CHAPTER 94
CHAPTER 94
ETHAN’S POV
“Guess what we’ve got tomorrow?” Michael burst into my office with a grin so wide it pulled me out of the thoughts that had been swallowing me all morning.
I looked up, struggling to match his energy. My lack of enthusiasm was impossible to hide, and his expression fell almost instantly.
“What is it?” I asked, my tone flat, trying not to sound as worn out as I felt.
“Seriously?” Michael blinked, half laughing in disbelief. “How can you not know?”
“Know what?” I frowned, irritated. Lately, it felt like everyone knew things I didn’t. My mind was too crowded with Ariana, the upcoming meeting, and everything else hanging over me like a storm.
Michael let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “There are nearly a thousand employees in this company, and even the newest intern knows what tomorrow is.”
I sighed. “Well, I know it’s Saturday.”
Michael pressed a palm to his forehead. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Could you stop dragging it out and tell me already?” I said, my patience thinning. “You’re making me sound clueless.”
“It’s our tenth-anniversary celebration,” he finally said. “For crying out loud, Ethan.”
“Oh…” The word slipped out quietly. I had completely forgotten. The fifth of May. The day this company started, the day everything I’d built took form. I rubbed my temples, feeling a dull ache behind my eyes. “How did I forget that?”
“You’ve had a lot going on,” Michael said gently as he took the seat across from me. “And honestly, with what’s been happening lately, I’m surprised you’re still standing. You’ve been carrying a lot.”
“Do we really have to celebrate it this year?” I asked. “I don’t see the point when we still haven’t figured out who’s behind the stolen funds.”
Michael looked at me like I’d said something offensive. “Are you kidding? This event attracts investors from all over the world. It’s our biggest opportunity to bring in new deals. We can’t skip it.”
I leaned back in my chair, torn between business and the chaos inside my head. I wanted to be there for Ariana. After everything that happened, I couldn’t shake the guilt or the fear that I might lose her again.
Michael must have noticed my hesitation. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “You don’t need to handle the preparations. I’ll take care of everything. You have to show up and give one speech. That’s it.”
“If that’s the case, then fine.” I exhaled. “It’s all yours.”
He grinned. “You’ve got it, boss.”
Michael stood, about to leave, then turned at the door. “Try to cheer up a little. Once we find Benjamin, this whole mess will finally be behind us.”
I nodded, pretending his optimism reached me, even though the weight pressing on my chest only grew heavier.
When he left, the silence came rushing back. The thoughts I’d been fighting all day returned stronger than before. My past, my choices, my mistakes—they all circled like vultures. The guilt hit hard. The things I’d done to people who had trusted me. The pain I’d caused Ariana. The nights I told myself it was for the best when I knew it wasn’t.
My hands trembled slightly. I pressed them against the desk, trying to steady myself. My breathing quickened, uneven and shallow. Sweat gathered along my forehead, soaking through my shirt.
I tried to stand, but my body felt like it was turning to stone. My head spun, and the room began to tilt.
Breathe, I told myself. But the air wouldn’t come.
Every mistake I’d made flooded back—every lie, every woman I had used to bury the emptiness. Every time I chose control over compassion.
My knees buckled. I reached for the edge of the desk, but it slipped away from my grasp. The floor came fast. The pain was distant, blurred by the rush in my ears.
“Michael…” I tried to call out, but the sound never made it past my lips. My vision dimmed until the office ceiling melted into darkness.
Everything went quiet.
The last thing I remembered before the world went black was Ariana’s face. Her voice. The only thing that ever kept me human.
And then, nothing.