A hand grabbed me...

A hand grabbed me...
Diana

When the musical ended, I felt like I was floating. Those beautiful songs, the costumes, the stage... everything seemed magical. I left the private box holding Ethan’s hand, feeling like an excited kid heading to a candy shop.

"Did you like it?" he asked, wearing that smile that was so lovely to see.

"I loved it," I said instantly. "Like... truly loved it. I’ve never seen anything like it. Seriously, I’m actually a bit dizzy."

He laughed at my enthusiasm and pulled me close.

"I’m glad. You deserve things like this."

The only reason I didn’t melt right there was that I still had some dignity left.

Or so I thought.

As we walked down the stairs, I felt that sudden pressure on my bladder—the kind only a pregnant woman gets out of nowhere—like, "go now or you’ll explode."

"I need to use the restroom," I said, almost trotting. "Will you wait for me here?"

"Sure. I’ll be right over there," he said, pointing down the hallway, his hand in his pocket, looking relaxed.

I walked into the restroom with the glow of someone feeling far too fancy to be real. Everything was beautiful. Lovely lighting, a pretty sink, fragrant soap, and toilet paper softer than a cloud. I glanced at myself in the mirror for a second and thought, Damn, I look good today.

The pregnancy was giving me a different look.

Or maybe it was the red dress.

Or the diamonds around my neck.

Or Ethan, who had turned me into a lovesick mess.

Anyway. I left the restroom smiling, adjusting my hair, feeling on top of the world...

And then I felt a hand grab my arm hard.

Out of nowhere.

Without warning.

Just a hand clamping down on my arm and yanking my whole body backward, as if I were an object.

My heart leaped into my throat.

I let out an instinctive, desperate scream.

"OW! LET GO OF ME!" I yelled, trying to pull my arm away. When I turned around, the world seemed to shrink.

It was him.

Jonatas.

The ex I most wished had vanished from the face of the earth.

He was right there—too close—wearing that same cheap cologne that reminded me of every bad thing from back then.

"Diana... calm down," he said, as if it were normal to grab a woman in an empty hallway. "I just wanted to talk to you."

"Let go of me!" I repeated, yanking my arm away again. "Have you lost your mind?"

He didn't let go.

On the contrary, he squeezed tighter.

I felt my skin sting.

"You look beautiful," he said, looking at me with that expression of feigned regret. "Seeing you here... it’s like a sign from God."

"A sign from God would be you losing your memory and forgetting I exist," I snarled, shoving him with my other hand. "Let go, damn it!"

He gripped my wrist hard.

"I separated," he said quickly, with a strange urgency. "It’s over. Carol and I are done. Now... now I can be with you. We can try again. I know you still think about me."

I started to laugh—a nervous laugh.

The kind that comes when you think, There is no way this is happening to me.

"You have to be kidding," I said, still trying to free my arm. "Leave me alone! I’m married! Do you understand? Married!"

"That doesn't matter!" he shot back, as if it were obvious. "You only got married to try and forget me. I know you, Diana. I know you still feel something."

"I feel the urge to run away whenever you show up," I spat.

With my free hand, I instinctively grabbed my phone.

I hit speed dial.

First number: Ethan.

He answered on the first ring.

"Diana?" his voice sounded worried.

"Ethan..." I said quickly, trying not to panic. — Come. Now.

Jonatas tried to take my phone out of my hand, but I slapped his hand away.

— Give that back! — he snarled.

— No way in hell! — I replied, holding on tight.

He grew more aggressive. His voice changed; his look changed. I saw anger there.

The anger of a man who thinks he has a right to us.

— You’re leaving with me — he said, trying to pull my arm again.

I yanked myself free, stumbling backward.

— I’m not going anywhere with you! And even if I weren’t married, I would never… NEVER… be with you again! Do you understand?

He gritted his teeth and lunged at me, as if to corner me.

— Diana, don’t talk to me like that… I—

He didn’t finish.

Because right then—in a split second, as if appearing out of thin air—Ethan showed up behind him.

I’d never seen Ethan move so fast.

Or look so dangerous.

He grabbed Jonatas by the shoulder, spun him around hard, and…

WHAM.

The punch echoed down the hallway.

Sharp.

Hard.

Direct.

Jonatas fell sideways, clutching his mouth.

I stood frozen, breathless, trembling.

Ethan stepped between us, breathing heavily, his face stern, his gaze icy—that look that only appears when he’s truly furious.

— If you ever lay a hand on my wife again — he said, pointing his finger right in Jonatas’s face — I’ll destroy you. Understand?

Jonatas spat blood onto the floor as he slowly got to his feet.

— I just… I just wanted to talk…

— Talking isn’t grabbing her in a hallway — Ethan shot back; he wasn’t shouting, but his voice was the most menacing I’d ever heard. — That’s it. Get lost.

Jonatas took A step back, then another.

He looked at me as if he were the victim.

Ridiculous.

“Diana… I still love you…”

“That’s your problem,” I said firmly. “Leave me alone.”

He hesitated, took a deep breath, and limped away, disappearing down the hallway.

When he finally vanished from sight, my legs went weak. The adrenaline hit me so hard I almost sank to the floor.

Ethan turned to me instantly, cupping my face in his hands.

“Diana… are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I said, though my voice trembled. “I was just… just caught off guard. He grabbed me, Ethan. He grabbed me like he had some kind of right…”

His eyes narrowed, turning dangerous.

“I should’ve broken both his arms.”

“Don’t say that.” I tried to laugh, but my voice cracked. “But thank you. Seriously.”

He pulled me against his chest, holding me tight.

And I let him.

I needed that hug more than I needed air.

“I’m here,” he said softly. “No one touches you. Never again.”

I stood there for a few seconds, breathing deeply, taking in his scent, letting my heart settle back into place.

When I finally managed to move, he wrapped his arm around my waist and said:

“Let’s go home. Enough of this weird night.”

And I could only agree.

The night that had started out beautiful… had turned into chaos.

But at least I had Ethan.

And that changed everything.