Chapter 158 First "I Love You"
"You..." Olivia twisted around, finally processing what he'd said. "Did you seriously just—"
Ethan's eyes gleamed with mischief. She grabbed the massage brush from the nightstand and swung it at him. He dodged effortlessly, his reflexes quick as ever. The brush sliced through empty air.
"You also know your dick is small," she huffed, frustrated.
"Small?" Ethan's eyes narrowed dangerously, a predatory smile spreading across his face. "Let me remind you exactly how 'small' it is."
Before she could react, he lunged forward and scooped her up in one fluid motion.
"Ethan!" Olivia yelped as he tossed her onto the bed. The mattress bounced beneath her.
She tried to scramble away, but Ethan moved faster. One strong hand pinned her leg while the other pressed firmly against the back of her neck.
"Stay down," he commanded, voice shifting from playful to hard-edged in an instant.
By the time he was finished, twilight had fallen over the city. Olivia's legs trembled as she moved around the room, trying to find something suitable to wear. In her head, she cursed Ethan Bennett eighteen different ways, each more creative than the last.
"Ready?" Ethan asked, appearing in the doorway. His hair was still damp from the shower, curling slightly at his temples. He looked unfairly put-together for someone who'd just done what he'd done to her.
"No thanks to you," Olivia muttered, wincing as she pulled on her shoes.
---
The restaurant Ethan chose was tucked away on a busy street corner. Inside, exposed brick walls and warm amber lighting created an intimate atmosphere. Through the windows, the Manhattan skyline glittered in the distance.
"How did you find this place?" Olivia asked, taking a bite of the most perfect risotto she'd ever tasted.
"Business meeting, years ago." Ethan swirled his wine, watching her over the rim of his glass. "I remembered thinking I'd bring someone special here someday."
She tried not to read too much into that.
After dinner, feeling warm from both wine and Ethan's attention, Olivia tugged on his hand playfully. "I've never seen a flag raising ceremony here. The day after tomorrow is Memorial Day. Can we stay out tonight and go to the national cemetery to watch the sunrise ceremony?"
Ethan laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Trying to torture your man, are you? The ceremony starts at dawn. You planning to stand in the wind all night?"
She quickly released his hand, pretending offense. "Fine. Go home if you want. I'll go watch it myself."
Ethan's expression softened as he watched her pout. He reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her close. "If you want to see the flag raising, you don't need to wait like a fool at the cemetery gates all night."
---
Later, Olivia found herself following Ethan to a penthouse apartment he'd reserved in advance, one with a rooftop terrace overlooking downtown Los Angeles. In the distance, they could see flagpoles atop several high-rises. Early on Memorial Day morning, they stood on the terrace watching the Stars and Stripes slowly rise against the dawn light. The entire city seemed to pause in silent tribute.
The flag climbed higher. Ethan stood behind Olivia, arms wrapped around her waist, pressing soft kisses against her cheek.
She tilted her face up, watching the flag rise with the sun, the buildings turning gold in the morning light. Thinking of the meaning behind this day, her chest tightened with something solemn and warm.
"Ethan." She turned in his embrace, standing on tiptoe to kiss his chin. "I love you."
How many times had Ethan tried every trick to force those three words from her? She'd refused every time.
Now, on this ordinary summer morning with the sky barely light, the sun just rising, the flag snapping in the breeze blowing in from the Pacific, she stood in the soft dawn glow with the city waking behind her. She smiled at him, gentle and sweet, and said, "I love you."
Ethan's heart pounded so hard it almost hurt, as if it might burst from his chest.
He looked down at the beautiful girl before him, his Adam's apple bobbing rapidly. Suddenly he laughed—a deep, trembling sound.
"Liv." He raised his hand to touch her face. "I lo—"
Before he could finish, his phone rang. He turned and went inside to answer it.
Olivia leaned against the railing, stretching her arms out to embrace the cool morning breeze. The city was waking up around them, light glinting off a thousand windows.
"Liv." Ethan's voice had changed, tension threading through it. "I need to go back to the family estate. Walter will drive you home later."
"Okay," she said, surprised by the abruptness. "Go ahead."
He brushed her hair back from her face. "I might be gone for a few days."
This was unusual enough that she broke her rule of not asking questions. "Did something happen?"
Ethan's expression darkened. "Aiden's failing. It won't be long now."
Olivia stood frozen, unsure what to say.
"Go," she finally urged, pushing him toward the door. "Go now."
---
Ethan arrived at the Bennett estate to find almost everyone already gathered. Only Blake was still absent. His father, Richard, stood rigid by the bedside, face set in stern lines.
"Your grandfather wants to speak with you," Richard said coldly. "Hurry up."
Ethan approached the bed where Aiden Bennett lay, shrunken and frail. The old man gripped his wrist with surprising strength, pulling himself up slightly.
"Ethan," he rasped. "Promise me you'll leave that girl."
Ethan's face hardened, his throat working as he swallowed. He said nothing.
Aiden's grip tightened painfully. "Ethan, promise me you'll leave her."
The old man coughed violently.
"Promise him, Ethan!"
"Son, please, just promise!"
Aiden's eyes bulged, his breathing turning to harsh wheezes as he clung to his last moments, waiting for Ethan's answer.
The room fell silent. Every family member watched Ethan, waiting.
Ethan's hand clenched into a fist at his side, his jaw muscle working furiously.
Michael shoved Ethan's shoulder. "What the hell are you waiting for? Just promise him!"
Still, Ethan remained silent, his tongue pressing hard against his teeth, jaw flexing.
Aiden Bennett collapsed back onto the bed, eyes still open but unseeing.
"Father!" Richard cried, lunging for the old man's hand.
Samuel joined him, crying out for their father. Michael knelt at the bedside, tears streaming down his face.
Everyone else in the room bowed their heads in grief, some moving closer to the bedside.
Only Ethan remained still, head bowed, standing apart.
Richard turned suddenly, kicking Ethan viciously before slapping him with such force that it split his lip, leaving a clear handprint on his face.
"Get out!" Richard roared. "Get the fuck out!"
Hannah grabbed Ethan's arm. "Ethan, promise Grandpa. Just promise him, please!"