Chapter 51 Why Am I Missing Ethan?
I watched as Ethan's eyes studied mine, searching for something I couldn't name.
Ethan reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek in a touch so gentle it frightened me more than his anger. "Don't overthink, Liv. Going home to see your family is normal. I'm not upset. When do you want to leave?"
I stared at him, searching for any sign of deception, any hint this was another one of his elaborate traps. Finding none, I whispered, "The day after tomorrow? If that's okay?"
His lips curled into a half-smile. "Of course."
---
Two days later, I found myself boarding Ethan's private jet. Two professional flight attendants welcomed me with practiced smiles.
"Mr. Bennett has arranged everything for your comfort, Ms. Reed," the senior attendant said, leading me to a cream leather seat.
Ethan reached into his jacket pocket and produced a black card and an envelope.
"This should cover anything you need," he said, sliding the card across the small table between us. "The PIN is your birthday."
I picked up the heavy metal card, the weight of it unfamiliar in my hand. "What's the limit?"
"About two million," he replied. "And there's some cash in the envelope—fifteen thousand in your luggage, five thousand in your wallet. For incidentals."
My eyes widened. "Twenty thousand in cash? What if I get robbed?"
His expression turned serious, all traces of playfulness vanishing. "Then you give them everything immediately. Your safety is non-negotiable, Liv." He leaned forward, taking my hands in his. "This money means nothing to me, but if anything happened to you..." His voice dropped lower. "My world would collapse."
The intensity in his eyes made me look away. I patted his back awkwardly. "I was just joking. I'll be careful, I promise."
As he stood to leave, I impulsively wrapped my arms around his lean waist, pressing my face against his back. "Will you come to the airport when I return?"
He patted my hands, his voice almost tender. "Of course. Let me know whenever you want to come back."
---
The jet touched down at San Francisco International Airport around four in the afternoon. A black Cadillac Escalade was waiting on the tarmac, the driver holding a sign with my name.
"Ms. Reed," he nodded respectfully, taking my Louis Vuitton luggage. "Mr. Fuller arranged for me to be at your service during your stay."
I slid into the plush leather backseat, watching the familiar Bay Area landscape roll by.
As we drove into Pacifica, the contrast with Los Angeles hit me like a physical blow. The gray-blue sky hung lower here, the modest houses and weathered storefronts a stark departure from Beverly Hills' manicured perfection. Everything seemed smaller, duller.
At my request, the driver took me to the local luxury hotel first. I'd stay here tonight, rest up after the long flight before heading to my family's house tomorrow.
---
The next morning, I stood outside my family's house before knocking. Jessica answered the door.
"Olivia, darling! Finally decided to come home!" she exclaimed with fake enthusiasm, her eyes fixed on my Louis Vuitton luggage.
During dinner, Jessica said, "Olivia, I have an event this weekend. Could I borrow your suitcase? It would really improve my image."
I sipped my water. "I need it for my things while I'm here."
"Can't you just unpack?" Her smile tightened.
"I'm not staying long," I replied evenly. "I need to keep everything organized."
Her face hardened instantly, dropping all pretense of motherly concern. I just focused on my plate.
---
A crash from the living room jerked me awake at 2 AM. I got up quickly and headed downstairs, hearing Jessica's high-pitched voice.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw my Louis Vuitton luggage open on the coffee table with Ethan's cash scattered across it. Jessica, Martha, and Paul were all standing around it.
"What's going on?" I demanded.
Jessica whirled toward me, eyes glittering with accusation. "Where did you get this kind of money? No college student carries thousands in cash unless..." Her implication hung in the air, ugly and insidious.
"It's my scholarship money and what I saved from work," I lied smoothly, unwilling to explain Ethan.
Jessica's laugh was brittle. "Do you think we're stupid? We know what happens to pretty young girls in Los Angeles who suddenly have designer luggage and cash."
Martha stepped forward. "Honey, we're worried about you. Young girls are easily taken advantage of. Let me keep this money safe for you."
I stared at them and felt nothing but cold disappointment. The twenty thousand meant nothing to me now—Ethan's card in my wallet held a hundred times that amount. I nodded silently, turning to go back upstairs.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard Tyler's gleeful whisper: "Can I finally get that new Xbox now?"
---
Lying in my narrow twin bed, I stared at the familiar crack in the ceiling. I couldn't sleep, thinking about how different this cramped room was from Ethan's spacious master suite at Oakwood Estate.
I picked up my phone and typed: "I want to come back to LA. To you." But I deleted it before sending.
What was wrong with me? I laughed at myself in the dark. Ridiculous. Ethan and I had no future—someone of his status would never end up with someone like me.
I finally fell asleep as dawn broke, dreaming of oceans and Ethan's hand, always out of reach.
---
I woke late the next morning with a pounding headache and sore throat, likely from my sleepless night. I dragged myself downstairs and collapsed on the living room couch, closing my eyes against the harsh morning light.
The repetitive clicking sound made me wince. I cracked one eye open to find Tyler standing over me, a plastic toy gun in hand, repeatedly pressing the trigger to produce maximum noise.
"Tyler, please," I croaked. "I'm not feeling well."
He continued, poking my arm with the barrel for good measure. "Mom says you're faking to get attention."
I sat up, fighting a wave of dizziness. "I'm not faking. Could you please play somewhere else?"
The moment I raised my voice, Tyler's face crumpled into dramatic tears. Within seconds, Jessica and Martha appeared, their expressions unified in disapproval.
"Olivia!" Jessica scolded. "He's just a child. You're an adult—you should know better than to snap at him."
"He was—" I began, only to be cut off by Martha.
"Your brother misses you. He just wants to play with his big sister."
Behind their backs, Tyler stuck his tongue out at me, victorious. The unfairness of it all hit me with such force that I almost laughed.
Instead, I stood up, forcing a smile. "I promised some high school friends I'd meet them today. I'll be staying with them for a few days."
Jessica's eyebrows shot up. "What get-together? How much will this cost?"
Something cold and hard crystallized in my chest. I fixed her with an icy stare, all pretense of politeness evaporating. "What does it matter how much it costs? Am I spending your money?"