I froze, the weight of their words slamming into me like a tidal wave. My mind raced, trying to piece together how this could be true. Ethan planned to get close to me? Why?
"I don't believe you," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "There has to be an explanation. Maybe… maybe he was coerced back then, like you said. Maybe these accusations are false, or someone's framing him. And as for getting close to me, so what? People don't need ulterior motives to like someone!"
"Xandria, we confirmed it with him," Theo said quietly, his words like a dagger twisting in my heart. "He didn't deny it."
My legs felt weak, and I sank back into the armchair, staring blankly ahead as the pieces of the puzzle refused to fit together in my mind. Ethan—my Ethan—had confessed to this?
"Why now?" I asked, my voice hollow.
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
