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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

ETHAN

T urns out Sebastian had been right all along.

A very stupid part of me had believed that, if our relationship ever got out, it wouldn’t be that bad. Sure, there was an age gap, but I was legal.

That didn’t stop my dad from punching Sebastian. Or the screaming match that followed. Or the threats to press charges.

I’d never seen my dad this furious. Or Sebastian’s. And that was the scariest part—watching them both unload on him while he just stood there, silent, pressing ice to his face.

Oliver and Charlotte had to drive back to the house while a mob of reporters swarmed outside, waiting for us to emerge. Oliver managed to keep his father calm for a grand total of five minutes before the yelling started again.

My mom clung to me, crying, asking if I was okay—as if the article had reported that I’d been assaulted.

Henry, ever the problem solver, had the bright idea to separate our families into different rooms, which at least helped keep the decibel levels down. I could still hear Sebastian’s father shouting, but at least I couldn’t make out the words.

“I warned you to stay away from him, Ethan,” my dad snapped, his face red with rage.

“You said that two days ago,” I muttered, rubbing my hands over my face. “I’ve been with him for months.”

Charlotte sighed. “I don’t think that’s going to help.”

“They’re not even listening to me.”

At least she wasn’t mad. I had a feeling Oliver had told her before all hell broke loose, and for that, I was beyond grateful.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, but I refused to let them turn this into something it wasn’t. I refused to be scolded like a child when I was fully aware of my choices and their consequences.

“How is this going to look?” my mother cried. “It’s going to be everywhere. Ethan’s just starting his life.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who the fuck cares?”

“We care, Ethan!” she shot back. “Who knows how this will follow you around? Your poor sister just got married, and now we’re going to be the talk of the town?—”

“Why would my relationship affect Charlotte in any way?”

“We need to get him to a therapist,” my dad cut in, his voice tight with fury. “So he can see what that man did to him.”

“For the last fucking time—it was consensual!” My chest burned as I forced myself to stay grounded. “I want to be with him. We want to be together. I’m nineteen; I have a say. You can’t forbid me from seeing him.”

“You are a child who doesn’t know what he wants.”

“Yes, I do.” My voice didn’t waver. “If you actually tried having a conversation with me about anything other than your petty fights, you’d know I’ve made up my mind. I’m going into finance. I know what I want from my life, and I know who I want as my partner.”

“See?” my dad spat, gesturing at me but still talking about me. “He’s been completely brainwashed. Finance, really? And that has nothing to do with what the Langleys do, does it?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “You let this happen,” he accused my mother.

“Me?” she snapped. “Where the hell were you these past few months? I’ve done nothing but push him to take responsibility, to get serious about his life. Thank God he learned it somewhere—because God knows he didn’t learn ambition from you.”

And here we go again.

“He corrupted him,” my dad raged. “If he had proper guidance, none of this would have happened. And a man, to top it off.”

Okay, that was fucking enough.

I stepped forward, my chest burning. “What guidance have either of you given me?” My voice was steel, cutting through the air. “The only thing I’ve learned in the past four years is how to sneak around and stab people who love me in the back.” I let out a bitter laugh. “So yeah, maybe he did influence me. And so what? At least he pushed me to go after what I wanted.”

Charlotte pressed her lips together, trying—and failing—to hide her smile. She looked proud.

“I think you need to trust Ethan’s judgment,” she said, her voice firm. “He’s an adult.”

“Thank you,” I muttered.

My dad waved a dismissive hand. “He’s too young.” His tone was final. Unyielding. “You’re not even acting like yourself.”

That hit .

Because this was me.

He just didn’t like this version of me.

The door creaked, and Henry peeked inside.

“You better stay away from him too,” my dad snapped.

Henry kept his expression neutral. “Sorry, Mr. Bennett.” Then he nodded at Charlotte, who hurried over.

They spoke in hushed voices, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I walked to them too.

“Ethan, I swear to God—” my dad warned.

I ignored him.

“Is he okay?” I asked Henry.

Henry sighed and shook his head. My stomach plummeted.

“I got a car for you…and a chopper,” he murmured low enough that only Charlotte and I could hear. “You’ll get to the city safely, okay? Ash said he’ll be in touch when he can.”

My chest ached. “Tell him I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Henry gave me a small, knowing smile. “This isn’t on you, E.”

Then he slipped back out.

