CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 83
LISA’S POV

I had thought it over a hundred times before I finally gave in. Meeting Ethan was a terrible idea, but he had made it clear I didn’t have a choice. Every message from him had the same sharp edge that cut through my nerves.

“If you refuse to comply with any instruction I give you, your career will end overnight.”

Those words were carved into my head like a curse. Every time I tried to think of a way out, they echoed again. By the time I sat at the café he had chosen, my hands were trembling so much I could barely hold my cup.

It was quiet, too quiet. The smell of coffee, the sound of spoons clinking, all of it felt unreal like the world was still moving while mine had stopped.

My phone buzzed. I nearly jumped out of my skin. For a split second, I thought it was him.

But it wasn’t. It was Rylan.

I took a deep breath, steadying my shaking hand before picking up. “Hey.” My voice cracked a little, but I forced a smile that no one could see. “How are you?”

“I should be asking you that,” he said. His tone was soft, worried. “You’ve gone completely silent for days. You didn’t answer my calls. Is something wrong?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m fine. I just… needed some time to myself.” The lie came too easily. “I’m better now.”

“You don’t sound better.” He sighed quietly. “Is this about Ethan?”

My heart skipped a beat. “No,” I lied again, quickly. “It’s not that. I’ve just been dealing with some personal things.”

There was a long silence. Then his voice came through again, calm but heavy. “Lisa, if something’s wrong, I want to help. Don’t push me away.”

“Rylan…” I whispered. I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to tell him that Ethan was blackmailing me, that I was trapped. But if I said a word, Ethan would destroy everything. “I just need some time, that’s all.”

He didn’t believe me. I could hear it in the way he breathed.

“Fine,” he said after a pause. “Then at least promise me you’ll call later. Please.”

“I will.” Another lie. “Take care of yourself, Rylan.”

“Yeah,” he said softly. “You too.”

The line went dead.

The moment I dropped the phone, it buzzed again. This time, it was Ethan. My stomach twisted painfully as I picked it up.

“Raise your hand so I can see you.” His voice was low, commanding. Cold.

I froze. “What?”

“You heard me.”

I hesitated, then reluctantly lifted my hand in the air. Seconds later, I felt a strong grip on the back of my neck. I turned and nearly screamed.

Ethan was standing right behind me.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed, trying to pull away.

He smiled, leaning close enough for me to smell his cologne. “Proving a point.”

“What point?”

“That I control you now.”

My entire body stiffened. “You’re sick,” I whispered.

He slid into the chair opposite me, looking completely relaxed. “Don’t be dramatic. Sit down. We have business to discuss.”

I sat back down, staring at the table, my hands clenched into fists. “You’re insane if you think this will get you what you want.”

He tilted his head. “You’re the one sitting here, Lisa. That tells me I’ve already won.”

I hated him. Every calm word, every smug look made my skin crawl.

“You talk about control like it’s something to be proud of,” I said bitterly. “You used to be better than this.”

Ethan laughed quietly. “You mean before you betrayed me?”

My heart jumped. “You betrayed me,” I said through gritted teeth. “You dragged me into your lies and left me to take the fall for it.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “That’s the story you tell yourself to sleep at night, isn’t it? That you’re the victim.”

“I am,” I snapped. “You’re blackmailing me.”

He ignored the accusation, motioning for the waiter. “A latte. And whatever she’s having.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“Then sit quietly and listen.”

His tone hardened again, pulling me back into silence. I looked away from him, focusing on the people passing by the window. They looked free. I wasn’t.

Ethan leaned closer. “You’re going to do exactly what I tell you to do, or the video goes public. Every second of it.”

My throat tightened. “You’re a monster.”

He smiled slightly. “Call me what you want. But I hold the cards.”

I wanted to scream, to throw my cup at him, but I couldn’t. He was right. One wrong move and my life would end in a scandal.

“What’s your endgame, Ethan?” I asked finally. “You keep saying you have a plan. What do you get out of all this?”

He leaned back, crossing his arms. “Simple. You help me destroy Tara.”

My heart skipped again. “Tara?”

He nodded slowly. “She’s in the way. She’s the reason everything fell apart between us. I want her gone, and you’re going to help me make that happen.”

I stared at him, stunned. “You’re insane. I’m not doing that.”

He smirked. “Then your reputation dies tonight.”

I could barely breathe. He had me cornered.

“What do you even expect me to do?” I asked, my voice breaking. “You can’t force me to ruin someone’s life.”

“I can,” he said simply. “And I will.”

I shook my head, trying to hold back tears. “You’re sick, Ethan.”

He leaned forward again, lowering his voice to a whisper. “You’ll thank me when it’s done. Tara destroyed your life too, remember? She took everything from you. This is your chance to take it back.”

He stood up, pulling a card from his jacket and sliding it across the table. “Here’s the address. Be there tomorrow night. Don’t make me come looking for you.”

I stared at the card. My fingers shook as I picked it up.

When I looked up again, Ethan was gone.

I sat there for a long time, frozen in my seat, surrounded by strangers who had no idea my world was collapsing.

The coffee on the table had gone cold, untouched. My hands were numb. My chest felt tight.

For the first time, I realized there was no escaping this. Not unless I found a way to fight back. But how do you fight someone who owns your past?

I closed my eyes and whispered to myself, “You won’t win, Ethan.”

But even as I said it, my voice shook.

Because I wasn’t sure if I still believed it.