Chapter 44 Anonymous Shield (Ethan’s POV)
“You didn’t have to do that,” Demilia said. I turned to her slowly, not remorseful. “Yes, I did, and would do that over and over again.”
“No,” she replied. “You wanted to, because of your ego.”
“That’s the same thing.” She crossed her arms, and I could see the look of amazement on her face. “You’re jealous of everything that happened.”
I scoffed, not minding her. “Don’t flatter yourself too much.” Her eyes softened as I said that, but it was just a fraction. “You don’t like losing control, and dll of us know about that.”
I stepped closer, very persistent in making my point known. “I don’t lose, and everyone knows about that.”
She looked up at me, something unreadable all over her face. “Then why does it look like you’re afraid?”
That question alone followed me even long after she walked away. That night, I sat across from Marcus, my head of security, the room completely dim, the atmosphere very tense.
“You wanted to see me, right?” he asked, his voice hush. “Yes,” I replied. “I want Adrian Knight monitored closely, and every of his moves reported to me.”
Marcus hesitated, confused that I was bothered about him, considering how our part fight ended when my father was still alive. “Sir...”
“Not followed, there's a big difference,” I clarified. “All you need to do is carefully observe him. I want to know where he goes, and every of his activities. Who he meets, the time he does that, and what he says at such gathering.”
“And what about Lady Demilia?” he asked carefully, and I knew it was from the place of concern. I paused, though I wasn't mandated to telling him, but I had to do everything.
“No,” I said calmly. “She doesn’t know anything, and shouldn't be bothered with the little things as this.”
Marcus nodded quietly, ready ready to challenge me.“Understood.” I carefully leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled, but I had to maintain my composure. “Ensure to icrease security around her.”
“She already has...”
“More of it,” I snapped in fury. “But make it very discreetly.”
Marcus studied me for some time, not saying a word. “Sir… this feels personal, than usual.”
“It is as you already said,” I said coldly. “That’s why I’m handling it my best way.” The next morning, I quickly intercepted Demilia before she reached the garden.
“You’re not going outside today and that's my order,” I said.
She blinked in confusion, taken aback by my sudden control nature. “Excuse me?”
“There’s been a security concern for sone time now,” I continued evenly. “You’ll stay indoors until everything is resolved properly.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she showed no sign of panic. “Is Adrian the concern right now?”
I ignored that completely, paying deaf ears to whatever it was. “This isn’t up for debate as you think.”
She laughed out loud, though it was a short, humorless sound. “There it is right now.”
“There what is?”
“The cage,” she said quietly. “You can’t stand that I enjoy being free, especially from you.”
“I’m protecting you from danger, and all I need from you is your cooperation.”
“No,” she replied stubbornly. “You’re protecting yourself from your ego, from taking the wrong moves that would hurt your pride.”
She tried to walk past me, but trust me, I was done being soft, so I blocked her path.
Her breath hitched, and I could see how much he was holding back from fighting me. “Move right now.”
“You’re not leaving until I say so,” I said.
“For once,” she whispered, “I want you to trust me, and let me live my life, let me make decisions.”
Did she just say trust? The word alone burned, because it's very strange to me.
“I trust no one,” I replied smoothly. She nodded slowly, eyes shining. “I know about that.”
And then she stepped back, though I was shocked at her action, but I knew it wasn't in fear, she was just creating a distance between us. That also, hurt more than I expected, that she was giving me space.
>>>>>>>>
By afternoon, my phone started ringing nonstop, that one can mistaken me to be a debtor, or that I was holding someone's kidney. It was actually different relorts, messages, and the latest udates. Adrian had canceled meetings just to suit his agenda, changed routes. Spent the morning preparing dinner for Demilia in my kitchen again, and my threat gone down the water drain like nothing.
Why he is hell bent on frustrating me, make me get agitated for nothing. I made the call that I have been holding back from making, just for her sake.
“Cancel her upcoming outings with immediate effect,” I said.
“Sir?”
“Medical excuse also,” I continued. “Stress, Doctor’s orders.”
There was a pause as I listed that. “Is that… accurate, or we are just making things up?”
“It will be,” I said. When I finally hung up, my hands were shaking nervously.
This wasn’t love, not even something close to it. It was just a necessity. I saw her drifting back from the right way, the only thing to do is lead her to the right path. And I was doing just that, pulling her back as was supposed.
That same evening, Demilia confronted me with so much anger in her eyes. “You had the guts to cancel my visit to Lena,” she said.
“It’s not safe to visit that place right now,” I replied.
“She’s in a hospital, that's literally the safest place ever.”
“Which makes it worse, as many already knows you stroll in and out of that place as you please.”
She stared weirdly at me, like I was holding alot. “You’re doing this because of Adrian.” I didn’t deny it, I didn't need to because I was already fed up with her constant behavior.
“I won’t be controlled the way you always want to,” she said quietly.
“You already are,” I replied before I could stop myself, and I knew that had already changed a lot of things between us.