The ride back to Ethan's penthouse was steeped in silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of the car engine. Ethan's focus was split between driving and stealing glances at Mia, whose demeanor had shifted from steady to guarded the moment her phone buzzed.
She clutched her purse tightly, staring out the window, her face partially obscured by her hair.
"Mia," Ethan finally broke the silence, his voice low, "what's really going on?"
Mia turned to him, forcing a small smile. "I told you, I'm just tired. Your family dinners take a lot out of me."
Ethan frowned but didn't push. He knew Mia well enough to recognize when she wasn't ready to talk, but that didn't stop the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
When they reached the penthouse, Mia immediately excused herself, retreating to her room under the guise of wanting to change. Once alone, she locked the door and leaned against it, pulling out her phone with trembling hands.
"Tell Ethan everything, or I will. You've got 48 hours."
Her stomach churned as she stared at the message. The threats were getting bolder, more specific. The person behind them clearly had an agenda, and Mia knew they wouldn't stop until they'd destroyed everything she'd built.
But the thought of Ethan knowing her full truth—her connection to Eclipse, the things she'd done to protect her mother, and now this fabricated engagement—was almost unbearable. He might forgive her for some of it, but the lies? The danger she'd brought into his life? That could ruin them.
---
Ethan's Concern
Meanwhile, Ethan paced the living room, his mind racing. Mia's evasiveness was unlike her, and it unsettled him. Every time he thought they were getting closer, something would pull her away, like she was fighting an invisible battle.
He poured himself a glass of whiskey, leaning against the kitchen counter as he replayed the night's events. His family had been cruel, yes, but Mia had handled it with grace. Still, something about the way she'd shut down afterward didn't sit right with him.
Lily's words echoed in his mind from earlier that evening:
"She's hiding something, Ethan. I can feel it. You should be careful."
He hated that Lily's suspicions had a kernel of truth. Mia was hiding something, but Ethan was determined to find out what it was on his own terms.
---
Mia's Resolve
The next morning, Mia woke early, her decision made. She couldn't let the threats continue unchecked, and she certainly couldn't involve Ethan. This was her problem to solve.
She spent hours tracing back the number that had been sending the messages, using every tool she'd learned during her time at Eclipse. Finally, she managed to pinpoint a location: an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Mia's heart pounded as she stared at the screen. She knew this was a trap, but she also knew she couldn't sit back and wait for the situation to escalate.
Grabbing her bag, she slipped out of the penthouse, leaving a note on the counter for Ethan:
"Went to run an errand. Don't wait up. —M"
---
The Trap
The warehouse was as ominous as Mia had expected. Its rusted exterior and shattered windows gave it an eerie, abandoned feel, but she knew better. Someone was inside, waiting for her.
She pushed open the heavy metal door, her senses on high alert. The air smelled of mildew and rust, and every creak of the floorboards made her heart race.
"Mia," a voice called out, smooth and mocking. "So predictable."
A tall, shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, their face obscured by a mask.
"You've been causing quite a stir, haven't you?" the person continued. "Making promises you can't keep, playing games you don't understand."
"I don't know who you are or what you want," Mia said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "But if you think threatening me will get you anywhere, you're wrong."
The figure laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the empty space. "Oh, Mia. This isn't about you. It's about him. Ethan Cole. You're just the means to an end."
Before Mia could react, the figure lunged, and she was struck from behind. The world went black.
---
Ethan's Discovery
When Ethan returned home that evening, he immediately noticed Mia's absence. The note she'd left did little to quell his concern. Something about it felt off.
He tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. Panic set in as hours passed with no word from her.
Finally, his phone buzzed with an unknown number.
"She's with us," the voice said. "If you want her back, come alone."
Ethan's blood ran cold. The line went dead before he could respond, but the message was clear.
---
The Rescue
Ethan arrived at the warehouse armed and ready, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and fury. The thought of Mia being hurt or worse was unbearable.
He found her tied to a chair in the center of the room, her face bruised, blood staining her clothes. She looked up as he entered, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Ethan, no!" she cried.
Before she could say more, the shadowy figure stepped out of the darkness, a gun in hand.
"You're persistent," they said, aiming the weapon at Ethan.
But Ethan was faster. He lunged at the figure, disarming them in a brutal struggle. The fight was chaotic and violent, ending with Ethan pinning the figure to the ground.
