Chapter 78: Move Again and I'll Kiss You

Isabella's POV

I couldn't believe what Ethan had just said. Seen it, touched it, kissed it. These words kept echoing in my mind, impossible to shake off. Blood rushed to my face, and I felt my cheeks burning so hot they might catch fire. All I wanted was to disappear from Julian's car immediately.

Julian's gaze flickered between Ethan and me, clearly trying to make sense of this bombshell. This was exactly what Ethan wanted—to make Julian think there was something between us.

God, I truly hated Ethan in that moment.

"Julian, please stop the car," I managed to say, I had completely lost any desire to enjoy the day.

"We're almost there," Julian replied after glancing at the navigation.

I sat there with clenched fists, enduring the situation until the car finally stopped near the park entrance. I practically lunged for the door handle. All I wanted was to escape this suffocating space, to get away from Ethan, to get away from everything.

I heard car doors slamming behind me, but I didn't look back. The lake stretched out before me, its surface glittering in the sunlight. On any other day, I might have stopped to admire it. Today wasn't a good time—I really didn't want to spend another second with Ethan.

I continued walking, leaving the main path for a less traveled one, putting distance between myself and the other park visitors. My mind was a tornado of angry thoughts. How dare he? What was wrong with him? Why was he so determined to humiliate me?

I glanced back and saw that this infuriating jerk was still following me. When I walked forward, he walked forward; when I stopped, he stopped too. Like some damn stalker.

"Stop following me," I called out, but I hated how soft and weak my voice sounded, completely lacking any authority when facing Ethan.

With his hands tucked in the pockets of his coat, he closed the distance between us in just two steps, looking down at me. "I only stated facts. Why are you so upset?"

"You did that deliberately," I accused, staring directly into his deep eyes. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to question me.

"Yes, I did." No hesitation. No shame. He even curved his lips into a slight smirk.

"Why?" His matter-of-fact attitude made my eyes burn with emotion.

"No reason," he shrugged, completely indifferent.

"What will Julian think of me after what you said?" I questioned through gritted teeth.

"I don't care what he thinks."

That was it. I couldn't hold back anymore. All my pent-up emotions came flooding out at once.

"Olivia asked me how many times I slept with you to get featured in that design magazine and become a trending designer," I blurted out, my voice raw with pain. "Your comments just now had the same tone as Olivia's, humiliating me in front of Julian."

I took a shaky breath, struggling to stay composed. "Because of you, people see me as someone dirty and cheap, a woman who uses her body to climb the social ladder."

I watched Ethan's face suddenly darken, his voice tight with anger: "You've only known each other for a few days. Are you already in love with my brother?"

"I'm not," I denied, turning to leave. I was done with this conversation. Done with him.

I felt his hand grab my arm, stopping me. I yanked free, but he caught my other arm, his grip firm.

"Let go of me," I twisted in his grasp. "What do you want?"

"What are you denying?" His gaze was intense, as if searching for some kind of confirmation in my answer. But I pressed my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

"Ethan, I truly hate you," I said, enunciating each word.

I saw the hurt flash through his eyes as he took a small half-step back.

"I don't know what kind of person you really are or what you want from me," I continued, my voice rising with emotion. "You promised not to hurt me, yet you forced a kiss on me, threw away my clothes, and humiliated me in front of Julian. You're a jerk."

"But then you're also kind to me—you took me from the hospital back to your family home to recover, you helped me get payment for my stolen designs, you helped promote my work online, helped me win that award, and even took me to get revenge on Joshua."

A tear slid from the corner of my eye, and I angrily wiped it away. "I don't know if you're good or bad to me. I can't figure out what you're thinking, and I don't want to try anymore."

I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Please stay away from me in the future. You don't need to be nice to me, and I'm begging you to stop hurting me."

For a moment, I saw a flash of vulnerability in Ethan's eyes. His arms trembled slightly, as if he wanted to reach out and embrace me, then pulled back as though afraid of rejection.

I couldn't take it anymore. I turned away, my vision blurry with unshed tears. I just wanted to get away from him, away from this whole mess.

Clearly fate decided I hadn't had enough bad luck for one day—my ankle twisted on an uneven patch of ground. Sharp pain shot up my leg as I fell hard onto the path, letting out an embarrassing yelp.

"Ow, damn it!" I clutched my ankle, feeling like the world's biggest idiot.

Ethan rushed to my side immediately, kneeling down. "Did you twist it?" His voice was full of genuine concern.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, swatting his hand away when he reached for my ankle. The last thing I needed was his pity. Or worse, his help.

I struggled to my feet, wincing with every step as pain shot through my ankle. Despite this, I forced myself to walk, limping pathetically forward. If necessary, I would crawl back to the parking lot, as long as I could get away from Ethan.

I heard his footsteps behind me, quick and determined. Before I could react, strong arms lifted me off the ground. Suddenly, I was cradled against Ethan's chest, my face just inches from his.

The shock left me speechless for two seconds. Then I started struggling. "Put me down!" I pushed against his shoulders, trying to break free.

His eyes locked onto mine, deep and intense. "Move again and I'll kiss you."

I stopped struggling, my body tense as a bowstring. Meanwhile, my brain was hurling curses at him. Psycho. Jerk. Control freak. Who does he think he is?

People throughout the park were staring at us. I was dying of embarrassment, but I still didn't dare move, afraid he would make good on his threat.

"The first aid station is this way," he said, his voice unusually gentle.

I didn't respond. Didn't even look at him. I tried to ignore the strange intimacy of being carried in his arms.

He pushed open the door to a small building near the park entrance with his shoulder, still carefully holding me.

"Can you check her ankle? She twisted it," he said to the staff member, a friendly-looking middle-aged woman who immediately gestured toward an examination chair.

Ethan gently set me down, making sure not to jostle my injured ankle.

The woman quickly examined me, her touch professional and careful. "Nothing serious," she assured us with a smile. "Just some swelling and redness. The injury is mild."

She handed Ethan an ice pack, and he knelt before me, lifting my leg to place my foot on his thigh.

"I can do it myself," I insisted, reaching for the ice pack.

But he held it away from me, still stubborn as ever.

"It's awkward for you to bend down. Better let your boyfriend handle it," the first aid attendant said with a smile.