Love and War

The door clicked shut behind me.

The apartment was quiet—too quiet.

Ethan stood near the window, his back to me, shoulders tense, hands curled into fists.

He knew.

I wasn't sure how.

Maybe he had seen it in my face, in my posture, in the way my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Or maybe?

Maybe he had just been waiting for this moment.

For me to lose everything but him.

He turned slowly, his dark eyes locking onto mine.

"You're back."

A statement.

Not a question.

Like there had never been another option.

Like I had never really been given a choice.

I swallowed, forcing my voice to be steady.

"I never left."

Ethan exhaled through his nose, a bitter smirk playing on his lips.

"No." His voice was low. Dangerous.

"You didn't."

And just like that, I realized—

He hadn't been waiting for me to leave.

He had been waiting to see if I'd still try.

I stepped forward, my chest tight.

"Tessa's gone."

Ethan's smirk disappeared.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Not regret.

Not even relief.

Just cold acceptance.

Like he had known this would happen.

Like he had been counting on it.

"I know," he said.

My breath caught.

"How?"

His gaze sharpened.

"She texted me."

I froze.

Because that?

That meant something.

That meant Tessa hadn't just left.

She had warned him.

She had tried to fight for me, even after I gave up on myself.

And Ethan?

Ethan had let it happen.

I clenched my fists, something bitter rising in my throat.

"She was my best friend."

Ethan tilted his head, his voice smooth.

"She made you choose."

I stilled.

Because he was right.

She had.

And I had chosen him.

Even when I had told myself I wouldn't.

Even when I knew it was a losing battle.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

"This isn't normal, Ethan."

He let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it.

"You still don't get it, do you?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping.

"This isn't love, Liv."

My stomach dropped.

Then—

"What is it, then?" I whispered.

He smirked.

"It's war."

He reached for me, his grip tight, unyielding.

And I let him.

Because this?

This was the only language we knew.

Pain.

Desperation.

Possession.

His lips crashed against mine, hard, demanding, bruising.

Like he was trying to erase the last pieces of my doubt.

Like he was trying to make sure I never thought about leaving again.

And the worst part?

It worked.

Because I kissed him back.

Harder.

Fiercer.

Like I wanted to burn myself down with him.

I shoved him back, my breath ragged.

"This isn't love."

Ethan's jaw ticked.

"Maybe not."

His voice was low, edged with something dangerous.

"But it's all we have."

A lump formed in my throat.

Because, God help me, I knew he was right.

I could lie to myself all I wanted.

Tell myself I would leave tomorrow.

Tell myself I could still fix this.

But we had gone too far.

This wasn't love.

This was destruction.

And I had walked straight into it.

Ethan exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair.

"You're not leaving," he said.

Again—not a question.

A fact.

A decision that had already been made for me.

I swallowed hard.

"I don't know how."

His eyes darkened, his voice dropping to something almost gentle.

"I'll show you."

And the worst part?

I let him.

Because I was already his.

And maybe?

Maybe I always had been.

The room was too quiet.

The war between us had been settled.

Not because I had won.

Not because he had.

But because there was never going to be a winner.

Only two people too far gone to walk away.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers curling into the sheets, my breath still uneven.

Ethan watched me from the doorway, his head tilted.

And then—

His phone rang.

A sharp, intrusive sound.

He didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Didn't even look away from me.

Just let it ring.

Over and over.

Until, finally, he spoke—

Without looking, without hesitating.

"It's starting."

I felt it then.

The shift.

The undeniable truth I had been trying to ignore.

This wasn't just about us anymore.

This was something bigger.

Something darker.

And whatever was coming next?

We weren't ready for it.

Ethan and Liv are officially too far gone—this is no longer love, but war.

Ethan has been expecting something, and now, it's here.

The phone call signals something bigger is coming—what does Ethan know that Liv doesn't?

Liv finally learns what Ethan has been hiding. And it changes everything.