Police sirens wailed in the distance as Ethan untied Mia, his hands trembling.
---
The Fallout
Back at the hospital, Mia winced as the nurse cleaned her wounds. Ethan sat nearby, his expression a mix of anger and concern.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice tight.
Mia looked away, shame flooding her. "Because I didn't want you to get hurt. This was my mess, Ethan, not yours."
"But it became my mess the moment we started this… whatever this is," he said, gesturing between them. "You can't shut me out like that."
"I'm sorry," Mia whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. "I thought I was protecting you."
Ethan sighed, his anger softening. He reached out, taking her hand in his. "Next time, let me decide how to protect myself. We're in this together, Mia. No more secrets."
Mia nodded, her throat tight. For the first time in a long while, she felt the weight of her burdens lift, if only slightly.
---
The silence between Ethan and Mia in the hospital room was heavy, but not unfamiliar. Ethan sat in the chair next to Mia's bed, arms crossed and jaw tight, watching her like a hawk. He already knew part of her truth—he'd known since the beginning about Eclipse, about the life she'd led before their paths crossed.
But now, he felt there was more. The events of the night had cracked something open, and Ethan wasn't going to let it go this time.
"You've been quiet since I brought you here," Ethan said, his voice low. "You don't have to be."
Mia's hands trembled as she adjusted the blanket on her lap, avoiding his gaze. "I don't know where to start," she admitted.
"How about the truth?" Ethan leaned forward, his green eyes sharp and unrelenting. "You've already told me you worked at Eclipse. I don't care about that, Mia. What I care about is why you've been pulling away, why you keep getting these threats, and why I had to pull you out of that damn warehouse tonight."
Mia's throat tightened. She had run out of excuses, out of places to hide. The truth sat heavy in her chest, demanding to be let out.
---
Mia's Deeper Confession
"I told you I danced at Eclipse," Mia began, her voice steady but quiet. "But what I didn't tell you is why I stayed there as long as I did. I had no choice, Ethan. Volkova gave me no choice."
Ethan stiffened at the mention of Volkova, his fingers tightening into fists. "Go on."
"My mother," Mia whispered, her voice cracking. "She's sick, Ethan. She has a degenerative condition, and the treatments are expensive—way more than I could afford working anywhere else. When I was desperate, Volkova found out. She offered to pay for my mom's care, but it wasn't just a gift. It came with strings. She used my mom to keep me in line."
Ethan's eyes widened as he processed her words. "Volkova… threatened your mother?"
"She didn't just threaten," Mia said bitterly. "She had her watched, Ethan. If I tried to leave Eclipse or go to the authorities, Volkova promised that my mom wouldn't live to see another day. I had no choice. I had to stay and do what she asked."
Ethan's anger flared. He stood abruptly, pacing the room. "So you've been carrying this alone the whole time? And now she's using these threats to drag you back?"
Mia nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I thought I could escape, Ethan. When I left Eclipse, I thought I was finally free. But Volkova doesn't let people walk away. She's been sending those messages to scare me, to remind me that she still holds all the power."
---
Ethan's Reaction
Ethan stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Mia feared he was angry with her, but then he crouched down by her side, taking her hand in his.
"You should've told me this from the beginning," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
"I didn't want to burden you," Mia said, her tears falling freely now. "You've done so much for me already. And I didn't want you to see me as weak."
"Are you kidding me?" Ethan's voice was firm, but there was no anger in it. "Mia, you're one of the strongest people I've ever met. You survived Volkova's world, you protected your mom, and you're still standing. But you don't have to do it alone anymore. I won't let Volkova—or anyone else—hurt you again."
---
The Next Move
The following morning, Ethan and Mia sat in his office, their conversation from the hospital still fresh in their minds.
"We need to take the fight to Volkova," Ethan said, his tone resolute. "If she's coming after you, then we're going to make her regret it."
Mia hesitated, her fear evident. "You don't know what she's capable of, Ethan. She has connections everywhere. People disappear because of her."
"And I have resources too," Ethan said, his voice steady. "More than she realizes. If she wants a fight, she'll get one. But we're not going to do this recklessly. We'll be smart about it."
Mia nodded, though the anxiety in her chest didn't fully dissipate. "What's the plan?"
"We start by finding her weak spots," Ethan said. "Volkova may seem untouchable, but everyone has vulnerabilities. We just need to figure out what hers are."
---