As our parents continued their screaming match, Charlotte turned to me, wearing the same pitying expression I’d seen too many times in the past two hours.

“Shit, this is such a fucking mess,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair.

Charlotte’s hand was warm on my shoulder. “It is. But you’re handling it great.” Her voice was low, reassuring. “I’m on your side, okay? We’ve got this.”

“You’re not mad?”

She smiled, almost offended by the idea. “You honestly think I had no idea? Ash has been crazy about you since the moment he saw you, E. And he’s only gotten worse at hiding it over time. Like you.”

Something in my chest eased.

“So…you don’t think he’s a depraved old man?”

She rolled her eyes and pushed my hair back. “He’s sweet when he talks about you.”

My face heated at the memory of overhearing their conversation on the phone.

“You should’ve told me, though,” she scolded gently. “I could’ve helped.”

“I know,” I admitted, shrugging. “It’s just…he’s Oli’s brother. I didn’t want to make things weird for you. And now this whole thing is a disaster, and you’re in the middle of it.”

“Stop. It’s fine.” Her expression was steady, determined. “Oli and Ash will figure out work and their dad. You and I are going to fix this.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Okay. Yeah.”

“You need to stop carrying everything on your own,” she said, her voice softer now. “Things are going to be bumpy for a while. But we’re here for you. Oli and me. You can lean on us, okay?”

“Thank you, Char,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around her.

She hugged me back, tight. “Just let me help now.”

I nodded.

“Finance?” she asked, pressing her hands to my shoulders, that proud look flickering back into place.

“Yeah. Does it make sense to you?”

“It really does. And Oli can help. I’m so proud of you, E. ”

The tension in my chest loosened just a little more.

Then, in the background, our parents’ voices rose again—this time at each other. The argument had shifted, dragging up years of resentment that had nothing to do with Sebastian or me.

I sighed. “For fuck’s sake.”

Charlotte huffed a quiet laugh. “Come on,” she whispered, taking my hand. “Let’s face this head-on.”

As she pulled me toward them, my gaze flickered to the door separating us from him .

Sebastian had been right all along.

I’d torn his life apart.

And I couldn’t even be there for him as he dealt with the fallout.

* * *

I couldn’t set foot outside my apartment. The two times I’d tried, I was swarmed by paparazzi, their voices overlapping as they hurled invasive questions about my relationship with Sebastian.

Charlotte had asked me to stay with them, but I didn’t want to drag them into this mess too. And I sure as hell wasn’t about to stay with either of my parents.

Maya had followed me after the wedding, keeping me company in my forced confinement.

She was the only thing keeping me sane.

Patiently, she listened as I recounted everything—every moment of our relationship, every detail I could share, every reassurance I needed. She reminded me that, yes, he did care about me. And no, it wasn’t fucking assault.

She also didn’t hold back from scolding me for disappearing from her life over the summer. I knew things with Sebastian had been intense, new. And maybe I had lost myself in him a little.

But it was love. Real love.

I had no idea it would blow up this much.

The article was brutal. Not just the title—every single thing about it. The pictures. The captions. The way they twisted our relationship into something ugly.

There was a shot of us shopping, Sebastian handing me a gift bag while whispering in my ear, his other hand resting dangerously low on my back. Another at a restaurant, where he kissed my neck while I checked my phone absently, as if I couldn’t care less. Then one of me trying on sunglasses in front of a mirror, Sebastian pressed against my back, smirking at our reflection.

They had done their homework. Every angle, every carefully curated moment painted me as Sebastian Langley’s spoiled, kept boy.

Most of the photos were from Barcelona. Which meant, on top of everything, I had to explain why I left the country without telling anyone. Charlotte had my back, swearing to our parents that she knew. That landed her smack in the middle of the chaos too—for “enabling the abuse.”

My dad refused to drop his crusade to press charges against Sebastian.

I thought it would be a moot point since I had no intention of following through, but apparently, my parents could try to file for a restraining order without my consent. And until it was officially dismissed, there could be no contact between us.

No visits. No calls. No texts. It was even fucking illegal for him to have someone else tell me he was okay.

It was so fucking unfair, I’d rage-cried more than once.

I wasn’t speaking to either of my parents, and the forced silence between me and Sebastian had me at my breaking point.

A few times, I caved and checked the news. I lasted all of five seconds before the sheer number of articles sent me spiraling. Maya took my phone away after the fourth attempt.

