I Hate Him, But I Don’t

Everything went black.

Silence. No movement. Only blackness.

And then—pain.

a keen pulse in the rear of my skull. A dull aching all across my body.

I blink, yet my eyesight was foggy.

Something cold. Metal.

Handcuffs.

My stomach plunged.

Because this?

This was a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

A door creaked open.

Footsteps.

Slow. Unhurried. Familiar.

I forced myself to look up, my vision clearing.

And then—

My breath stopped.

Because standing in front of me?

Was him.

Ethan.

I let out a shaky breath.

"Ethan," I whispered.

His gaze swept over me, sharp and unreadable.

"Liv."

He said my name like it meant something.

Like I hadn't just tried to leave him.

Like he hadn't just taken me.

I yanked against the cuffs, anger rising.

"What the hell is this?"

Ethan tilted his head, calm. Too calm.

"You ran."

I clenched my jaw. "So, you kidnapped me?"

His lips twitched.

"Let's not be dramatic."

My blood boiled.

But underneath the anger?

Beneath the betrayal?

There was something else.

Something worse.

A pull.

A craving.

A part of me that was still his.

And I hated myself for it.

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to steady.

"You can't keep me here."

Ethan stepped closer.

"You say that like you actually want to leave."

My chest tightened.

Because that?

That was the problem.

I had wanted to leave.

I had tried to leave.

But now that I was here?

Now that he was standing in front of me, watching me like he owned me…

I didn't know if I had the strength to fight him.

And he knew it.

Ethan crouched in front of me, his face dangerously close.

"Tell me" He murmured.

His voice was low, smooth.

The kind of voice that could make you believe anything.

"Tell me you hate me."

My breath caught.

Because I wanted to.

I needed to.

But the words wouldn't come.

His gaze darkened.

"That's what I thought."

I clenched my fists.

"I hate you."

Ethan smirked.

"No, you don't."

Ethan reached out, his fingers brushing against my jaw.

Gentle. Careful. Wrong.

I should have pulled away.

I should have fought.

But I didn't.

Because no matter how much I hated him—

No matter how much I wanted to burn him to the ground—

I still wanted him.

And that?

That was worse than anything else.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"I'm not letting you go, Liv."

My pulse skidded.

"You don't have a choice," I shot back.

His grip tightened.

"Neither do you."

And the worst part?

I knew he was right.

Because I had already lost.

I had lost the second I let him back in.

And I didn't know how to fix it.

His gaze flickered to my lips.

And then—

He kissed me.

Hard. Desperate. Unforgiving.

And I let him.

I kissed him back.

Because this wasn't love.

This was war.

And I had already surrendered.

Ethan pulled back, his forehead resting against mine.

"You're mine, Liv," he whispered.

His breath was warm. Dangerous.

"And I'm never letting you go."

I sucked in a shaky breath.

Because deep down?

I already knew.

I wasn't getting out.

Not this time.

Not ever.

Ethan has Liv, and he's not letting go.

Liv still wants him, even when she shouldn't.

The war between love and hate has never been stronger.

What happens when Liv stops fighting and finally gives in?