Chapter 36 Chapter 36
Chapter 36
His Lamborghini rolled into the private parking space of his penthouse. The city lights reflected off the windshield as he switched off the engine and sat still for a few seconds..
It had been a long, strange day — one of those days that left his head spinning for no clear reason.
He stepped out, picked up his keys, and walked toward the elevator that led straight to his floor. The moment the doors opened, a cool silence welcomed him.
The penthouse was large, quiet, and neat just the way he liked it.
Even if sleep never came easily, at least this place gave him peace. No noise, no expectations, no people watching him. Just space and silence.
He dropped his phone on the side table and began loosening his tie. Then he walked across the living room and turned off the lights.
But just as darkness filled the room—
A voice came from the couch.
“ Ethan. ”
He froze immediately and turned.
Amelia was sitting there, legs crossed, smiling faintly.
For a moment, he thought he was imagining things. But she was real.
His eyes narrowed. “How did you get in here?” he asked, his voice calm but sharp.
She stood up slowly, spreading her arms like nothing was wrong. “Come to mama, ” she said. “I know you miss me.”
He didn’t move. “I said, how did you get in here? ” His voice rose this time.
“Oh, come on, Ethan,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Would you stop acting like this? I know you still want me. You always do.”
He stepped closer, glaring at her. “I don’t have anything to do with a murderer like you.”
Her face hardened. “What?”
“You’re a wicked human being, Amelia. You care about nothing but yourself. You ruin people’s lives and then pretend to be innocent.”
“Oh, I see the point now,” she said, her tone mocking. “You left because of Ella Walls, didn’t you?”
He blinked, stunned. “You’ve been stalking me?”
She smiled faintly. “I don’t need to stalk you. You’re not that hard to read, Ethan.”
He clenched his jaw, his hands tightening at his sides.
Amelia moved closer until she was standing in front of him. Her perfume filled the space, but it only made him more uncomfortable.
“Look into my eyes,” she said softly. “You know I really love you. You just woke up one morning and ended things between us — no reason, no explanation. Do you call that fair?”
He looked down at her, anger slowly rising. “You killed Ella Walls,” he said quietly. “You didn’t even know the full story, and you took her life.”
“Stop it,” she said quickly. “I didn’t kill her!”
“Don’t lie to me!” Ethan snapped.
Her expression cracked for the first time. “I didn’t kill anyone, Ethan. Stop blaming me for something I hadn't done. How many times would I tell you I didn't ?”
He took a step back. “You disgust me.”
“Ethan, please ”
“Get out of my house.”
“No,” she said stubbornly. “Not until you hear me out.”
His head started spinning, his chest tightening from the anger boiling inside him. “You need to leave before I lose it completely.”
She reached out like she wanted to touch him, but he jerked away.
“You always do this,” she said bitterly. “
You act like you’re better than everyone. But I know you, Ethan. You’re broken — more broken than you admit. That’s why you hide up here. That’s why you drown yourself in pills.You are a weak man ,a broken man and a mentally unstable man.”
He stared at her coldly. “You should leave before I call security.”
She smirked. “Security? You think they’ll stop me?”
Without replying, Ethan turned away. His hand brushed against the glass frame on the table — the award he had received three years ago. For a second, his grip tightened around it.
Then, in a burst of rage, he smashed it against the floor.
The sound echoed through the room. The glass shattered across the tiles, spreading like a burst of stars.
Amelia jumped back, startled. She had seen his anger before, but this one was different. It was quiet and dangerous.
“Get out,” he said, his voice low but deadly calm.
She blinked, her confidence slowly fading. “You think you can scare me with that?” she said, trying to sound brave.
He didn’t reply. He just stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on her.
She hesitated, then grabbed her purse. “Not because I’m scared of you, Ethan,” she muttered. “But because I don’t want to deal with your temper tonight.”
She walked quickly toward the door, wiping her forehead with a handkerchief as she went.
“Goodnight,” she said sarcastically and slammed the door behind her.
Ethan stood still for a moment, staring at the shattered glass on the floor.
He ran a hand over his face and exhaled deeply. His pulse was still racing, but there was a kind of numbness spreading through him now.
He bent down, picked up one piece of the broken frame, and stared at it. His reflection blinked back at him from the cracked surface — tired eyes, a pale face, the faint outline of a man who no longer recognized himself.
He dropped the shard and sat on the couch, his elbows rest
ing on his knees. His mind wouldn’t stop running circles.
No matter how much he wanted to shut her out, her words echoed in his head — You’re broken, Ethan. That’s why you hide. A mentally unstable man.
He hated that part of it was true.