CHAPTER THIRTEEN ETHAN 'S POV

CHAPTER THIRTEEN ETHAN 'S POV


I hadn't taken so much, safe from the fact that I needed rest and also needed to visit the resort and check it's efficiency.

I said nothing else to Diana, not to my parents. I did not have to explain myself to them. Already in my head, I could hear the voice of my father, cold and unforgiving, telling me that I should be concerned with my obligations, the wedding, the honor of the family.

I had learned to nod and smile long ago, even when every instinct in me shouted to run away.

But the truth was, I couldn't go on living this lie. The stress was building, and it was going to crush me beneath its weight. I needed to be free, if only temporarily.

That night, after dinner, I retired early to bed, feigning fatigue. My parents didn't even query me. My parents had their own agendas, their own plans for the future, and I was merely a piece in their game.

Diana had stayed downstairs in the sitting room, talking about wedding arrangements with my mother. She'd learned the trick of filling silences with just the kind of annoying little talk that made me crazy.

I slipped into my bedroom, the door closing quietly behind me. The house had fallen silent now, the hum of faraway voices faintly audible through the solid walls.

My phone sat on the nightstand, gently lighting the shadows. I took it in hand and opened Liam's entry, hesitating for only a moment before striking the call button.

The ring was short, and Liam's voice was quick. "Ethan."

It was a balm to my soul, his voice again. His voice, always soothing, always steadying. "Hey," I whispered, my voice a little too soft, a little too gloomy. "Two days. I'm set."

Liam's voice softened, as though he sensed the gravity of my tone. "Good. You'll be leaving on schedule and remember to follow the plan strictly. But listen," he continued, his voice getting more serious, "I've been thinking."

"About what?" I questioned, intrigued.

"You," he said to me. "You're bringing all this baggage with you. Your fiancée, your family. I don't want you to think this is any quick escape.

We both waited for this, for us. And I'm not going to let you hide when you get here. You have to let go."

His words hit me harder than I'd expected, and emotions I'd been trying to keep down rose up. "I know," I gasped. "I've been trying, but…"

"But you're still tied to them, still playing the part they've scripted for you." He paused, before going on,

"Don't worry, Ethan. With me, you won't have to pretend anymore. No masks, no deception. Just us."

I closed my eyes, savoring the weight of his words. It was a promise, one I'd been waiting so long to hear. "I'm not acting anymore," I whispered. "I've made up my mind."

"Good," Liam said, his voice low and gentle. "Two more days, and then it's us alone. Nobody else."

I let out a breath I hadn't even known I'd been holding. "I'm waiting."

"No chance," I breathed.
"Neither am I," Liam said. "Sleep, Ethan. You're going to need it."

I hung up, reluctantly surrendering the silence over me once more. The potential of what was to come, of what I was going to get for myself, had my heart racing.

Santorini wasn't just somewhere; it was an escape. An escape from everything I'd ever known, from the ones who'd taken me captive.

The next two days were blurred together in preparations. I took my talks with Diana short, focusing on healing, on having everything look "normal" on the surface.

Internally, I was keeping track of the hours. Every minute that went by felt like an eternity, every one drawing me closer to freedom. But there was this nagging, gnawing fear in the back of my head. What if someone noticed? What if anyone caught wind of what I was doing?

There was no turning back now, though. I was in neck deep.

The morning I left came earlier than I'd anticipated. I stirred early, a jolt of fear and exhilaration. I had no idea what the next few days would hold, but for the first time in ages, I didn't care. I was ready for it.

I dressed fast, doing things on autopilot. I caught a glimpse of the clock and texted Liam a rapid-fire message:

"Leaving soon. Will see you in a couple of hours."

The reply was immediate:

"Can't wait."

It was as like a dream, that in two hours' time I would be flying to Santorini to be with him. What lay ahead there eclipsed everything else. My family, the wedding, Diana, all were inconsequential.

I went out from the house very early, dodging my parents and Diana, who were all asleep. My heart was pounding in my chest as I drove to the airport, all nerves tingling with excitement.

All around me became a blur as I zeroed in on the one thing that counted. Freedom.

When I finally did board the plane at last, I released a sigh I hadn't even realized I was holding. This was it. The beginning of something new. The beginning of something that would change it all.

And it would start with Liam.

The flight was longer than it ought to have been. I wasted a lot of it staring out of the window, my mind reeling from excitement and weighed down by the decision that had been made.

