Ethan's Letter

Alex barely slept that night. The news of Ethan's survival haunted his every thought, and each creak of the house sent his mind spiraling into worst-case scenarios. By the time dawn broke, he was already dressed and pacing by the window, his gaze distant as he surveyed the quiet streets outside.

Isabella stirred from her sleep, her eyes slowly adjusting to the early morning light filtering through the curtains. She saw Alex standing near the window, his silhouette tense and unmoving. "Alex?" she called softly, her voice laced with concern.

He turned, offering a weak smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

Isabella sat up, wrapping the blanket around herself. "You didn't. I couldn't sleep much either." Her eyes searched his, worry etched into her features. "Do you really think Ethan is coming after us?"

Alex exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what he's planning, but I can't shake the feeling that he's not done with us yet. We need to be prepared for anything."

She nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "We'll get through this, Alex. Together." Her voice was steady, though he could sense the fear beneath it.

Before Alex could respond, the sound of a soft knock on their bedroom door interrupted the moment. "Come in," he called.

The door opened, and Victor stepped inside, already dressed and alert. "Sorry to disturb you, but I thought you'd want to know—there's been a development."

Alex's brow furrowed. "What kind of development?"

Victor glanced at Isabella before turning his full attention to Alex. "I got a call from one of my contacts in the police department. They found something at the warehouse. Something linked to Ethan's escape."

Alex stiffened. "What did they find?"

Victor hesitated, his expression grim. "It's a letter. Addressed to you."

Isabella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "A letter? From Ethan?"

Alex's heart sank. He had hoped Ethan's survival was the worst of it, but now it seemed like the nightmare was far from over. "Where is it?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Victor reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, handing it to Alex. The paper felt heavy in his hands, and his name was scrawled across the front in familiar handwriting—Ethan's handwriting.

Isabella stood and moved closer, her eyes fixed on the envelope. "Are you going to open it?"

Alex's hands trembled as he tore the envelope open. Inside was a single sheet of paper, the words written in a neat, deliberate script.

Alex,

You thought it was over, didn't you? That you could live your life in peace after everything you've done to me. But I'm not finished. Not by a long shot. You took everything from me, and now it's my turn to take something from you. Keep your family close, Alex. Because you never know when I might come to collect.

—Ethan

A cold dread settled over Alex as he read the letter aloud. Isabella's face paled, and Victor's jaw clenched in anger.

"He's threatening us," Isabella whispered, her voice barely audible. "What are we going to do?"

Alex crumpled the letter in his fist, a fire igniting in his chest. "We're going to stop him. Once and for all."

Victor nodded, his eyes flashing with determination. "I'll reach out to our contacts again, see if we can track his movements. He won't get away this time."

Alex's mind was racing. They had already increased security around the house, but now he knew they needed to take more drastic measures. Ethan wasn't just a threat to him—he was a danger to their entire family.

As Victor left to make his calls, Isabella stepped closer, resting a hand on Alex's arm. "We'll get through this," she said softly, her voice full of conviction.

Alex looked into her eyes, drawing strength from her unwavering belief in them. "I know," he whispered. "But I won't let him hurt you or the kids. I won't let him win."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of the letter heavy between them. Alex knew this battle was far from over. Ethan was out there, waiting, and they had to be ready for whatever came next.

As the morning light grew brighter, the shadows of the past loomed large over their future. But Alex was determined. This time, he wouldn't just survive—he would end the fight once and for all.