Chapter 22: Unfinished Business

The sharp knock at the front door shattered the early morning quiet. Sarah stirred from her sleep, blinking at the dim light filtering through the curtains. For a brief moment, she thought she had imagined it, but then she heard it again—three deliberate, impatient knocks.

Her heart thumped uneasily. Ethan had mentioned that he wasn't expecting anyone. So who could be at the door this early?

She glanced at the empty side of the bed. Ethan must have already gotten up.

Pulling on a robe, she padded quietly down the hallway, following the low murmur of voices. As she reached the top of the stairs, she froze.

Ethan stood in the entryway, his posture tense, his jaw locked. Across from him stood a woman.

Not just any woman.

Vanessa.

Sarah didn't need an introduction to know who she was. Everything about her screamed effortless sophistication—from the perfectly styled blonde hair to the tailored coat that hugged her slender figure. But it was the look on Vanessa's face that set Sarah's nerves on edge.

Possessive.

As if she still had a claim on Ethan.

"Vanessa?" Ethan's voice was sharp with disbelief. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Vanessa crossed her arms, tilting her head. "You're acting like you didn't expect me to find you."

"That's because I didn't."

Sarah clutched the railing, her nails digging into the wood. Should she interrupt? Or would that make her look insecure?

Before she could decide, Vanessa's gaze flicked past Ethan—straight to her.

"Well," she said, a slow smirk tugging at her lips. "That explains a lot."

Sarah forced herself to walk down the stairs, keeping her chin up. "Is there something you need?"

Vanessa didn't answer right away. She just looked at Sarah, as if sizing her up. Then she turned back to Ethan. "I need to talk to you. Alone."

Ethan didn't even hesitate. "Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Sarah."

Vanessa's smirk faltered. "Really? That's cute." She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "Fine. If you insist."

She folded her arms. "Your father is back in town. He's asking about you."

Ethan went still.

For the first time since opening the door, something shifted in his eyes. Something dark.

Vanessa tilted her head, watching his reaction. "I thought you'd want to know."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "I don't care what he wants."

"Maybe you should," Vanessa said, voice softer now. "Because he's looking for you. And trust me, Ethan, he won't stop until he finds you."

Sarah glanced between them, a knot forming in her stomach.

Ethan's father. He never talked about him. Not once.

Before she could ask, Vanessa sighed. "Look, I didn't come here to fight. I just… thought you should hear it from me."

Ethan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Are we done?"

Vanessa hesitated, searching his face. Then, with a small nod, she stepped back. "Yeah. We're done."

She turned toward the door, but before she left, her gaze landed on Sarah once more.

"Good luck," she murmured. "You'll need it."

And just like that, she was gone.

The door clicked shut, leaving behind a silence so thick it was suffocating.

Sarah turned to Ethan, her chest tight. "Ethan?"

He didn't respond right away. He just stood there, staring at the door as if expecting Vanessa to walk back through it.

Sarah reached for his hand. "Talk to me."

Ethan exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "I don't want to see him."

His voice was quiet, but there was something heavy beneath it.

Sarah squeezed his fingers. "Then don't."

Ethan let out a humorless laugh. "It's not that simple, Sarah."

"Why not?" she pressed. "If he's bad for you, you don't owe him anything."

Ethan hesitated. Then, finally, he looked at her.

"You don't know what he's capable of."

Sarah felt a chill creep up her spine. "Then tell me."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. He looked torn, like he wanted to say something but didn't know how.

She gave him space, waiting.

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke. "My father is not a good man. He's the kind of person who gets what he wants—no matter the cost. He manipulates, controls, and destroys everything in his path."

Sarah swallowed. "What does he want from you?"

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "Who knows? Maybe he wants to drag me back into his world. Or maybe he just wants to remind me that I'll never be free of him."

A shiver ran through Sarah. She had never seen Ethan like this—so guarded, so… haunted.

"Is this why you left your old life behind?" she asked gently.

Ethan met her eyes, something raw in his gaze. "Part of it."

Sarah didn't know what to say. She had always sensed there was something in Ethan's past that weighed on him, but she hadn't realized how deep it ran.

"Do you think Vanessa is working with him?" she asked after a moment.

Ethan exhaled, his expression unreadable. "I don't know. But I wouldn't put it past her."

Sarah bit her lip, considering. "What are you going to do?"

Ethan hesitated. "For now? Nothing. He can look for me all he wants. I'm not going back."

Sarah studied his face. "And if he forces you?"

A shadow crossed his expression, but his voice was firm. "I won't let him."

Sarah wanted to believe him. But something in the way he said it—something in the way his shoulders tensed—made her wonder if this was truly over.

She stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest. "You don't have to face this alone, you know."

Ethan's eyes softened. He covered her hand with his own, his thumb tracing slow circles on her skin. "I know."

They stood like that for a long moment, the weight of the conversation hanging between them.

Then, finally, Ethan sighed. "Come on. Let's go back to bed."

Sarah nodded, letting him lead her upstairs. But even as she curled up beside him, his warmth surrounding her, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.

Ethan's father was looking for him.

And something told her that when he found him, things would never be the same.