Henry couldn’t come over. He tried once and nearly got mobbed. But he texted me regularly, trying to keep me updated without actually saying anything. It was frustrating as hell. He told me they had bodyguards now. It wasn’t permanent—just until the media circus died down.

Aria, Henry, and Charlotte kept telling me to be patient. That it would all be sorted out. They couldn’t mention him by name, but I knew what they meant—Sebastian was fixing this.

Two weeks passed in this absolute misery of a lockdown, and I was going insane without a word from him.

I could only imagine how this was affecting him. His job. His life. The accusations were brutal, enough to ruin his reputation—enough to destroy him. And I couldn’t even talk to him.

It sucked because, after Oliver and Sebastian talked, everything had finally felt better. At the wedding, it had been perfect. I could see it, feel it. The way he felt about me. The way we fit.

Only for it to be ripped from our hands a second later.

Then, the weekend before classes started, a miracle happened.

A soft knock on the door.

Maya poked her head in, her smile already giving it away. “Hey,” she said, voice low. “I just got a call from the lobby. Sebastian is here.”

My heart stopped.

“He’s asking if he can come up.”

I practically launched from the bed. “You said yes, right?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course, E.”

I rushed to the door, heart pounding, and stood frozen in the hall, eyes locked on the elevator doors.

The moment they slid open and he stepped out, relief crashed into me, overwhelming, all-consuming. He spotted me instantly and moved fast—closing the distance, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I practically climbed him, clinging to him in desperation, trying to erase the horrible days apart with the press of my body against his.

“Hi, Maya.” His voice rumbled against my chest.

I clung to him, breathing him in. God, I missed him so fucking much.

“Ash,” she greeted warmly.

I turned, meeting her understanding brown eyes. “Sorry, we’re going to my room,” I said quickly, pulling him behind me.

The second the door closed, I tugged him down and pressed my lips to his.

Sebastian sighed, but he kissed me back, and fuck, the relief in my chest was instant. I hadn’t been sure if he would.

“Sorry for the disappearing act, pet,” he murmured against my lips.

I pushed him to sit on the bed and wrapped myself around him, arms tight around his shoulders, burying my face into the crook of his neck. “Sorry for all of it. Sorry about my dad. Sorry about this fucking mess. I’m so sorry. I missed you, Ash.”

His arms tightened around me too.

But he was too quiet.

“We need to talk, darling.”

I shook my head and held him tighter, willing his words away.

The sting behind my eyes was immediate, but I refused to let it come. Instead, I straddled his lap and cradled his face in my hands.

He looked so tired.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes. His lips were pressed into a firm line. His whole body was tense, like he was bracing himself for the inevitable.

I didn’t want the inevitable.

I leaned in and kissed him again. He parted his lips under mine, his hands gripping my waist.

“Ethan,” he tried again.

I shook my head. “Can we just pretend for a little while?” My voice was barely a whisper. I searched his eyes, desperate. “Can we pretend all this bullshit didn’t happen? Just you and me, without the article, without my dad, without—” My voice faltered. I swallowed hard. “Please. Just for a little while, okay?”

His gaze softened, something bright flickering in his eyes before he nodded.

Then he kissed me, deeply, fiercely. And I let myself sink into it, drinking him in, trying to make up for every second of lost time.

He dropped me onto the bed, stripping me down in quick, practiced movements—before kissing every inch of exposed skin like he was mapping me all over again.

We hadn’t been back in my room since that first night together, and the difference was staggering.

This wasn’t just sex.

It was desperation and devotion wrapped into each touch, each lingering press of his lips.

Sebastian took his time getting me ready, his fingers pressing into me, curling and coaxing sound after sound from my lips—plea after plea.

When he finally pushed inside, I gasped, arching into him.

He grabbed my wrists, guiding them over my head. But instead of holding them down, he laced his fingers through mine, our gazes locked as he started moving—slowly, achingly slowly.

Every thrust came with a kiss.

Every hitch of my breath met his name.

My thighs tightened around his waist, desperate to keep him there, to keep him mine.

And as each kiss grew hungrier, so did his pace. What started as languid and sweet turned into an intensity neither of us could fight.

His grip on my hands tightened, our bodies moving together in sync, chasing pleasure in a way that felt like more.

When I heard my name fall from his lips, his voice raw with pleasure, I knew—I was lost to him.

