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“You tried that bullshit last time,” I say, crossing my arms in front of my chest, hoping the confidence is what wins out, and not the panic, in my scent.
I do not want him thinking he’s got the upper hand.
Even so, it’s very obvious that he does.
“Last time?” His eyes narrow.
“Don’t do this, Ethan. Why are you here?”
“I came to see you.” His voice is gentle, so much like Ryan’s. It makes my stomach turn, the acidity burning my throat. “And to see Phoebe.”
“Don’t look at her,” I snarl, anger filling me as his eyes snap back up to me. I’m not playing these sick games with him any longer. “Do. Not. Look. At. Her.”
“Maia, what—” He has the audacity to look shocked, as if I’m the one who is being unreasonable here.
“Phoebe is mine.” She gives a soft whine but doesn’t start to cry, so I don’t turn to look at her. I can’t let him out of my sight. I’m already at a huge disadvantage. “Mine and Ryan’s. We made her. Not you. Not your horrible family. None of you have a claim to her, Ethan. So just leave us alone. Please.”
Anger fills his face, the fury so powerful that my heart stops just for a second. I can feel my nerves coming alight, my whole body preparing for a fight. I bury the fear deep, knowing that Phoebe only has me to protect her right now.
Ethan might not be a bad guy, you know, a tiny little possibility that there’s some goodness inside him even after the way he betrayed his brother.
But he lives at home, with his parents, who are not good people, and my daughter will never be around them, no matter how badly they’re trying to steal her from me.
“You want me to leave you alone? You’d deny me seeing her?” There’s a broken note to his voice, and I can feel myself softening.
Stop it, Maia. This is not Ryan.
This is Ethan. The coward who has tormented me. The man who is working to take my daughter from me. The man who wears the face of my first love but is a rotten soul.
“She’s not yours!” I hiss, and I hate the flash of pain across his face.
“She’s family.”
“Yes. My family. She’s not going to be around the toxic people that Ryan escaped from. She has nothing to do with you.”
He scoffs, glaring at me. “You know nothing about Ryan’s life.”
“I’m glad you’ve given up the pretence of being him. Are you going to keep up the pretence of not being Ethan, too?” I whisper, shaking my head as his eyes flash. “Why would you do this, Ethan? Why would you punish me this way? Why can’t you just—” I choke out a sob and take a breath to try and calm myself. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Punish you?” His eyes narrow, and he takes a small step forward. “This was never about punishing you, Maia. Not in the beginning, anyway.”
“And now?” I glare at him, trying to gather the confidence I held, rather than sobbing.
“He loved you. My brother truly fucking loved you.” There’s a sneer on his face, one I’ve never seen on Ryan. The bitterness that laces his tone is so strong it breaks my heart to hear it.
Not Ryan. This man is not the one you love, Maia.
“I love him.” I cross my arms in front of my chest, a soft smile filling my face as I think of Ryan. “No matter that he’s gone, I still love him.”
“You’re a liar!” Ethan roars, his voice echoing through the near silent streets. “You’re moving on, Maia. You’re leaving him and his memory behind, believing whatever shit they tell you. You’re letting my brother’s memory be tainted by their poison.”
I try not to let his words hurt me. I try to pretend he isn’t wearing Ryan’s face as he hurls these hateful words at me.
But I fail.
Because his words are accurate. I am moving on. I am leaving the ghost of my fiancé in the past, and I’ve bonded with my future. I won’t ever forget him, and I’ll spend the rest of my life aching with where he’s gone… but I also won’t wallow in my grief.
Not just because I have four men here determined to make me happy but because Phoebe shouldn’t have to live a life where her mother knows nothing but sadness and grief.
