Ethan sat in the dingy hotel room he had been hiding in since his release from prison. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at the cracked screen of his phone, a smirk playing on his lips. The text he had sent Isabella earlier was only the beginning. He knew it had rattled her—he could practically feel her fear even though he was miles away. This is what he had been waiting for. Revenge had been festering in his heart for so long, and now it was time to act.
The dim light from the bare bulb above cast deep shadows across the room. The air was heavy with the stench of mildew and old cigarettes, but Ethan hardly noticed. He had lived in far worse conditions during his time in prison. This was temporary. Soon, everything would change.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. He was no longer the pampered, arrogant man who had once moved freely in the upper echelons of society. Prison had taught him patience, had hardened him. He was sharper now, more dangerous. Every move had to be calculated, every step meticulously planned.
A knock sounded at the door, drawing him from his thoughts. He glanced toward it, his smile widening. "Come in," he called out smoothly.
The door creaked open, and a burly man stepped inside, his eyes darting around the room before settling on Ethan. This man, Kurt, had been one of the many connections Ethan had made during his time behind bars. A small-time criminal with a knack for following orders, he was just the kind of muscle Ethan needed.
"Everything's in place," Kurt grunted, crossing his arms. "Your men are ready. Just say the word, and we'll start tailing Alex's wife."
Ethan's eyes glinted dangerously. Isabella. The thought of her brought a mixture of rage and obsession bubbling to the surface. She had been the catalyst for everything that had gone wrong in his life. The one Alex had chosen over him. The one who had ruined him.
"She won't know what hit her," Ethan murmured, standing up and walking toward the window. He peered through the grimy glass, imagining Isabella's face when she realized he was back, that he was closer than she ever expected. "Keep a low profile for now. Let her feel safe, let Alex think he's won. Then, when the time is right, we'll strike."
Kurt nodded, his expression impassive. "And the backup plan? In case something goes wrong?"
Ethan chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. "Oh, don't worry. Nothing will go wrong. But if Alex tries to interfere... we'll make him pay. Both of them."
Kurt grunted in acknowledgment, turning to leave. As the door clicked shut behind him, Ethan's phone buzzed with another message. This time, it was from Sophie, the ever-conniving socialite who had once thought she could have Alex for herself. Ethan had no real use for her, but her desperation amused him. She was still trying to sabotage Alex's life, unaware that her schemes were small compared to the storm Ethan was preparing to unleash.
I have a plan for the next family event. Alex will never see it coming, Sophie's text read.
Ethan smirked, his fingers typing a brief response. Good luck with that. Let me know how it goes.
He had no faith in Sophie's ability to disrupt Alex's life anymore. She was a nuisance at best, a fading player in a much larger game. His focus was on Isabella. She was the prize, the one thing he would take from Alex that would make his victory complete.
"Soon," Ethan whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Very soon."
Alex paced back and forth in his office, the tension in his body palpable. He had just gotten off the phone with Victor, who had begun tracing the message Isabella had received. So far, they hadn't been able to pinpoint where it had come from, but Alex's gut told him exactly who was behind it. Ethan.
The thought of that man being anywhere near Isabella made his blood boil. He had worked tirelessly to protect her, to ensure that Ethan stayed far away from their lives. But now, it seemed Ethan was back, and the threat was more real than ever.
Isabella sat on the couch, her hands folded in her lap, watching Alex with worried eyes. She could see the strain in his features, the way his jaw clenched and his fists tightened every time he glanced at her phone. She hated that she had kept the message from him for even a short time. She had only wanted to protect him, but now she realized how futile that had been.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the room.
Alex stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression softening slightly as he crossed the room and sat down beside her. He took her hand in his, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles. "You don't have to apologize," he said quietly. "I understand why you didn't tell me right away. But from now on, we have to be open with each other about everything, okay? No more secrets."
Isabella nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just didn't want to make you worry. I know you've already been under so much stress."
Alex leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "You're my priority, Isabella. You and the twins. Nothing else matters as much as keeping you safe."
She rested her head against his shoulder, finding comfort in his presence, even though the weight of Ethan's looming threat still hung over them like a dark cloud. "What do we do now?" she asked softly.
"We wait for Victor to trace the message," Alex replied, his voice steady. "And in the meantime, I'm going to increase security around the house. I'm not taking any chances."
Isabella nodded, though a sense of dread lingered in her heart. She knew Alex would do everything in his power to protect her, but the idea of Ethan being so close—of him watching them, planning his next move—made her stomach churn.
As Alex continued to make plans, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and frowned when he saw it was from an unknown number. Without hesitation, he answered, his voice firm. "Who is this?"
There was a brief pause before a familiar voice came through the line, low and menacing. "Hello, Alex. Miss me?"
Alex's blood ran cold. It was Ethan.
"I don't know how you got this number," Alex growled, his grip tightening on the phone, "but I swear to God, if you come near Isabella—"
Ethan's laugh on the other end of the line was chilling. "Oh, Alex, you're so predictable. Always the protector. But you can't protect her from me. Not forever."
Alex's pulse quickened, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're never getting near her again, Ethan. I'll make sure of it."
"We'll see about that," Ethan replied smoothly. "But for now, I just wanted to remind you that I'm still here. Watching. Waiting. And when the time is right, I'll take everything from you."
The line went dead before Alex could respond, leaving him seething with rage. He slammed the phone down on the table, his mind racing. Ethan was more brazen than ever, and now it was clear—this wasn't just a game of cat and mouse anymore. This was war.