Two weeks went by and on the weekend, Ethan was to have dinner with his grandfather. The old man bugged him for Gwen's number, but Ethan kept giving excuses. He didn't want the old man to see or talk to her. It would be awkward, since she was not his wife anymore. That thought, strangely, caused a strange feeling inside his chest.
While driving, he couldn't stop thinking how she was. Brandon was pissed with him for the way he treated her. Jeremy, the same. Both his friends were taking her side! At first, Ethan was furious, but then, he understood that he was the one in the wrong. At least about going to her house and 'attacking' her the way he did. But he didn't have the guts to at least send a message and say he was sorry. The little devil inside his head would tell him, whenever he grabbed his phone, that she killed his child. She deserved to suffer.
"Evening, grandp-" He stopped talking immediately. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Don't talk like this! She is our guest!" Nikolai said, casting a furious stare at his grandson. Then, he turned to Gwen, very sweet and soft. "I'm sorry, my dear. He has no manners at all. Now I can see why you asked to get rid of him."
Ethan was looking at them both laughing, as if they were close friends and it infuriated him.
"You're my grandfather. How can you be all lovey dovey with her?"
"She is funny, sweet, lovely." Nikolai answered and Gwen, who was still pissed with Ethan, gave him a contempted gaze. "Now, dear, are you free on Wednesday?"
"What, she'll come here on Wednesday, too?" He huffed. "Good! So I won't be coming!" Ethan at on the sofa, fuming.
"No, I'm not coming here." Gwen answered him and turned back to Nikolai. "I'll be free after work. Eight?"
"Eight is great!" Nikolai said, smiling. "I'll let him know."
"Him? Who?" Ethan asked, frowning and leaning in Gwen's direction.
"Ah, her blind date." Nikolai answered. "It is time Gwen gets married again and since she considered me as family, I decided to help. She had an awful marriage and now, it is time to find someone good for her."
"You seemed to have forgotten that I was her husband, by the way you talk! I am your grandson! Your only grandson!"
"Oh, no, I didn't forget about it. The reason more I need to be the one helping her."
"But I am good, grandpa. You know I don't need a husband." Gwen answered, in a tone so nice that Ethan had to stare, shocked. Why didn't she use that tone with him? 'She did, you idiot. For three years!'.
"She does not need a husband. She said it herself." Ethan said, trying to hold back his unhappiness.
"Mind your own business, boy!" Nikolai said and the maid came to announce the dinner was served. Gwen helped Nikolai to get up and he received a call. "You can go first. I'll take this call." He said and Gwen nodded, walking to the dining room.
"I can help you." Ethan said, close to her from behind. Gwen didn't look at him and kept walking.
"With..?"
"The blind date. I can make grandpa let it go."
"No need. Thank you." She dismissed him with her hand and sat on the chair near the one Nikolai was going to seat on.
"Are you sure? I mean, this can be such a nuis-"
"No need, Mr. Lennox. Thank you." She gave him a serious look, so serious that Ethan swallowed hard. She was treating him even more distant than hen they first met, after her return.
'Ask for forgiveness!', the little voice in his head said. 'Don't! She deserves to suffer!', the devilish voice echoed inside. He didn't know what to do.
Nikolai arrived and sat next to Gwen, and so they started to talk. Ethan was completely left aside. He couldn't even participate in the chat, because it was all about Gwen. At least Ethan found out a little info of what happened to her during those last two years. And, somewhat, he felt relieved to know she didn't date at all.
"I've heard you are friends with Mr. Lestrange, Gwen." Nikolai said and Ethan finally smiled. 'Yeah! Scold her! Fraternizing with the enemy!'
"Yeah. he was such a gentleman to me when someone was treating me like garbage. Literally. He lifted me from the ground." She didn't have to mention his name for Nikolai to know the 'someone' she was referring to could only be his own grandson.
"I see. Well, in that case, I cannot be mad with you. Mad, no, I could never be mad with you, dear Gwen."
"Thank you, Grandpa." She answered and they were both holding hands on the table. Ethan's lips were tightened in a thin line.
The rest of the evening passed by smoothly, at least to Gwen and Nikolai. While they kept chatting and laughing, Ethan sulked in a corner.
"I need to go." Gwen said and Ethan thought that it was about time!
"Oh, too bad! But I understand." Niklai hugged her. "Don't forget this old man!"
"Impossible! Good night, grandpa!" She kissed his cheek and got her bag. She saw Ethan when she turned around and just gave him a slight nod.
She was opening her car when Ethan's hand closed the door with a thud. He was right behind her and his hand remained on the car. If Gwen turned around, her face would be almost touching his chest.
"What do you want?" She asked without turning around, with an annoyed tone.
"Who are you seeing on Wednesday?" He asked.
"None of your business." She clicked her tongue. "Now, please, step back so I can open the door and leave."
"Is it Brandon?" He asked, getting even closer and Gwen could feel his hot breath on her neck. Her hair was pulled up in a bun.
"I do not owe you anything. If you want to know if it's him, ask him. Now, excuse me!"
Nikolai was looking through the window and smiling. Ethan just needed to be pushed a bit to start moving.
"You're not going in no fucking blind date, do you understand me?"
He was talking through gritted teeth and it made Gwen sneer.
"As I said, I owe you nothing. You have no saying in my personal life, Ethan Lennox. Thank God I'm not married to you anymore!"
She turned around trying to push him away, but he held her waist with one hand and the other went to the back of her head. They were looking into each other's eyes. Green and icy blue. Ethan took a step closer, now his body was glued to hers and she could feel him, down there. Her lips trembled. Ethan leaned over and kissed her forcefully on the lips.
It took her a while to snap out of that and try to let go, but he wouldn't let her. She was not one to do that, but he was asking for it. Her knee went up and hit him hard.
"Oh, fuck!" Ethan let go of her right away and was on his knees on the ground, holding the front of his trousers. Gwen entered her car and left quickly.
"Need help, sir?"