His release crashed through him, and I felt it everywhere, reverberating through my body, pulling me over the edge with him. The pleasure was overwhelming, consuming as always.

Even as we tried to catch our breaths, we couldn’t stop.

Kisses traded between ragged exhales, lips brushing, hands grasping, refusing to let go.

Even though sex between us had always been about connection, this felt different. Softer. More intense in a way I had never experienced before.

If I had to describe it—this was probably making love.

Two people wrapped up in each other, holding on like we never wanted to let go.

We stayed in my bed long after our breathing evened out and our skin cooled, tangled beneath the sheets.

Sebastian’s forehead rested against mine, his fingers tracing lazy patterns over my arm. The silence was heavy, stretching between us, each passing second pressing down on him. On us. And for a fleeting moment, I considered telling the world to fuck off and asking him to get back inside me. Erase all of it. Just for a little longer.

“I made up my mind about school,” I said instead.

He tilted his head. “Yeah?”

“Mm-hm.” A stray curl was covering his forehead and I pushed it back. “Finance.”

His dark eyes ran over my face, his lips curving into a fond smile. “That’s great, pet. You have such a potential for it. You’ll do great.”

“With your help, it’ll be a no brainer.”

The smile started to fade and he cleared his throat. Whatever he needed to say, needed to be said. But it was clear I wasn’t the only one struggling to face it.

I watched as he licked his lips, debating.

“We finally got your dad to drop his crusade to press charges,” he said, breaking the quiet.

I exhaled. “That’s great, Ash.” I had figured as much—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to come here.

“That happened today. Or, well…yesterday. You know about the restraining order. I couldn’t do anything until that was dealt with.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. They couldn’t push it through without you, but getting it dismissed was a pain.”

I wet my lips. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “I missed you. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, darling. But I think it’s going to get better now.”

The words were hopeful, but the tiny smile he gave me didn’t reach his eyes. And suddenly, my chest ached.

“Do we have to stop pretending now?” My voice came out small, and I hated it. I hated not being able to be strong for him.

“Yes, pet. We need to.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “Okay. Let me have it.”

That made him smile for real. His fingers traced over my jaw, his eyes impossibly warm as they followed their path.

“Tough as nails,” he muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, wetting his lips before continuing. “Things with Oli are great—that hasn’t changed. My dad, though…not so much. When the article came out, for obvious reasons, things got bad. The board suspended me. Stocks fell. It was about as bad as it gets.”

Shit.

And on top of that, everything with my dad.

“My dad’s back as interim CEO, and about a week ago, I tendered my resignation,” he said.

My jaw dropped. “What? Ash, you can’t?—”

He stopped me with a soft kiss. “Hear me out, pet. This wasn’t just because of the article. This was a long time coming. You know better than anyone how bad it was. How miserable I was. So, after a lot of long talks with my brothers, I decided this was the right move. And despite the terrible circumstances, it was as good a time as any.”

I searched his face. “And you’re sure you’re okay with that?”

He nodded. “I am.”

“So…what now?”

Sebastian took another deep breath, his fingers sliding through my hair, curling around the back of my neck like he was holding me in place. “This is the hard part, okay, my darling?”

I nodded. “Go on.”

“Remember the meeting I had in Spain?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve been talking to Elena. Fortunately, she’s not as put off by our relationship as the American public. She still wants to build this company with me. We’ve been meeting with lawyers, drawing up contracts. Everything is settled. We start next week.”

I blinked. “That sounds like good news.”

“It is, but…”

Realization hit me like a slap.

She was from Spain. The company was hers and Sebastian’s. There was no reason for him to stay.

I shook my head, my breath catching. “You can’t leave.”

My voice didn’t even sound like mine. It was high-pitched, distant.

Sebastian cupped my cheek. “I can’t stay here, Ethan.”

“Why?”

“My reputation is shot. It doesn’t matter that you’re legal—all people see is my teenage brother-in-law. And it’s not just about me. It’s about you too. You’re starting your life. You shouldn’t have to do that under this shadow. I don’t want this following you around forever. If I leave, the stories will go away. People will forget.”

My heart splintered. I understood what he was saying, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow.

“But you’ll come back, right?” I gripped his shirt. “You travel all the time. You can work there and come back.”

The answer was written plainly on his face before he shook his head.

“We have to end this, pet.”

