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Chapter 19
Chapter 19
I could see the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. He always tried to stay measured, but when it came to me being mistreated, he found it hard to hold back. Still, he spoke carefully, his voice quiet. “Did you two have a fight?”
There was a nervousness in his tone, like he was worried that if he pushed too hard, I’d get defensive or run off. After all, we had been through this before–Ryan and I would argue, break up, and then I’d always go back, apologizing, thinking things would be different. Ethan had been disappointed too many times to count.
But not this time. I shook my head, my expression firm. “No, Ethan. We don’t have a relationship anymore.”
Ethan froze, staring at me for a long moment. He was careful not to show any joy or relief, as if afraid it would jinx my resolve. But I could see it in his eyes–the flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, I was finally breaking free of Ryan’s hold.
I sighed inwardly, knowing that in my past life, Ethan had watched me make this mistake over and over again. This time, though, I had to prove to him that I meant it.
“By the way,” I said, remembering something important, “can you help me find someone? His name is Lirian, and he used to live on Riha street, near the old market.”
“Lirian?” Ethan repeated, frowning slightly as he searched his memory. “I think I’ve heard that name recently, but I can’t place it right now. I’ll have the pack fighters look into it for you.”
Just then, the front door creaked open, and I immediately felt a chill run down my spine. Ryan had arrived. His expression was dark, his eyes cold as he entered the room. I could tell he was furious, probably having just learned that Clara had been sacked. When he saw that I hadn’t waited for him to eat, his face twisted with annoyance.
“You didn’t wait for me?” he asked, his voice low but seething with accusation.
I met his gaze with indifference, not rising to his bait.
Ryan hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking toward Ethan. He knew better than to start an argument in front of my brother, especially given the tension between them. He had come to me for something–likely to ask about my father’s connections or Ethan’s influence–and he wasn’t about to jeopardize that by starting a fight right now.
But things were different now. In the past, Ryan could have lowered his voice, apologized, and I
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might have softened. I might have forgiven him. But now, with Ethan at my side, I had no reason to give in.
Ryan, sensing the shift, clenched his jaw but said nothing more. Instead, he sat at the far end of the table, clearly uncomfortable under Ethan’s watchful eye.
Ethan leaned toward me slightly, speaking just loud enough for only me to hear. “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”
And for the first time in a long while, I felt lik
I wasn’t standing alone.
Ryan’s forced smile barely masked his frustration as he glanced between me and Ethan. “Sophia, can you come out for a moment? I have something I want to discuss with you,” he said, trying to maintain a veneer of calm.
I didn’t even look up from my plate, keeping my voice steady as I replied, “Can’t you see I’m eating?”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw the anger flash in his eyes. But he swallowed it down, choking out, “I’ll wait for you then.”
Without waiting for an invitation, he started walking toward the living room, heading for the couch. His posture screamed entitlement, as though he believed he could still assert his presence in this house. I wasn’t having it.
“Wait.” My voice cut through the air, and Ryan stopped mid–stride, turning to face me. “Who told you to come in? Stand in the doorway and wait for me.”
Ryan’s face contorted with fury. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, and I could see the veins bulging across his forehead. His muscles tensed, and for a brief second, a wave of fear washed over me. I remembered those same clenched fists from my past life–fists that had struck me without mercy, leaving me bruised and bleeding, crying for him to stop. But Ryan hadn’t stopped then. No he had mocked me, kicking me harder each time I begged.
I tried to calm myself down, and I told myself that this time, I was going to respond differently,
This is the Moonshadow Pack, he wouldn’t dare to do those things to me, and just the opposite, this is a good time for me to strike back with a vengeance.
Whapter 20
Chapter 20