I had left behind my family, my responsibilities, and my identity, all that bound me to my previous life and gone to be with a fellow man. CRAZY.

What lay ahead on the other side of this journey was unexplored, unseen, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, that was enough to make my heart pound with excitement.

As the plane touched down in Santorini, I could almost feel relief from that tension. This air was warm here, absolutely in contrast to the chill I'd had for so long following me.

There was a driver already in place, his black suit pristine as he stood with a sign containing my name. I exited the plane and headed towards him, letting with every step the weight of my past dwindle.

“Welcome, Mr Ethan.” He greeted and in response I gave him a nod.

As we passed by the charming Santorini alleys, the scene unfolding with stunning vistas, I couldn't help but think how surreal all this was. This was occurring. This was real.

From the very first moment I entered the resort, I realized that the atmosphere was charged and uplifting. The staff greeted me with a ceremonial fervor

A gentle wind rustled past the palm trees as I was led to the familiar front door, where a line of staff stood in a row.

They were all dressed up and looking smart as always, their eyes on me with an aura of respect that you only gave someone who had the power to make you.

They all greeted me in unison, lowering their heads slightly as they said,

"Welcome, sir."

The resort manager, Mr Lewis, stepped forward with a smile and draped a flower garland around my neck very gently.

"It's our pleasure to welcome you here once again, Mr. Ethan. We've only heard great things about you these days. Let me take you to your villa."

The formality, the warmth, it all felt like a dream. I nodded in appreciation, following the manager as he guided me through the opulent entrance.

Every corner of the resort radiated luxury, from the sleek marble floors to the art pieces adorning the walls.

My senses were overwhelmed, but I tried to focus, to take in all the details. The walk way needed a bit of polishing and the flowers needed trimming but asides that, everything was great.

As we moved deeper into the resort, the manager added, “We have a high-profile guest in town as well. You might have heard of him.”

“High profile, whats his name?” I questioned.

“Mr. Liam Thompson, the CEO of Paragon Automotives?”

I paused, feigning a look of mild surprise. “The name rings a bell. Liam Thompson?”

Of course, I knew exactly who he was. A billionaire businessman with his fingers in countless industries, but primarily cars. His company had been the subject of industry gossip for months, a testament to his success and influence.

But most importantly, I thought to myself, he was the reason I was here.

The manager nodded, his expression neutral but respectful. “Yes, sir. He’s staying with us for one week. We’re honored to have him here as well. A man of his stature, especially in the business world, is a rare guest.”

I tilted my head, acting as if I were just processing this information. “Interesting. I had no idea he was here. I assume youre giving his the finest treatements?”

“Yes, sir. Our very best.”

As we kept going, he kept filling me in on Liam and I just played the ignorant card. In reality, Liam and I had orchestrated this entire scenario down to the smallest detail.

Yet, no one suspected a thing. This was all part of our carefully crafted plan, and the fact that it was unfolding so seamlessly brought a quiet satisfaction bubbling inside me.

I let my expression shift into something more intrigued. “Arrange a meeting with him,” I said, my voice calm. “I’d like to speak with him while I’m here.”

The manager gave a small bow. “Of course, Mr. Ethan. I’ll ensure that our team sets up a suitable time. You’ll find Mr. Thompson to be a most interesting and accomplished individual.”

I nodded, letting our stroll continue uninterrupted, but I couldn't rid my head of visions of Liam. What would it be like to be with a man like him? With a name that held everyone's attention and an empire that stretched over the entire globe? To be someone who could shape the future forever with the easiest of choices?

I had influence but in Liam's world, I didn't come close.

I tried to push those thoughts away as we pulled up to my villa but couldn't help but feel a thrill of expectation building inside me.

……..

Later that evening, after settling into my room, I was informed Liam had agreed to dine with me. Splendid. Just as planned.

I strolled over to the restaurant, which was just as lavish as the rest of the resort. The flickering light of candle flames, the clinking of fine silver, and the gentle hum of conversation filled the air as I approached the table where Liam sat.

He was waiting for me, dressed to the hilt as the successful businessman. His suit was sharp, perfectly tailored to his body, and his blue eyes glinted with the same intensity I remembered. When he saw me, there was a flicker of something in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by the professional smile that fell into place.

To everyone else, it was just a coincidence between two powerful men. But to us?

This was the beginning of something big.

And nobody had any idea.