CHAPTER 92

CHAPTER 92

DIANA’S POV

It was hard coming to terms with what had just happened. The moment I heard that voice on the phone, I knew I’d made a mistake answering. It was him, Ryan. The ex I had worked so hard to forget.

For a second, I froze, phone pressed to my ear, every muscle in my body tense. I hated how easily his voice could drag me back to that time when I was stupid enough to love him.

“What the hell do you want, Ryan?” I asked sharply. I didn’t bother hiding the anger in my tone. “I told you not to call me again.”

“Whoa, calm down, Diana,” he said with that irritating laugh that used to sound charming. “We’re not still fighting, are we?”

“You’re a bastard,” I snapped, gripping the phone tighter. “Say what you called for and stop wasting my time.”

“What’s wrong with two old friends catching up?” he teased, the smirk in his voice as clear as day. “You’re acting like I’m some villain from your nightmares.”

“That’s none of my business,” I said through clenched teeth. “You and I have nothing to talk about. So if you don’t get to the point, I’m hanging up.”

“I’m in town,” he said smoothly. “Thought I’d stop by, maybe see you for a drink. It’s been a long time. I’m sure you’ve missed me too.”

I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it. The arrogance was so absurd it was almost funny. “Miss you? You’ve lost your mind.”

“Come on,” he said, lowering his tone like he was trying to hypnotize me. “You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about me, even once. We were good together.”

“Good?” I scoffed. “You cheated on me, Ryan. You drained my savings. You left me for someone else and now you think we can ‘catch up’?”

“People make mistakes,” he said, trying to sound regretful. “I’ve changed. I want to make things right.”

I hated that his voice still carried that pull. I hated even more that some part of me wanted to believe him, if only for a second.

“You’re wasting your breath,” I said. “You don’t get to call after years and act like everything’s fine. You ruined everything.”

“Look, I’m not saying I didn’t screw up,” he said quickly. “I’m saying I want to see you, even if it’s just to apologize. I’ve been thinking about you lately. You’ve been on my mind more than you should be.”

“Then you need help,” I cut him off. “Because whatever you think we had is dead.”

“Diana—”

“That’s enough,” I snapped, ending the call before he could finish. My hands trembled as I lowered the phone. My heart was racing so fast it hurt.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at nothing. My chest felt heavy, my mind spinning with a thousand thoughts. I shouldn’t have answered. I shouldn’t have let him back in, not even for a second.

I tried to calm myself, taking deep breaths, whispering under my breath, “You’re fine. It’s over. He can’t touch you anymore.”

But even as I said it, the echo of his voice lingered in my mind like a ghost I couldn’t exorcise.

“Who was that?”

I turned around sharply, startled. Ethan was standing there, hair damp from his shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. The sight of him should’ve eased me, but instead, guilt clawed its way up my throat.

“Oh… It’s you,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “You scared me.”

He frowned. “Who were you talking to?”

I hesitated, words catching in my throat. “Just an old friend,” I lied. The second the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Ethan stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. “He didn’t upset you, did he?”

I shook my head too quickly. “No, of course not. I was just… distracted. It’s nothing.”

His hands came up to rest gently on my shoulders, his touch steady and warm. “You don’t look fine,” he said, searching my face. “If something’s bothering you, talk to me.”

“I’m okay,” I said, moving closer to him, pressing my forehead against his chest. His skin was still warm from the shower, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. “I just don’t want to think about anything else tonight.”

He wrapped his arms around me without question, his chin brushing the top of my head. “Then don’t,” he murmured. “Let’s focus on us.”

I smiled faintly and tilted my face up toward him. “You ready for that dinner you’ve been waiting for?” I teased, loosening the strap on my robe slightly.

His eyes darkened, and a small smirk curved his lips. “Dinner can wait,” he said, voice low.

I laughed softly, trying to shake off the heaviness from earlier, but my heart wasn’t in it. Ryan’s words still haunted me. I hated that they did. I hated that a single phone call had the power to shake my peace.

Ethan leaned down and kissed me, slow and deep. His hand found mine, and for a moment, the world went quiet again. The only thing that mattered was him, us, right there in that dimly lit room.

But even as I kissed him back, I knew I wasn’t fully present. My mind was split in two—half of me melting into Ethan’s touch, the other half still trapped in the past.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes searched mine. “You’re distracted,” he said quietly.

“I’m fine,” I lied again, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired.”

He didn’t push. He nodded slowly, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Then rest,” he said. “We’ll talk later.”

I nodded, but deep inside, I knew I couldn’t rest. That phone call had stirred something I didn’t want to face.

As Ethan disappeared into the bathroom, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. Ryan’s name glowed faintly on the screen under recent calls.

I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t help thinking about what he said—about how he’d changed, how he wanted to make things right.

Was it possible for someone like him to change? Or was this just another trick, another way to drag me back into his chaos?

I didn’t know. But one thing was clear—I wasn’t the same woman he used to manipulate.

Not anymore.

I glanced at the bathroom door, where I could still hear the sound of running water. Ethan was my future. Ryan was my past.

And I wasn’t about to let my past ruin what I had left.

Still, as I turned off the phone and crawled into bed, my thoughts betrayed me. Ryan’s voice whispered again in the dark.

“I’ve changed, Diana. Give me a chance.”

My eyes stayed open long after the lights went out.

Maybe the real question wasn’t whether he’d changed.

Maybe it was whether I truly had.