CHAPTER 10

He found her as he prepared to leave for the day.

"Where are you going, little girl?" Ethan asked, his tone gentle but curious. He smiled, trying to ease the tension that seemed to hang in the air.

But something was wrong. Emily froze, her eyes darting away from his, panic written all over her face. She looked... afraid? Avoiding him. That wasn't like her.

His heart sank as an unsettling feeling crept in. His gaze sharpened, and that's when he noticed it—a faint mark just beneath her ear. His smile faltered as he stepped closer, his expression darkening.

"What's that?" he asked, his voice colder now. He moved in, his eyes locking on the small bruise-like mark. Who could have—

Emily's hand flew to her neck, as if realizing what he had seen. She didn't answer, but Ethan's mind was already spinning. He could feel his stomach twist with something that felt a lot like jealousy. Had someone else been with her? His thoughts spiraled, his chest tightening with anger.

"Who gave you that mark?" His voice, now filled with restrained fury, betrayed his suspicions. "Who is the man?"

Emily remained silent, her lips trembling as her hand stayed pressed against the mark. Ethan's jaw clenched. Why wasn't she answering? His frustration grew by the second.

Why wouldn't she tell me the truth? Ethan felt his temper rising. "You need to be more careful," he snapped, his voice sharp, almost biting. "From now on, my bodyguards will be keeping an eye on you. You're not leaving this house without them."

Tears welled up in Emily's eyes, her voice breaking as she tried to explain. "But I haven't done anything wrong," she said softly, her words barely audible through the hurt. "This isn't what you think… it's just a mosquito bite."

A mosquito bites? Could that be true? But Ethan's mind wouldn't let go of the suspicion that had taken root. His frustration spilled over before he could control it. "I can't trust you if you won't even explain yourself!" he shouted, pacing across the room, his emotions tangled between protectiveness and anger. "If I give you too much freedom, you'll end up making choices that could ruin your life."

He stopped, breathing heavily, trying to rein in his emotions, but the image of someone else with Emily gnawed at him. She had been under his protection for so long, and the idea of her being hurt—by anyone—was too much.

Emily's face crumpled as tears slipped down her cheeks. Her silent crying broke something inside him, but he couldn't stop himself. He had to keep her safe, even if it meant being harsh.

"Why can't I leave the house?" she asked, her voice full of desperation.

Ethan spun around, his eyes blazing with emotion. "Because I care about you!" he yelled, louder than he intended, his voice trembling. "I don't want you to get hurt or make mistakes you'll regret. If I let you do whatever you want, you'll... you'll end up involved with someone who doesn't care about you. Someone who'll destroy your life!"

As the words left his mouth, he realized how irrational he sounded. But the thought of losing Emily, of her falling into the wrong hands, tore at him. He was trying to protect her, but somehow, it felt like he was pushing her further away. He stood there, fists clenched, guilt already rising in his chest, but unable to undo the harsh words he had just said.

Ethan left the room, and Emily sank onto her bed, her heart heavy with frustration and sadness. It wasn't my fault, she thought, over and over. The accusations Ethan had thrown at her replayed in her mind, and the more she thought about it, the more upset she became. She couldn't stand the thought of being trapped in the house, under surveillance like a prisoner.

Emily paced the room, searching for a way to escape. She glanced out of the window and saw the bodyguards stationed outside. They're everywhere, she thought, her determination growing. Emily was a kind-hearted girl, but there was a mischievous side to her that had always gotten her into trouble. Right now, she was desperate to teach both Ethan and his bodyguards a lesson.

She looked around the room and spotted a decorative vase sitting on a table nearby. A reckless idea formed in her mind. Grabbing the vase, she marched toward the window. With a quick motion, she held the vase in front of her and shouted out of the window at the bodyguards.

"Let me go, or this vase gets it!" she threatened, knowing full well they wouldn't take her seriously. But her defiance was all part of her plan. Startled, the bodyguards hesitated for a moment before one of them moved toward the door.

This is my chance, she thought.

Without waiting for a response, Emily quickly made her way through the house and slipped out into the garden. The vast greenery stretched out before her, a temporary refuge from the tension inside. She felt a small sense of victory as she wandered deeper into the garden, feeling free for the first time since the argument with Ethan.