Chapter 87

Chapter 87
Bella's POV:

Two days had passed since Ethan signed the acquisition contract with Brandon. I stood in the sunlit courtyard of Moonhunt Estate, watching Mom stare vacantly at the distant horizon. Her frail hands rested on the armrests of her wheelchair, fingers occasionally twitching with some phantom memory I couldn't reach.

"Mom, the sun feels nice today, doesn't it?" I said softly, adjusting the blanket across her lap.

No response. Just that same empty gaze, looking through the world rather than at it.

My chest tightened. Three decades. Brandon had stolen thirty years of her life, locked her away in that hellish asylum, destroyed her mind with lies and isolation. And now, even free, she was still imprisoned—trapped inside her own broken mind.

The sound of tires on gravel made me look up. A sleek black sedan rolled through the estate gates—Ethan's car. I recognized it immediately.

My jaw clenched. Of course he'd come. He'd signed the papers with Brandon. Now he wanted to talk terms.

"Jane," I called to the maid who'd been helping me care for Mom. "Please take her inside. Make sure she's comfortable."

Jane's worried eyes met mine. "Miss Bella, are you sure—"

"I'll be fine. He won't come inside. I'll handle this out here."

As Jane wheeled Mom toward the house, I walked across the courtyard. Ethan had parked near the fountain, and through the windshield I could see that familiar profile that used to make my heart race. Now it just made me tired.

I didn't let him come to the door. Instead, I walked straight to his car and opened the passenger door, sliding into the seat beside him. The scent of his cologne mixed with leather hit me immediately. The space felt suffocating.

"Bella." His voice was carefully neutral. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Let's skip the pleasantries, Ethan. What do you want?"

He turned to face me fully. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his normally perfect hair was slightly disheveled. "I've signed the contract with Brandon. Moore Industries will officially become Grave property once the paperwork clears."

"I know. Congratulations."

His jaw tightened at my flat tone. "According to our agreement, I'm prepared to transfer the shares to you. In exchange, you withdraw the lawsuit. We end this cleanly. We go our separate ways."

I studied his face, looking for the catch. "You've thought this through?"

"I have." He shifted in his seat, one hand gripping the steering wheel even though the car was parked. "Diana refused my offer to buy the company when she was alive. She didn't want to let go of what she'd built. I understand that. Now that she's gone, you want to protect her legacy—to honor the woman who raised you. I respect that loyalty."

Something bitter twisted in my gut. If only he knew the truth about Diana, about how she'd been as much a victim as I was.

"We lived together for three years," Ethan continued. "We should be able to end things with dignity. I'll transfer Moore Industries to you. You drop the lawsuit. We both move on. I'm not losing anything—I have plenty of other assets. This way, everyone gets what they want."

I raised an eyebrow. "Very generous of you."

"So we have a deal?"

"On one condition." I met his eyes directly. "I want to hold the rejection ceremony as soon as possible. I want to sever our mate bond immediately. I don't want to wait even one more day than necessary."

His face went pale. His hand tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "You're that desperate to break our bond? You can't wait even a few weeks?"

"Every day I'm still connected to you is meaningless," I said flatly. "Why drag this out? Let's end it cleanly and move on with our lives. Isn't that what you want too?"

"What I want—" He stopped himself, jaw working. "You really hate me that much?"

"Talking about feelings is pointless now."

"Then what does have a point?" His voice rose slightly. "What matters to you, Bella?"

"Leaving you. Walking my own path—the one that actually belongs to me. That's what matters."

Ethan's hand shot out toward mine, but I pulled away before he could touch me. The instinct was automatic.

He took a deep breath, visibly trying to control himself. "I thought—I always thought you were asking for divorce just to get my attention. To make me see you, notice you, care about you. I never imagined you actually wanted to leave. That you'd be willing to walk away with nothing just to be free of me."

"Well, now you know."

"So let me ask you one final time." His voice dropped to something raw, almost vulnerable. "Are you absolutely certain this is what you want? You won't look back? You won't regret this?"

I looked at him steadily, making sure he could see the resolution in my eyes. "Ethan, I truly want to divorce you. I truly want nothing to do with you or the Grave family ever again."

"I hate you. I hate the Grave family. That's why I have to leave." The words came out cold and clear. "But I won't let that hatred poison my future. After the divorce, we'll both be fine living our separate lives. I have no interest in whatever drama the Grave family gets into next."

Something flickered across his face—pain, maybe, or shock. His throat worked as he swallowed hard.

"But we agreed," he said, voice cracking slightly. "We were supposed to pretend to dissolve the bond. Then later, after I secured control of the family, we'd—"

"I don't want to pretend anymore," I cut him off. "I'm exhausted, Ethan. I just want to live honestly."

"I hate your family's hypocrisy. I hate your dirty dealings. I hate Faye's endless performances. I've had enough of all of it. I've spent enough time in the Grave household."

"So how could I ever come back? That was always your delusion, not reality."

He looked like he wanted to argue, wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

I pressed on, gentler now. "Isn't this good for everyone? You get to marry the woman you want. You get to inherit the full Grave estate and become the Alpha heir everyone expects. Your family won't fight with you anymore because of me. They won't have to deal with the chaos I bring."

