I slipped out through the side corridor, the music from the ballroom getting lower behind me. The night air was cool against my skin, the garden shone in silver moonlight. I didn't need to go far, just enough to be alone.
The garden hadn't changed a bit still organized with overripe petals and fake smiles.I sank onto the cold marble bench beneath the old magnolia, its branches arching like arms too tired to hold anything anymore. My fingers curled into my skirt, trembling slightly. I hadn't noticed how long I'd been bracing against the world until the silence gave me permission to unravel.
A few guests passed by in the distance, their laughter light and oblivious. I envied them. I always had.
I let the tears fall skillfully as I heard approaching footsteps.I didn't need to check who it was,his Cologne gave it away, the same harsh Cologne he used in my past life.
"I thought I'd find you here," Ethan said lazily.
I wiped my cheek quickly, composing myself. "Congratulations," I said. "You've officially won the crowd."
He sighed, stepping closer. "Isa, come on. Don't do this."
"Do what?" I asked, still not looking at him.
"Make me the villain."
I laughed softly. "You did that all by yourself."
He crouched beside me, his voice low and coaxing. "Fiona's young. She doesn't know how to handle things the way you do. She needs more… reassurance. That's all."
I turned to him slowly. "So you humiliate me to reassure her?"
He frowned. "It's not like that. You're stronger. You've always been stronger. I thought you'd understand."
I blinked at him, stunned. "You thought I'd understand you choosing her over me?"
"I didn't choose—"
"You did," I said. "You always do."
He reached for my hand. "Isa, I care about you. I always have."
Before I could pull away, another voice cut through the night.
"If she were mine," Kane said, stepping into the moonlight, "I'd burn this entire place down before I let anyone speak to her like that."
Ethan stood, bristling. "This isn't your business."
Kane ignored him, his eyes on me. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The way he was looking at me — not with pity, not with confusion, but with something else entirely — it caught me off guard.
"If she were my wife," Kane said, his voice low and steady, "I'd make sure the world knew she was untouchable. I'd make them afraid to even look at her the wrong way."
I stared at him, breath caught in my throat. Something in my chest twisted — something warm, something terrifying.
Ethan noticed.
He stepped between us, his voice sharp. "She's not your wife."
Kane's jaw tightened. "No. She isn't."
Ethan turned to me, his voice softer now. "Isa, don't let him confuse you. You know how I feel. You know what we had."
I looked at him, my voice barely above a whisper. "We didn't have anything, Ethan. Not really."
"That's not true."
I tilted my head, eyes glistening. "You said it yourself. Back there. In front of everyone."
He blinked.
"You said I wasn't even someone you were dating," I whispered. "That I was just… acting out."
He flinched.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that."
"But you did," I said. "And that's okay. I just needed to hear it out loud."
I stepped back, gently pulling my hand from his.
Kane didn't move. He didn't reach for me. He just stood there, watching, waiting.
I looked between them — one who had broken me, and one who had once held the pieces.
Then I turned away from them both.
"I need to be alone, and I think whatever this is should stop don't contact me again Ethan," I said.
And this time, no one followed.
I disappeared into the shadows of the garden, the scent of roses clinging to my skin like memory.
Behind me, silence stretched.
Then Kane spoke.
His voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.
"If you ever speak to her like that again," he said, "I'll make sure you regret it."
Ethan scoffed. "Is that a threat?"
"No," Kane said, stepping closer. "It's a promise." he said as he walked away
"Was that Kane" Fiona said walking towards Ethan as she stared at his back intensively
"Yes, and i think Kane is planing something" Ethan said as Fiona scoffed
"Is he still hung up on her" she said in a Sacarstic voice, slipping her arm through Ethan's, pressing herself against him with practiced ease. Her perfume was sweet and cloying like overripe fruit.
"She's not worth it," she whispered, her fingers trailing along the lapel of his jacket. "You know that, right?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Fiona tilted her head, her voice dropping into something softer, silkier. "She'll never leave you, Ethan. She can't. She's too broken. Too loyal. You're the only thing she's ever wanted."
She leaned in, her lips brushing the edge of his jaw. "So why not stop pretending? Why not take what's already ours?"
Ethan's hand caught her wrist — not harshly, but firmly enough to stop her.
"She's changing," he said, his voice low. "She looked at Kane like he was the only one who ever saw her."
Fiona blinked, her smile faltering.
"I think…" Ethan exhaled, jaw tight. "I think she's having second thoughts."
Fiona pulled back slightly. "So what? You're afraid she'll leave you now?"
He didn't answer.
She laughed, a soft, bitter sound. "You're scared. That's what this is."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time for this."
Fiona straightened, smoothing her dress. "Then let's hurry up with the plan."
He nodded once, his expression unreadable.
"She's not going to see it coming," Fiona said, her voice almost excited.
Ethan didn't respond.
But in the distance, the garden lights flickered and somewhere beyond the hedges, Kane stood alone watching them plan their next move as he made up his mind that he would destroy them.