Chapter 22: Obsession’s Edge

The kiss lingered in Aria's mind long after she and Ethan left the library. It was raw, real, and overwhelming. She didn't know what to do with the emotions bubbling up inside her. Ethan wasn't someone she'd ever imagined herself falling for, yet here she was, unable to deny the pull between them.

Ethan, on the other hand, walked through the hallways with a renewed sense of determination. Aria was his now—or so he believed—and he wouldn't let anything or anyone come between them, especially Ryan.

Ryan, however, was far from backing down. The image of Ethan and Aria together burned in his mind, fueling his obsession. He wasn't just angry—he was planning.

Later that day, Aria sat with Sophie in the cafeteria. Sophie was unusually quiet, her gaze flickering between Aria and Ethan, who sat at a nearby table, his eyes never leaving Aria.

"You're spending a lot of time with him," Sophie said finally, her tone cautious.

Aria frowned, sensing the hesitation in her best friend's voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just saying… Ryan mentioned some things," Sophie admitted reluctantly. "About how intense Ethan can get. Don't you think it's a little… much?"

Aria's irritation flared. "Ryan doesn't know Ethan like I do. And since when do you take Ryan's side?"

"I'm not taking sides," Sophie said quickly. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

Aria shook her head, frustrated. "Ethan cares about me. He's not the bad guy here."

Their conversation was interrupted when Ethan appeared, towering over their table. "Everything okay?" he asked, his gaze shifting between the two girls.

"Fine," Aria said quickly, but Ethan's sharp eyes caught the tension in Sophie's posture.

"Let me know if that changes," he said, his voice low as he walked away.

That evening, Ryan's plan took a darker turn. He hacked into Aria's social media account, posting cryptic messages that hinted at a falling out with Ethan. He wanted to plant seeds of doubt, not just in Aria's mind but in everyone around her.

When Aria discovered the posts, she was livid. She confronted Ethan, thinking he might have done it out of misplaced jealousy, but the hurt in his eyes when she accused him made her heart ache.

"You really think I'd do that to you?" Ethan asked, his voice tight with emotion.

"I don't know what to think," Aria admitted, her voice breaking.

Ethan closed the distance between them, his hands gently cupping her face. "Aria, I would never hurt you. You have to believe me."

"I do," she whispered, leaning into his touch.

Their moment was interrupted by a message from Ryan. It was a photo of Aria and Ethan in the library, accompanied by a chilling text: I'm watching.

Ethan's protective instincts kicked in immediately. "That's it. We're ending this now."

Aria grabbed his arm, her voice trembling. "Ethan, he's dangerous."

"So am I," Ethan said darkly, his jaw clenched.

As the night deepened, Ethan and Aria found themselves drawn even closer, their connection intensified by the looming threat of Ryan's next move. Their friends and family began to notice the growing tension, stepping in to offer support, but the lines were drawn.

Ethan and Ryan were headed for a collision, and Aria was at the center of it all.