"Ethan, isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

His eyes closed briefly. When he opened them again, something had shifted in his expression. "Yes. This is what I wanted. But that was before. What I want now, besides the family assets, is... you."

My breath caught, but I forced myself to stay calm. "We can't go back."

"I know." His voice was barely a whisper.

"From the beginning, we were wrong," I said. "I never should have married someone who never had room for me in his heart. You never should have married for convenience. If we hadn't entered this marriage three years ago, today's tragedy would never have happened."

The silence that followed was heavy. I could hear his breathing, quick and shallow.

"So we agree," I finally said. "This ends."

He stared straight ahead, fingers still gripping the steering wheel. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly. "Alright. We'll... end it amicably."

His phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a single letter: L.

Lorelei.

Ethan glanced at it, then quickly declined the call, trying to look casual.

"Probably urgent," I said mildly. "You should call back."

"Just a supplier. It can wait until tomorrow."

I raised an eyebrow. "You have suppliers who work at Velvet Lounge?"

His entire body went rigid. "What do you mean?"

"I saw you there once. Having dinner with her. Quite the coincidence, don't you think?"

"You investigated me?"

"I'm not that bored." I kept my voice light. "I was just having dinner at a restaurant and happened to see you with her. Lucky timing, I suppose."

Ethan's expression flickered—guilt, then defensiveness. "I take important clients to Velvet Lounge regularly. She handles the service. We got to know each other over time, but it's just a professional relationship. Just friends."

There it was. The smooth lie, delivered without hesitation.

I almost laughed. This was exactly who Ethan was. He could do the most shameful things and still find a way to justify them, to make them sound reasonable.

But it didn't matter anymore. It wasn't my problem. If anyone should be hurt by this, it was Faye.

"I should go," I said, reaching for the door handle again. "I can walk back on my own. No need to waste your time when you have calls to return."

Before I could open the door, Ethan suddenly moved. He climbed over the center console from the driver's seat, his body blocking my exit, caging me against the passenger door.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, pressing back against the seat.

His eyes had gone dark, intense. "Bella."

"Get back to your seat."

"Let me stay tonight." His voice dropped to something low and rough. "Just tonight."

My stomach turned. "That's not appropriate."

"Why not? Until we formally complete the rejection ceremony, we're still legally bonded mates. It's perfectly normal for mates to be together."

I tried to push him away, but the angle was wrong. "Ethan, stop this. What are you trying to do?"

"I want you." The words came out raw, desperate.

I stopped struggling, going very still. "Have you lost your mind? We just agreed to end things cleanly. We agreed to go our separate ways."

"That's tomorrow and beyond." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck. "But today, right now, I suddenly don't want to let you go."

His face moved toward mine, and I turned my head sharply to avoid his lips. "Don't be insane."

"Bella, you don't understand." His voice was almost pleading now. "Before, when I was with you, it was just physical need. Just biology. But now... it's different. I don't just need you physically. I want you to stay by my side. Like before. I want you there, supporting me, being patient with me."

A harsh laugh escaped my throat. "You're dreaming."

"I promise you." His hand came up to cup my face, forcing me to look at him. "I promise I won't treat you like I did before. Just cooperate with me. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

"Anything I want? You'll give me anything?" I stared at him. "Are you sure about that?"

"I'm sure."

"Fine." My voice went cold. "Then can you give up everything I hate? Everything that disgusts me?"

His brow furrowed. "What?"

"Ethan, you know exactly what I hate. Don't play dumb."

Understanding dawned on his face, followed by discomfort. He pulled back slightly. "Once I take control of the family, Grandmother and Mother won't be able to control me anymore. You just need to be patient—"

"And what about Faye?" I cut him off. "What are you going to do about her?"

He went silent.

"She gave birth to Oliver for me," he finally said. "She—"

"Ha." The sound was sharp, mocking. "Ethan, I don't even know what to say to you."

"You can't let go of money or power. You can't let go of your mistress. But you expect me to step back, to compromise, to be patient." My voice rose. "Who do you think you are? And who do you think I am? One of your harem girls who has to smile and wait for you to decide when to pay attention to her?"

"Ethan Grave, you think way too highly of yourself. You're nothing."

His jaw clenched, eyes flashing. "And who do you think you are?"

"Your existence brings no business value to the Grave family. At least in that regard, Faye is far more useful than you."

"Only if I keep you by my side can you enjoy the status and privileges of being a Luna," he continued, voice hard. "Without me, you're nothing. But I can give you endless wealth and pleasure. Just for that, Bella, you should be grateful."

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Bella, wake up. You'll regret leaving me."

I held his gaze steadily. "I will never regret it."

His grip tightened. Then, suddenly, he lunged forward, trying to kiss me.

I twisted my head away frantically. In the struggle, I managed to shift my position just enough to get leverage. My knee came up hard, slamming into his groin.

Ethan gasped, doubling over in pain. I shoved him back toward the rear seat with all my strength, making sure he fell away from my stomach. I couldn't risk him hurting the baby in his rage.

Before he could recover, before I could even process what was happening, the rear passenger door flew open.

A hand shot in and grabbed Ethan by the back of his neck. With one powerful yank, he was dragged completely out of the car, landing hard on his hands and knees.