love.

When they finally pulled apart, neither spoke.Neither knew what to say.

Then suddenly—SNAP!

A sound came from outside the barn, both turned sharply.Someone was there, watching.The footsteps immediately began running away.

Ethan rushed outside."Hey!" But whoever it was had already disappeared.Only tire tracks remained.

Olivia stepped beside him."Who was that?"

Ethan's expression darkened."I don't know."

But deep down he had a terrible feeling.A feeling that made his stomach twist.Someone had seen them.

That evening, Daniel sat inside his father's study.Across from him sat a private investigator.A thick envelope rested on the table.The investigator pushed it forward.

"I got the photographs."Daniel opened the envelope.One by one he examined them.Ethan and Olivia sitting together, Ethan holding Olivia's hand.

Olivia running into Ethan's arms.

And finally—.The kiss.

Daniel's jaw tightened.His father looked over the photographs.Then smiled."Perfect."

Daniel looked up."What are you planning?"

His father leaned back calmly."The same thing I've always planned."

"What?"

"Winning."

Daniel stared at him.For the first time, even he felt uncomfortable."What if Olivia finds out?"

"She won't.""And Ethan?"Mr. Sterling smiled.

The smile sent a chill through Daniel."He won't matter much longer."

Three days later, Ethan received shocking news.The factory where he worked had suddenly shut down.

Immediately, without warning,without explanation.Dozens of workers lost their jobs, including him.The manager looked devastated.

"I don't understand it."Ethan frowned.

"What happened?""The investors pulled out.""Why?"

The manager shook his head."No idea."

But Ethan wasn't convinced.Something felt wrong.Very wrong.As he walked home, he noticed a black luxury car parked across the street.Daniel Sterling sat inside, watching him.

Smiling.The moment their eyes met, Daniel drove away.And suddenly Ethan understood.Someone was moving pieces behind the scenes, someone powerful, someone rich, someone dangerous.

That night, Olivia sneaked out again.She found Ethan sitting by the lake.He looked troubled.

"What happened?""I lost my job."Her eyes widened. What? "The factory closed." How?

"I don't know."But he did know.Or at least he suspected.

Olivia sat beside him.Then she took his hand."We'll figure it out."Ethan smiled sadly."We?"

She squeezed his hand."Yes. We."For a moment, hope returned.Then Ethan noticed something floating near the dock.A white envelope.He frowned."What's that?"Olivia picked it up.

There was no name on it.No address, nothing.

Just a plain envelope.Slowly she opened it.Inside were several photographs.Her face immediately turned pale.Ethan grabbed one.His heart nearly stopped.

The photographs from the barn.The kiss.Someone had been watching.Someone had been following them.And now someone wanted them to know it.

At the bottom of the envelope was a single handwritten message.Three chilling words.

IT'S TOO LATE.

Olivia's hands began shaking.Ethan looked around the dark lake.The trees, the shadows, the darkness.Suddenly, he felt as though someone was watching them even now,and somewhere hidden beyond the trees, an unseen figure quietly lowered a pair of binoculars.

Watching.Waiting.Smiling.