Chapter 27 THE MOMENT EVERYONE BROKE (Demilia’s POV)
His eyes turned dark, ice-cold, swallowing any softness that had been there moments before.
“You’re not going back to your room alone,” he said calmly. “Either you walk with me...” his hand closed into a fist “....or I carry you.”
My heart raced, and I knew that I have no option again. I hated that part of me believed him.
I hated even more the part of me that wasn’t sure if I wanted him to stop being gentle… or to be gentle for real. But more than anything.... I hated how scared I suddenly was of him, too scared because he knew something, scared because I didn’t.
Scared because whatever illness was inside me… was getting worse. He stepped closer again, but before he could touch me, a voice cried:
“Demilia!”
That was Lena. The very one person I have been waiting to have by my side all day.
She came running down the hallway, breathing hard, eyes wide with panic. Something that Lena hardly do. She's not the type to panic easily, or back off from something except it's life threatening.
“Are you okay?” she asked, gripping my shoulders.
Ethan’s expression hardened instantly. Just the look in his face was enough to let me into what transpired between the both of them while I was lying down unconscious.
“Lena,” he said slowly, “did I not ask you to leave this morning?”
Lena froze., turning to face him My mouth fell open at the drama unfolding before me.
So it was true. “You threw her out?” I whispered.
Ethan didn’t look guilty. Not even slightly guilty. “I asked her to stay away so you could rest.”
“That’s not your decision to make.”
“It is when your health is on the line.” Heat flushed up my neck, making me doubt myself.
“My health is none of your business!”
The moment the words left my mouth, his jaw locked. His eyes darkened as if I had slapped him.
Then... “It is every bit my business,” he whispered. Before I could reply, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach. I gasped loudly, bending slightly.
Lena caught me immediately. “Demilia!” Ethan’s composure snapped, as he rushed to hold me.
“What is it? Where does it hurt? How bad is it? Are you dizzy?” he fired rapidly, stepping so close he almost pushed Lena aside.
“I...I’m fine,” I lied through gritted teeth.
“You’re not.”
“I said I’m fine!” The pain subsided slowly, but my breath still shook.
Lena rubbed my back gently, glaring at Ethan. “She needs rest, an actual rest, not an interrogation.” Ethan ignored her.
“Come,” he said, lowering his tone but not his intensity. “You’re going to your room.”
“I’m not..” His hand wrapped gently but firmly around my arm. “Don’t fight me right now,” he whispered. “Please.”
Please? He said it again? It was rager too soft, wrong and terrifying at same time.
I stared at him, confused, shaken, terrified of what he was hiding from me.
He led me slowly, carefully back toward my room. Lena followed us, but Ethan shot her a warning look over his shoulder.
“I wasn't referring to you,” he said.
“I’m staying, and that's final,” she snapped. Ethan stopped walking, glaring so hard at her.
Then...
“Fine,” he muttered. “Stay behind, but touch her without my permission, and you’re out again.”
Lena rolled her eyes, whispering under her breath, “Possessive psychopath.”
But Ethan heard it. His jaw twitched, but surprisingly, he said nothing.
When we entered my room, he helped me sit on the bed. He crouched slightly, searching my face with terrifying intensity.
“Tell me if anything hurts,” he whispered. “Anything at all.” I stared at him, my voice barely audible. “Why are you acting like this?” His eyes darkened.
“Like what?”
“Like you know something you aren’t telling me.”
That earned a long silence. His hand tightened on the bedsheet.
“That’s because,” he said quietly, “I do.” My stomach twisted violently, my eyes blurring.
Lena gasped softly beside me. For a moment, there was no air in the room.
None at all. My lips parted. “What do you know?” He looked at me with an expression I’d never seen before...
Was it fear? Possession, helplessness, or something dangerously close to...
No.
I wouldn’t name it. He exhaled shakily.
Then stood suddenly, stepping back as if distance would stop his own truth from slipping out.
“Rest,” he said hoarsely. “We’ll talk later.”
“No!” I grabbed his hand instinctively...then froze at my own boldness.
He froze too.His eyes dropped to our joined hands. His throat moved once. His breath hitched.
“I’m tired of secrets,” I whispered. “Tell me what you know.”
He stared at me, conflicted, fierce, trembling under the weight of unspoken words.
“I can’t,” he whispered. “Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not ready.” My heart broke into pieces. And with that, Ethan moved toward the door. “Rest,” he repeated softly. “Please.”
He left before I could stop him.
The moment the door clicked shut, I burst into silent tears, my whole body shaking.
Lena wrapped her arms around me immediately. “Demilia… what happened?”
“I...I think I heard Ethan talking to a doctor,” I whispered, breath hitching. “Something’s wrong with me, Lena. Something is really wrong.”
Lena’s face paled. “What did you hear?” I swallowed, voice breaking and not knowing where to start from.
“I heard the doctor say something about my body rejecting… something. Tissue inflammation. Episodes. That time is running out.”
Lena’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
“There’s more.” She grabbed my hands. “What?”
I whispered the words that had been haunting me since I overheard them.
“Someone wants to harm me. Or the baby.”
Lena stiffened. “Demilia...”
“And Ethan knows,” I whispered, trembling. “He knows something. He seem to know everything. And he’s hiding it from me.” Lena held me tight as I cried into her shoulder.
And for the first time since I entered Ethan’s world... I wasn’t afraid of dying.
I was afraid of staying alive long enough to find out the truth.