Chapter 2

Ethan' s presence filled the room, sucking all the air and warmth out of it. He didn' t raise his voice. He didn' t have to. The quiet authority he carried was more intimidating than any shout.

He took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving my face. Emily, for the first time since she' d arrived, was silent. She looked from Ethan to me, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

I stood frozen, my heart pounding against my ribs. The joke I' d made just seconds before now felt like a confession of treason.

He walked over to me, stopping so close I could feel the cold radiating from him. He reached out and his hand closed around my upper arm. His grip wasn' t painful, but it was firm, a gesture of pure control.

He leaned in slightly, his voice a low murmur that was meant only for me, but the silence in the room made it feel like a public announcement.

"You' re going to find male models," he stated, not as a question, but as a fact he was processing. His eyes searched mine, looking for something I couldn't name. "To do what, Sarah?"

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. The rebellious fire I' d felt a moment ago was turning to ash. This was Ethan in his element-calm, collected, and utterly in command. This was the man who dismantled entire corporations without breaking a sweat.

"And you think you can find someone better than me?" he continued, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. The simple question was loaded with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. It wasn' t a boast; it was his reality. In his world, there was no one better.

My mind went blank. All the grievances, the neglect, the loneliness-they all faded away, replaced by the primal fear of this man' s quiet anger. I could see the pulse beating in his neck, a single, tell-tale sign of the fury he held in check.

He knew he had me. He had always had me. From the moment we met, I was captivated by his power, his focus, his absolute certainty. I had mistaken that power for strength, his focus for passion. Now, I saw it was just control.

"I..." I started, but no words came out. My voice was trapped in my throat.

He glanced over at Emily, a flicker of dismissal in his eyes.

"Emily," he said, his tone flat. "I believe Liam is on his way home. You should probably have your... discussion... with him in your own house."

It was a clear dismissal. He was taking over, managing the situation, managing me.

Emily, never one to be easily dismissed, opened her mouth to retort, but a single look from Ethan silenced her. She gave me a helpless glance, a silent apology for starting this firestorm, and then she turned and walked out, leaving me alone with my husband.

The power in the room shifted entirely to him. Our private conversation, our pact of rebellion, had been shattered. His sudden appearance was a stark reminder that our plans for freedom would not be easy. They would be a war. And Ethan Thorne never lost.

He turned his full attention back to me, his grip on my arm tightening just enough to remind me it was still there.

"Now," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "You were saying something about finding someone better than me. I' m curious. Please, continue."