Ethan

The aftermath of Sophie's public disgrace left a significant ripple in their lives, but for the time being, Alex and Isabella enjoyed a rare sense of calm. Their bond felt stronger than ever, solidified by the trials they had overcome together. Sophie was no longer a threat, and as far as Alex was concerned, she would never interfere in their lives again.

But there was one truth he couldn't ignore—Ethan was still out there. While they had avoided disaster at the gala, Alex knew that Ethan was the real enemy. He had been in hiding ever since his escape, but Alex had no illusions about his plans. Ethan had a history of manipulation and destruction, and now he was a loose cannon, more dangerous than ever.

Despite this lingering threat, Alex tried to focus on the present. Isabella's pregnancy had entered its final stage, and their twins were due any day now. He found solace in moments spent with her, preparing for their children's arrival, painting the nursery, and dreaming about the future they would build as a family.

One afternoon, Alex walked into the nursery and found Isabella gently rocking in the chair beside the cribs. She had a contented smile on her face as she rubbed her belly, humming softly.

"How are you feeling?" Alex asked, moving to stand beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder.

"Tired," Isabella replied, looking up at him. "But happy. It feels like everything is finally falling into place."

Alex smiled, but there was a hint of tension behind his eyes. "I just want everything to stay peaceful."

"It will," Isabella assured him. "We've made it this far, haven't we?"

Alex bent down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "We have. And we will."

Despite his efforts to focus on their happiness, Alex's mind couldn't shake the sense of impending danger. He had Victor working tirelessly to track Ethan's whereabouts, and although there had been no sign of him since his escape, Alex knew better than to let his guard down.

That evening, as they sat together for dinner, Isabella noticed Alex's distant expression. He was staring out the window, lost in thought, his fork idly pushing food around his plate.

"Alex," Isabella said softly, reaching across the table to take his hand. "What's on your mind?"

Alex looked at her, his expression softening as he intertwined their fingers. "I just… I can't help but think about Ethan. He's still out there, and we both know he's not finished with us."

Isabella nodded, her eyes serious but calm. "I know. But we can't let him ruin this moment. We have our family to think about now, and we're stronger together."

Alex sighed, nodding. "You're right. I just don't want to take any chances."

"We won't," Isabella said firmly. "We've dealt with worse, Alex. Whatever Ethan throws at us, we'll handle it."

Her words brought him a measure of comfort, but Alex's instincts remained sharp. He couldn't allow Ethan to strike when they were vulnerable. Not now, when everything was finally coming together.

The next morning, as Alex was leaving for the office, Victor approached him with a look of urgency.

"Mr. Grey," he began, lowering his voice. "We may have found something."

Alex's heart skipped a beat. "About Ethan?"

Victor nodded. "He's been spotted in a remote area outside the city. It's not much, but it's the first lead we've had in months."

Alex's mind raced. "And the people he's been with?"

"Unclear," Victor replied. "But it looks like he's gathering allies again. I thought you'd want to know."

Alex clenched his jaw, his hand tightening around the handle of his briefcase. "We need to move fast. If he's planning something, I want to be prepared."

Victor nodded, his expression grim. "I'll mobilize the team."

As Victor walked away, Alex stood still for a moment, staring out at the horizon. The peace he had worked so hard to protect felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment. Ethan's return was inevitable, and when the time came, Alex knew that this confrontation would be their last.

But before that storm hit, Alex intended to cherish every moment he had with Isabella and their unborn children. He would protect them at all costs—even if it meant going to war with his greatest enemy.

The clock was ticking, and Alex could feel the weight of it pressing down on him.

As he left the house that day, he whispered to himself, "This time, Ethan won't win."