Chapter 12 Break up with Blake. Be Mine
I shoved against Ethan's chest with everything I had, scrambling off his lap and putting distance between us until my back hit the edge of his desk.
"Mr. Bennett," I managed, surprised by how steady my voice sounded despite the chaos raging inside me. "I'm Blake's girlfriend, and you're his uncle. This is completely inappropriate."
Ethan's eyes darkened as he watched me from his wheelchair. If Blake was a wolf cub, Ethan was the alpha predator of the entire forest.
And God, did I regret ever stepping foot in this mansion.
"Inappropriate?" he echoed, the corner of his mouth lifting in cold amusement. He rolled his wheelchair closer, forcing me to press harder against the desk. "What exactly is inappropriate, Ms. Reed?"
I swallowed hard. "You know exactly what I mean. Whatever you're suggesting... it's wrong. It's immoral."
He actually laughed at that, the sound lacking any warmth. "Morality? You think I possess such a quality?"
I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin. "You might not, but I do. I could never do something so... so shameless!"
Without a word, he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a checkbook. With practiced ease, he wrote something, signed it with a flourish, and tore out the check.
"Three million dollars," he said, sliding the check toward me. "Transferred to your account immediately."
I stared at the check, momentarily stunned into silence.
"I'm not that kind of person, Mr. Bennett," I finally said, shaking my head firmly.
Ethan smiled. "Add another two million, plus a beachfront property in Malibu and a penthouse in Beverly Hills." His gaze locked onto mine with unsettling intensity. "This is just the beginning."
My lips parted in shock. Five million dollars? Properties? The sheer magnitude of what he was offering made me dizzy.
I bit my lip hard, the pain bringing me back to reality. "Mr. Bennett, what you're offering is... extraordinary. But I really can't be with you."
Ethan wheeled closer, reaching out to catch my wrist and pull me back toward him. My body tensed as I found myself standing between his knees.
"You and Blake aren't compatible," he said quietly, his thumb brushing over my pulse point. "End it with him."
I looked down at his hand on my wrist, my mind racing. "If I refuse... what are the consequences?"
His expression remained impassive. "No consequences. I'm not so petty. You can walk out right now, and I won't trouble you." He paused, his thumb still making small circles on my skin. "But I think you're a smart girl. You should know how to make the right choice."
I pulled away from him, turning to face the window. "Thank you for your... generosity, Mr. Bennett. But I'm sorry, I can't accept your offer."
"Out," he said, his voice suddenly cold and dismissive.
I didn't need to be told twice. I practically ran to the door, escaping into the hallway with my heart hammering against my chest.
Outside, Blake was waiting, his expression anxious.
"What took so long in there?" he asked in a hushed voice. "Did my uncle give you a hard time?"
I forced a weak smile, trying to appear calm. "No, of course not. He's your uncle—why would he give me a hard time?"
Blake frowned, his eyes searching mine. "I'm worried that my uncle might be interested in—"
"You're overthinking things," I cut him off, not wanting to hear the rest of that sentence.
Blake gave a lazy smile, but his eyes remained serious. "I'm not overthinking. I'm a man too, Olivia. I recognize that look."
I didn't respond, choosing instead to walk quickly ahead of him.
As we walked through the garden, my phone rang.
"Hello? Grandma?"
"Olivia, honey," my grandmother's voice broke. "It's your grandfather."
My fingers tightened around the phone. "What happened? Is he okay?"
"The cancer has spread," she said, her voice thin with exhaustion and fear. "The doctors say the regular treatments aren't working anymore."
I closed my eyes, turning away from Blake. "What are our options?"
"There's a new treatment—gene-targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy. The doctor says it might give him more time, maybe even years. But..." she paused, and I could hear the resignation in her voice. "It's over three hundred thousand dollars, and Medicare won't cover most of it."
"I'll figure something out," I promised. "Don't worry, Grandma. We'll find a way."
After hanging up, I stared blankly at Blake, seeing his youthful, carefree face as if for the first time. I briefly considered asking him for help, but the words died in my throat.
First, Blake was still a student himself, living off his parents' money. Second, his feelings for me seemed genuine—it felt wrong to exploit that. If I borrowed money from him, our relationship would become even more complicated than it already was.
My mind drifted to Ethan and his offer. Five million dollars. Properties. Security. And all it would cost was...
"Olivia? Everything okay?" Blake asked, touching my arm.
"I... I need a minute," I mumbled, turning away.
My feet carried me back toward Ethan's wing before my brain fully registered what I was doing. I found myself running, driven by desperation and the terrible knowledge that I was about to cross a line I never thought I would.
I burst into Ethan's study without knocking, my breath coming in short gasps.
"Mr. Bennett," I said, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "I'll accept your offer. I don't need all those things you mentioned. I just have one request—can you help with my grandfather's hospital treatment?"
Ethan looked up slowly, his expression unreadable. "I don't like being forced into anything."
I bit my lip, fighting back tears. I closed the door behind me and approached his wheelchair, slowly kneeling in front of him. My hands trembled as I placed them on his knees.
Ethan removed my hands. "A mere medical bill is something Blake could easily handle for you."
I shook my head. "I don't want to ask him."
"Why not?" Ethan gripped my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to repay him," I admitted quietly.
Ethan's control finally broke. He grabbed my arm, pulling me up and onto his lap with surprising strength. His arms locked around my waist, his body radiating tension and barely contained desire.
He buried his face against my neck, his breath hot against my skin. "Break up with Blake. Be mine."
I trembled in his arms, fear and something else I didn't want to name coursing through me. "I—I'll break up with him. But can we... can we keep this between us? I don't want him to know about... us."
More accurately, I didn't want anyone to know about whatever this was between Ethan and me.
Ethan pulled back, studying my face. He tilted his head and bit my lip lightly, his voice low and predatory. "Acceptable."
"But..." His hand gripped the back of my neck.