"I have every right to be concerned about you.About the choices you're making.This house, these children, that criminal you're obviously infatuated with...none of it is healthy."
Across the room, Hades goes very still.I can feel the tension radiating from him, the barely leashed violence that comes from hearing someone insult the people he cares about.
"He's not a criminal," I say, my voice steady despite the rage building in my chest."And I'm not infatuated with anyone.I'm trying to do what's best for five children who just lost everything."
"By playing house with a biker?By living in a crime scene?By throwing away everything we built together?"
"We didn't build anything together.You built a prison and expected me to live in it gratefully."
Ethan's face flushes with anger."That prison was a life most women would kill for.Security, stability, social standing?—"
"I don't care about social standing."
"You will.When the reality of this situation hits you."
"What I had with you was nothing."
The words come out harsher than I intended, but they're true.Whatever I thought I felt for Ethan, whatever I convinced myself our relationship was, it was hollow.Empty.A performance we were both putting on for different reasons.
"You'll regret this," Ethan says, his voice dropping to something cold and threatening."All of it.The house, the children, him.And when you do, don't expect me to be there to pick up the pieces."
"I won't."
“He’s just using you.When you get on your back, he’ll be done with you,” Ethan spits out, his face contorting with rage.
“He’s doing what’s right for his family.This has nothing to do with you.It’s everything to do with those children.”The ones who are terrified right now watching this play out.God, Ethan has no remorse, no empathy at all.What the hell did I ever see in him?
"His family?You're not his family, Evangeline.You're a convenient solution to a problem he didn't want to handle alone."Ethan's voice turns vicious."But when the novelty wears off, when you stop being useful, he'll move on.And you'll be left with nothing."
"I'd rather have nothing with him than everything with you."
The words hang in the air like a slap.Ethan's face goes white, then red with fury.
"Fine," he says, his voice shaking with rage."Have your little fantasy.But when it falls apart—and it will—don't come crawling back to me begging for forgiveness.You had your chance to come home, to fix this mistake.You chose him over me, chose chaos over stability, chose to throw away everything I offered you."
"I chose to be happy."
"You chose to be stupid."He straightens his tie with sharp, angry movements."But you'll realize that soon enough.And when you do, remember this conversation.Remember that I tried to save you from yourself."
Then he's gone, the front door slamming behind him with enough force to rattle the windows.
The silence that follows is heavy with tension and unspoken promises.Sophie starts crying, upset by the raised voices and adult conflict she doesn't understand.
"It's okay, sweetheart," I tell her, gathering her into my arms."He's gone.Everything's okay."
I carry Sophie into the hallway, whispering a lullaby Calla used to sing.Her tiny arms wrap around my neck like a lifeline.As I comfort her, I can feel Hades watching me with dark eyes that promise retribution against anyone who threatens this fragile peace we're trying to build.
"You alright?"he asks quietly.
"Yeah.I am."
My shoulders unclench.For a second, I breathe.Surrounded by my nieces and nephews and protected by a man who makes me feel things I've never felt before, I'm more alright than I've been in years.
Hades’ jaw flexes.His knuckles are white where they grip the back of the chair.
His voice is low, but there's a vibration under it, like thunder rolling just out of reach.“The next time that bastard walks in here like that, yelling at you in front of the kids, I won’t be polite about it.”
The words are calm.His eyes are anything but.
