Love Beyond The Millions

Chapter Six

Sleep didn’t come easy.

It hadn’t since she came back.

Alicia sat by the window of her room, staring out at the city lights. From the outside, everything looked beautiful.

Calm.

Perfect.

But inside her…

Nothing was.

Every thought led back to one person.

Alex.

And now… he wasn’t just a memory.

He was in danger.

Her father’s words echoed in her mind:

“The next move you make won’t just affect you.”

She closed her eyes tightly.

This wasn’t about love anymore.

It was about protection.

And that meant one thing.

A choice.

The next morning, Alicia didn’t hesitate.

She walked straight to the study.

The door opened without a knock.

Mr. Laurent looked up slowly, unsurprised.

“I was wondering how long it would take,” he said calmly.

Alicia stepped inside, her expression steady.

“I’ll do it.”

Silence.

He leaned back slightly.

“Be specific.”

“I’ll agree to the arrangement,” she said, her voice controlled. “I’ll meet Ethan Royce. I’ll do whatever you want.”

There it was.

The moment.

“But—” she added.

His eyes sharpened.

“You leave Alex alone.”

A pause.

Then a faint smile touched Mr. Laurent’s lips—not warm, not proud.

Strategic.

“You’re negotiating,” he said.

“I’m protecting what matters to me.”

“And you believe he matters more than your future?”

Alicia didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

That answer lingered in the air.

Heavy.

Honest.

Dangerous.

Mr. Laurent stood up slowly, walking around the desk.

Every step deliberate.

“You’re willing to sacrifice your happiness… for him?”

She swallowed.

“Yes.”

He stopped in front of her.

Close enough to remind her who held the power.

“Then understand this,” he said quietly. “Once you agree, there is no turning back.”

“I understand.”

“You will meet Ethan. You will behave as expected. And you will not see or contact that boy again.”

Her heart tightened.

But she didn’t show it.

“And in return?” she asked.

Mr. Laurent held her gaze.

“I ensure he is left… untouched.”

The word sent a chill through her.

“Say it clearly,” Alicia said, her voice firmer now. “You leave him alone. Completely.”

A pause.

Then—

“Agreed.”

The deal was made.

Just like that.

Alicia felt something inside her crack—but she didn’t let it show.

“Good,” her father said, stepping away. “Your first meeting with Ethan is tonight.”

“Tonight?” she repeated softly.

“No time to waste.”

Of course.

There never was.

As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.

“One more thing, Alicia.”

She didn’t turn around.

“If you break this agreement…” he said, his tone dropping slightly, “I won’t be so generous next time.”

That was the warning.

And she understood it perfectly.

When she finally left the room, her steps felt heavier than ever.

She had done it.

She had chosen.

Not love.

Not freedom.

But sacrifice.

For him.

For Alex.

And somewhere across the city…

He had no idea what she had just given up.The night came too quickly.

Alicia stood in front of the mirror, dressed in elegance that didn’t feel like hers. The gown was flawless. Her makeup, perfect.

Everything about her screamed wealth.

But inside…

She felt empty.

“Miss Alicia, the car is ready,” a maid said softly.

She nodded.

“Thank you.”

This was it.

No turning back.

The restaurant was exactly what she expected—luxurious, quiet, exclusive. The kind of place where deals were made and lives were arranged.

Not where love happened.

As she stepped inside, all eyes subtly turned.

Not because of who she was—

But because of what she represented.

And then she saw him.

Ethan Royce.

He stood as she approached, composed and confident. His suit was tailored perfectly, his posture effortless.

He looked exactly like the kind of man her father would choose.

Predictable.

“Alicia,” he said politely, offering a small smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

She nodded, taking her seat across from him.

“You too.”

Silence followed.

Awkward.

Measured.

“I won’t waste your time,” Ethan said suddenly.

That caught her attention.

“This isn’t what you want,” he continued calmly.

Alicia blinked.

“That’s… direct.”

“I prefer honesty,” he replied. “And from what I’ve heard, you do too.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“What exactly have you heard?”

Ethan leaned back slightly, studying her.

“That you’re not as easy to control as people think.”

That was… unexpected.

“And yet,” she said, “here I am.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “Which means something forced you to be.”

The words hit closer than she expected.

For a moment, she didn’t respond.

Then—

“This is an arrangement,” she said firmly. “Let’s not pretend it’s anything else.”

Ethan nodded.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

Another pause.

But this time…

It felt different.

Less tense.

More real.

“You don’t seem happy about this,” he added.

“I’m not,” she replied honestly.

“Good.”

She frowned.

“Good?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “Because neither am I.”

