Chapter 37: The Unfinished Chapter

Ariana felt a sharp chill crawl up her spine.

Ethan's gaze locked onto hers, digging deeper than she wanted him to.

"Still playing games," he repeated, his voice quieter now.

Ariana clenched her jaw. "You don't know anything."

Ethan's smirk didn't waver. "Don't I?"

God, she hated this.

Hated the way he always saw through her.

Hated the way Leila was still watching from across the room, her expression unreadable.

And most of all—hated that part of her wanted to stay.

Ariana inhaled, trying to steady herself. "You don't get to walk in here and act like you understand me."

Ethan's expression didn't change, but something in his eyes did.

"You think I just walked in?" he asked.

Ariana's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Ethan leaned in slightly. "I've been watching for a while now."

Her stomach flipped.

What?

His smirk returned, lazy and confident. "You didn't notice?"

Ariana swallowed hard.

No. No, she hadn't.

And that was the problem.

Because Ethan had always been a ghost—appearing when she least expected, knowing things she wished he didn't.

She stepped back, suddenly desperate for space.

"You're lying."

Ethan tilted his head. "Am I?"

Ariana's fists clenched. "Why are you here?"

Ethan's smirk faded slightly.

For the first time that night, his gaze turned serious.

"You left something unfinished, Ariana."

Her pulse jumped. "What?"

He didn't blink.

"Us."

The word hit her harder than she expected.

Ariana inhaled sharply, her nails digging into her palm.

No. No, no, no.

She had moved on. She had built walls. She had created a new game to play, new people to keep at a distance.

She wasn't going back.

Not to him.

Ariana forced out a laugh. "You're delusional."

Ethan didn't smile. Didn't flinch.

He just watched.

Waiting.

And suddenly—she felt trapped.

Because this wasn't just about Ethan.

This wasn't just about Leila watching from across the room.

This was about everything catching up to her.

Her past. Her choices.

And the terrifying feeling that, for the first time in a long time—

She wasn't in control.