Shattered Hearts

●⁠♡

Chapter: 22

The following week, Ethan received an unexpected case  that would require him to travel overseas for an extended period. Despite the excitement of the opportunity, the news came as a shock to both of us. We had just reunited after weeks of being apart, and now, we were facing the prospect of being separated once again.

As Ethan grappled with the decision, I struggled to come to terms with the idea of being apart from him once more. The thought of navigating life without him by my side filled me with a sense of emptiness, a void that I feared would consume me in his absence.

But Ethan was determined to seize the opportunity, to chase his dreams and pursue his passions, even if it meant being apart from me for a while. And as much as it pained me to see him go, I knew that I had to support him, to be his rock and his anchor in the storm of uncertainty that lay ahead.

With a heavy heart, I bid farewell to Ethan as he embarked on his journey, promising to wait for his return with bated breath and unwavering faith in our love. And as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, I found solace in the memories we had shared, the moments of love and laughter that had sustained me through the long days and lonely nights.

But just when I had resigned myself to the idea of waiting indefinitely for Ethan's return, a twist of fate intervened, throwing our carefully laid plans into disarray. It was a rainy evening much like the one when Ethan and I had been reunited, when a knock on the door shattered the quiet of our home and changed the course of our lives forever.

I opened the door to find Andrew standing on the doorstep, his expression grave and his eyes filled with a sense of urgency. Without preamble, he delivered the news that would turn my world upside down – Ethan had gone missing.

My heart lurched in my chest as Andrew recounted the events that had led to Ethan's disappearance – a sudden and inexplicable vanishing act that had left everyone baffled and concerned for his safety. With each word, my mind raced with questions and fears, the worst-case scenarios playing out in vivid detail in my mind.

But amidst the chaos of my thoughts, one question burned brighter than the rest – where was Ethan, and how could I find him? With Andrew's help, I embarked on a desperate search for answers, scouring every corner of the city in a frantic bid to uncover the truth.

As days turned into weeks, the mystery of Ethan's disappearance deepened, with no sign of him anywhere to be found. I refused to give up hope, clinging to the belief that somewhere out there, Ethan was alive and waiting to be found.

But as time passed and leads grew scarce, the weight of uncertainty began to take its toll on me, threatening to consume me in a maelstrom of fear and despair. And just when I thought I had reached the end of my rope, a glimmer of hope emerged from the most unexpected of places.

It was a rainy afternoon when I received a cryptic message on my phone – a blurry photo of a familiar figure standing in the shadows of a dimly lit alley. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the silhouette – it was Ethan.

With renewed determination, I set out into the night, following the breadcrumbs of clues that would lead me to Ethan and the truth behind his disappearance. Each step brought me closer to unraveling the mystery, closer to finding the man I loved more than life itself.

And as I rounded a corner and came face to face with Ethan, standing alone in the deserted alleyway, I felt a surge of relief wash over me. He was safe, he was alive, and he was finally back where he belonged – in my arms.

But as I reached out to him, ready to embrace him and never let him go, Ethan's expression darkened, and he took a step back, his eyes filled with a haunted look that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Lizz," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's something you need to know."

   As Ethan's words hung in the air, a sense of foreboding washed over me. I could see the turmoil etched in his features, the weight of whatever secret he held threatening to crush him beneath its burden.

"What is it, Ethan?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. "What happened? Where have you been?"

Ethan hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with indecision before he finally spoke, his voice heavy with emotion. "Lizz, I didn't just disappear because of the case," he confessed, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I... I've been trying to protect you."

Confusion knotted my stomach as I struggled to make sense of Ethan's cryptic words. "Protect me? From what?" I pressed, my mind racing with a million possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. "I've been in danger, Lizz," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "Someone from my past has resurfaced, someone who wants to hurt me, and I couldn't risk putting you in harm's way."

Shock rippled through me as Ethan's words sank in, the realization dawning on me that the man I loved had been fighting a battle in silence, a battle he had kept hidden from me to protect me from the danger that lurked in the shadows.

"But why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, my voice tinged with hurt and frustration. "Why did you leave me in the dark, wondering where you were, whether you were safe?"

Ethan's eyes filled with regret as he reached out to cup my face in his hands, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. "I wanted to tell you, Lizz," he confessed, his voice raw with emotion. "But I was afraid. Afraid of what might happen if you got involved, if you were put in harm's way because of me."

Tears welled in my eyes as Ethan's words washed over me, the depth of his love and sacrifice cutting through the fog of confusion and fear. "Ethan, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because I wasn't there to help," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "We're in this together, no matter what."

With those words, a sense of determination surged within me, fueling my resolve to stand by Ethan's side and face whatever challenges lay ahead, together. And as we stood there in the rain-soaked alleyway, surrounded by the echoes of our shared pain and love, I knew that our bond was stronger than any obstacle we might face.

But just as we were about to take the first steps toward confronting the danger that threatened to tear us apart, a shadow fell over us, and a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the voice sneered, sending a chill down my spine as I turned to see the figure emerging from the shadows.

It was a girl –, the source of the danger that had plagued us both. And as he stepped into the light, a malicious grin twisted her features, sending a shiver of fear coursing through me.

"Ethan, I see you've found yourself a little friend," she taunted, her eyes flickering with malice as he advanced toward us, her movements predatory. "But I'm afraid your little reunion is about to come to an end."

As Ethan and I stood frozen in shock, the reality of the danger we faced crashing down on us like a tidal wave. She had always been a thorn in Ethan's side, a source of pain and betrayal that had haunted him for years. And now, she had returned with vengeance in his heart and blood on his hands.

But as she closed in on us, a fire ignited within me – a fire fueled by love, by fear, by the desperate need to protect the man I loved with every fiber of my being. And as I stepped forward to confront the threat that loomed before us, I knew that no matter what happened next, I would fight tooth and nail to keep Ethan safe, to keep us together against all odds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey dear readers sorry for late post🥺 . Actually I was busy and then I got sick 🤧. That's why I was unable to post something.

What do you think who is she and why she wanted to take revenge from Ethan?? 🤔🤔