That surprised her.

“I thought this was your world,” she said.

“It is,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean I agree with everything in it.”

For the first time that night…

Alicia looked at him differently.

“You’re not what I expected,” she admitted.

Ethan smiled faintly.

“I get that a lot.”

Silence again.

But this time, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“I’ll be honest with you,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “I don’t want a forced relationship.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then we have something in common.”

A small, unexpected sense of relief settled in her chest.

“But,” he continued, “our families clearly do.”

Reality came rushing back.

Alicia looked down at her hands briefly.

“I made a deal,” she said quietly.

Ethan noticed the shift immediately.

“What kind of deal?”

She hesitated.

Then shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does if it involves me.”

Their eyes met.

And for a moment…

She almost told him everything.

But she couldn’t.

“Let’s just say,” she said carefully, “this situation isn’t as simple as it looks.”

Ethan studied her for a second longer.

Then nodded.

“Fair enough.”

Dinner continued.

Conversations flowed.

But beneath it all…

There was something unspoken.

A secret.

A sacrifice.

A truth waiting to surface.

And as Alicia sat across from Ethan—

Smiling when she had to, speaking when expected—

Her mind drifted somewhere else.

To a small roadside stall.

To a quiet mechanic shop.

To a boy who had no idea…

That she had just traded her freedom—

To keep him safe.The drive home was quiet.

Too quiet.

Alicia sat in the backseat, her hands resting on her lap, her mind replaying every word from dinner.

Ethan Royce wasn’t what she expected.

That was the problem.

If he had been cold… arrogant… easy to dislike—

This would have been easier.

But he wasn’t.

“You’ve been quiet.”

His voice broke through her thoughts.

She looked up.

Ethan hadn’t left.

He was standing outside the mansion gates, hands in his pockets, watching her through the open car window.

“I could say the same about you,” she replied.

He gave a small smile.

“Fair.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then—

“You’re hiding something.”

Her heart skipped.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Ethan stepped a little closer.

“I think you do.”

His tone wasn’t accusing.

It was certain.

“You agreed to this too quickly,” he continued. “And not for the reasons your father thinks.”

Alicia looked away.

“Was it money?” he asked.

She almost laughed.

“No.”

“Then what?”

Silence.

Because the answer was dangerous.

“Someone,” he said softly, watching her reaction.

That was enough.

Her eyes flickered.

And he saw it.

“There is someone else,” he concluded.

Alicia’s chest tightened.

“You don’t need to say anything,” Ethan added quickly. “I’m not here to expose you.”

“Then why are you asking?” she whispered.

He paused.

Then—

“Because I need to understand what I’ve been pulled into.”

That was fair.

Too fair.

Alicia hesitated.

Then slowly, she spoke.

“It’s complicated.”

“They usually are.”

She looked at him again.

And for the first time…

She didn’t see an enemy.

“I made a deal,” she said quietly.

Ethan’s expression changed slightly.

“Your father?”

She nodded.

“And this ‘someone’ is part of it?”

Another nod.

Ethan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“This just got more serious than I thought.”

“You have no idea,” she whispered.

He studied her for a moment longer.

Then said something she didn’t expect—

“I can help you.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“Why would you do that?”

Ethan shrugged lightly.

“Because I don’t like being used in someone else’s game.”

“And helping me fixes that?”

“It gives me control of my part in it,” he said simply.

Alicia didn’t respond immediately.

Trusting him would be risky.

But not trusting him…

Might be worse.

“I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

Ethan nodded.

“That’s all I’m asking.”

He stepped back, giving her space.

“Goodnight, Alicia.”

“Goodnight.”

As he walked away, she felt something shift.

Not hope.

Not yet.

But possibility.

Meanwhile…

The night wasn’t quiet everywhere.

Across the city, in a dimly lit street behind the mechanic shop—

Things were different.

“You should’ve listened.”

The voice was familiar.

Too familiar.

Alex barely had time to react before a punch landed, sending him stumbling backward.

Pain shot through him, but he stayed on his feet.

“I’m not repeating myself,” one of the men said—the same ones from before.

Mr. Laurent’s message…

Delivered louder this time.

“Stay away from her.”

Alex wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes steady despite everything.

“I told you already,” he said, his voice rough. “She’s the one who walked away.”

Another hit came.

Harder.

“Then make sure she keeps walking.”

They grabbed him, shoving him against the wall.

“Because next time…” the man leaned closer, his voice low and threatening, “…we won’t stop here.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Then they let him go.

And disappeared into the night.

Alex slid down the wall, breathing hard.

For the first time…

He understood.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.