NovelNext Chapter 9
Chapter 9
I wasn't sure if it was the sound of my name or just the sheer intensity of the moment that snapped Harrison back to reality, but suddenly, he slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, coming to a slow stop at the side of the road. He threw open the door for me, but my legs were shaking so much I almost collapsed as I stepped out. I quickly swatted his hand away, Harrison's love was a suffocating force, and just moments ago, he had seriously wanted to take us both down with him.
I stumbled away, heart racing, only to freeze when I saw a dark figure up ahead. A flood of tears broke loose, falling in heavy, painful drops. I was terrified, terrified that I might never see Ethan again.
When I finally spotted him standing there with his arms open wide, I couldn't hold back. I quickened my pace, practically running toward him, and threw myself into his embrace. My sobs echoed off the concrete, my chest tight with fear.
"I'm so scared, Ethan! I'm really so scared!" I repeated over and over, my voice breaking.
Ethan held me tightly, his hand gently patting my back as he whispered, "It's okay, Nina. It's okay." I could feel his own fear, his body trembling slightly, though he didn't let go. I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, but slowly, my tears began to ease, my breathing returning to something close to normal.
"Nina..." Harrison's uncertain voice floated from behind me, but I buried my face deeper into Ethan's chest, unwilling to face him. Ethan glanced over his shoulder, his gaze cold and sharp, before he gently patted my head.
"Nina, why don't you sit in the car for a bit? I need to handle something with him."
"Please... can we just go home?" I begged, tugging at his shirt with pleading eyes. I didn't want to see Harrison anymore. What we had, whatever it was, was long gone, destroyed by his actions.
Ethan's expression softened, a flicker of something painful in his eyes, but he didn't argue. "Don't think too much. I just don't want you getting in trouble for hitting him."
Ethan's political connections meant that if things went sideways, it could stir up a lot of trouble for his family. I didn't want that, not over something like this. Ethan's arms wrapped around me as we walked past Harrison, and as we brushed by him, I could've sworn it was intentional, Ethan's shoulder nudged Harrison with just enough force to make him stumble back several steps.
The next day, Ethan didn't leave my side. He was with me every step of the way, even when I went to the bathroom. It was like he couldn't let me out of his sight.
Then, by chance, I came across a headline about Harrison. He'd been detained for fifteen days after getting busted for drunk driving. I glanced at Ethan, who was wearing a smug expression that made me raise an eyebrow.
"You did this, didn't you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
Ethan didn't even try to hide it. "Yeah. Since I couldn't punch him, I thought a few extra days in jail would do the trick."
I raised a brow. "A few extra days?"
He nodded with a grin. "It was supposed to be seven, but I pulled some strings to make it fifteen. Just to keep him out of our way on our wedding day."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Why all the drama? The Shaw family has enough money to bail him out."
Ethan shrugged, his face going serious. "I don't care. He almost hurt you."
"Alright, alright," I teased, nudging him. "I'm not saying you did anything wrong. You handled it."
His face lit up with that boyish grin of his. Then, just like that, he leaned in and pressed a few quick, affectionate kisses to my forehead. It was funny, he was so easy to please, but sometimes I had to admit, it could be a little exhausting.