NovelNext Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"Why are you so afraid of me? Am I going to eat you?"
I couldn't help but flinch at his words. Ethan Hunter had always known how to push my buttons, and now, he was practically savoring the moment. I wasn't just scared of him for the usual reasons. No, it went deeper than that. He had a way of making every encounter feel like a game, and I was always the one losing.
As kids, Ethan was relentless, and he hadn't changed. In fact, he'd gotten worse since I started dating Harrison. Every time he saw me, he couldn't resist a little dig, as if it made him feel better about himself. In business, whenever Harrison considered an investment, Ethan swooped in and outbid him by millions. It drove Harrison insane. I couldn't exactly say I liked Ethan, but I sure as hell didn't trust him either.
"You cry like a baby every time someone mentions me. You're so delicate," Ethan smirked, his tone teasing but almost... affectionate? His hand reached up, wiping a tear from my cheek with a softness that sent a chill down my spine.
I stepped back, confused and on guard. Ethan was known for his playboy reputation, always making tabloid headlines with one actress or another. I wasn't foolish enough to trust him.
"Are you really that scared of me?" he asked, his voice almost curious.
I didn't know how to answer that. All I could do was nod. As I turned to walk away, he called after me.
"Nina, choose me. Compared to Harrison, I have not only money but power. Don't you want to make him suffer? Humiliate him?"
His words hit me hard, making me stop for just a second. I didn't want to admit it, but the idea of making Harrison feel what I'd felt... it was tempting. But I wasn't about to let Ethan know that. I shook my head and waved him off.
"We'll see," I said, keeping my voice steady, though my insides churned.
He just grinned, as if he already knew what I was thinking. "Okay," he called after me, confident I wouldn't walk away from his offer.
By the time I got home, it was late, and the sight that greeted me made my heart sink. Clothes were scattered on the floor, like a silent testament to what had just gone down. If I'd held onto any hope for Harrison, it was gone now, reduced to nothing.
I could hear voices from the bedroom, Harrison's low murmur mixed with Grace's giggle. The words they were exchanging stung more than I expected.
"Besides this face, how are you different from my fiancée?" Grace's voice was playful, almost too playful.
"Aren't I younger than her? I know how to please you better," she teased, her words dripping with flirtation.
And Harrison's response twisted a knife in my chest. "Yes, you're quite the flirt. But she's different, she's like a doll. She's obedient."
Grace laughed, a sound that made my skin crawl. "Then why not try me instead? I promise you'll be hooked."
I had to choke back the tears that threatened to fall. Harrison wasn't even hiding it anymore. His guilt had disappeared, but the truth was clear. "Because that would feel like betraying her," he said, his voice soft but firm.
Betrayal. The word echoed in my head as I heard the soft thud of bodies shifting in bed. He still felt that sense of loyalty to me, even though he no longer loved me. But that sense of duty hadn't stopped him from bringing Grace into our home, into our bed.
Through the crack in the door, I saw Grace kneeling on the bed, her clothes half-off. Harrison's hands were on her, and they were so close. I stepped back, swallowing the lump in my throat, my body numb. I turned quietly and walked downstairs.
Harrison wasn't just looking for freedom, he wanted to keep his cake and eat it too. He wanted the appearance of loyalty while living a life completely free of the constraints of marriage. He was greedy, trying to keep both worlds.
But I was done. I was letting go.
Suppressing the anger rising in my throat, I pulled my phone from my bag and dialed the number I'd been avoiding.
"Hello, does the offer still stand?" I asked, my voice steady even as my mind raced.