I shut my eyes, the burn behind them intensifying. “I don’t care what people say about me.”

“You don’t right now. But you will—when it starts costing you opportunities.” He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

His expression softened. “You’re spectacular, Ethan. You’re so much more than just this.” His voice wavered, thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry—for all of it. For being the reason your life has been ripped open like this. But you need to know this: you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Unexpected, yes. But I have never, not for a single second, regretted you.”

I shook my head, my vision blurring. “Stop that. Stop saying goodbye.”

His exhale was shaky. “I have to, my darling. This has to be goodbye.”

“You said you’d never close the door on me, Ash.”

He nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t lie.”

Sebastian pressed a lingering kiss to my lips before sitting up and reaching for his clothes.

I followed him, watching as he picked up a small box and handed it to me. I gave him a skeptical look, but he nudged it toward me. Slowly, I flipped it open, my breath catching when I saw the delicate gold chain inside. A small, round medallion dangled from it, engraved with the letter C. I ran my fingers over it, confused, before looking up at him. That’s when I noticed—he was wearing one too.

I swallowed hard. “What…?”

Sebastian moved closer, his expression soft. “I had them made when we were in Spain. I was going to give it to you after the wedding, but this way…this way it means even more.” He lifted his own chain, letting the small pendant rest against his chest. “P for pet. This way, I can always keep you close to my heart.”

I swallowed hard. It was so him, this small, quiet gesture, something so deeply intimate beneath all his usual arrogance. I couldn’t even thank him—tears welled up and spilled before I could stop them.

I wiped my eyes stubbornly, then glanced down at my own chain. “Why does—” I stopped, realization hitting me like a punch to the chest.

Sebastian smirked, playful even in the face of all this pain.

I let out a watery laugh. “You’re an idiot.”

I set the box aside and threw my arms around his neck, holding him tight. “I love you, Ash.”

Sebastian wrapped his arms around me, tugging me flush against him. “I have never cared for anyone the way I care for you, Ethan. No one has ever done to me what you do—made me want everything. And you need to know that the place you hold in my heart, that impossibly big part of it, will always be yours.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tightened my hold on him. I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want to let him go. This wasn’t fair. I was his. And finally, he wanted to be mine too.

Sebastian’s fingers traced slow, comforting lines down my spine, his lips pressing into my hair. “I’m sorry I can’t give you what you deserve. But trust me, no one has ever made me want to more than you. I’ll always be yours, Ethan. Always.”

My heart shattered. “I don’t want you to leave.”

He exhaled shakily. “I don’t want to leave without you. I was serious about locking you in my room.” He pressed a lingering kiss to my cheek, lips warm against my tear-streaked skin.

“My heart belongs to you too, Ash.” My voice cracked. “God, this fucking sucks.” I swallowed hard, trying to hold myself together. “Please don’t forget that.”

Sebastian cupped my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears. His own eyes looked red, and it killed me. “Never, my pet.” He kissed me again, resting his forehead against mine. “I could never forget a piece of myself.”

“Ash…” My voice broke.

“This isn’t forever,” he murmured, giving a small shake of his head. His expression twisted, pain flashing across his face. “Forget what I said. This isn’t the end, okay?”

I nodded weakly against his forehead.

“You and I don’t have an end. We transcend that bullshit,” he whispered.

A strangled laugh escaped me, and I pulled him into another desperate kiss.

“Just for a little while,” I murmured.

Sebastian nodded, swallowing hard before kissing me again. “Just for a little while.”

We held onto each other for hours, hands grasping, lips pressing against skin like we could imprint ourselves into each other before the inevitable came. The sky began to lighten, the sun creeping over the horizon, casting a soft glow across the room.

Then it was time.

The sun filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over him. Even disheveled, he looked perfect. The soft waves of his hair had unraveled into unruly curls, his dark-brown eyes glowed with hints of amber, and his perfectly sculpted lips curled into a smile—breathtakingly gorgeous and devastating all at once.

The elevator chimed, the sound slicing through the quiet.

“Goodbye, darling,” he said softly.

I swallowed against the ache in my throat. “Goodbye, Ash.”

The steady tap of his shoes echoed like a hammer against my ribs as he stepped inside.

And then he was gone.

It felt like he had taken a piece of my heart with him.

The only thing keeping me standing, the only hope I had left, were the words we had whispered to each other in the dark.

Just for a little while.