Chapter 38: Losing the Game

Ariana's breath felt too shallow. The walls of the dimly lit hall seemed to close in, pressing against her chest.

Ethan wasn't backing down.

Leila wasn't looking away.

And somewhere in the background, Ryan was still inside—probably wondering where she had disappeared to.

Ariana was trapped.

Ethan took a slow step forward, gaze never leaving hers. "You've been running circles around everyone, haven't you?"

She clenched her jaw. "That's rich coming from you."

Ethan's lips curled slightly, but the amusement didn't reach his eyes. "Tell me, Ariana… have you even stopped long enough to realize how tangled you've gotten?"

Ariana's fingers twitched. He doesn't know anything. He's just guessing.

Right?

But Ethan always had a way of seeing through the cracks.

Of reading between the lines she thought she had erased.

She squared her shoulders. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Ethan exhaled, his head tilting slightly. "No, you don't." His voice softened, but it only made the words hit harder. "But you owe yourself one."

Ariana's heart lurched.

For a second—just a second—she hesitated.

And Ethan saw it.

His gaze flickered with something almost unreadable. Something deeper.

"You can lie to them," he murmured. "To Ryan. To Leila. To every single person in that room."

Ariana's throat tightened.

"But you can't lie to yourself, Ariana."

Her pulse slammed against her ribs.

Stop. Stop listening. Stop feeling.

She forced a smirk. "You're wrong."

Ethan exhaled slowly, watching her. Then, almost lazily, he glanced over her shoulder.

Ariana didn't need to turn to know who he was looking at.

Leila.

Still there. Still watching.

Ethan's smirk returned. "I wonder… how long will it take for you to finally figure it out?"

Ariana's stomach twisted. "Figure what out?"

Ethan's eyes gleamed under the dim lights.

"Who you really want."

Ariana's breath hitched.

And just like that—Ethan turned.

Walked away.

No last glance. No dramatic pause.

Just gone.

Ariana stood frozen, heart hammering against her ribs.

Because the worst part?

The part she couldn't escape?

She didn't know if he was right.