Diana woke up with a strange feeling in her chest.
Heavy.
Unsettled.
Like something was about to go wrong.
She sat up slowly, brushing her hair back as she tried to shake it off.
It's nothing.
Just your mind.
But even as she told herself that…
It didn't feel like a lie.
It felt like a warning.
By afternoon, the mansion was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
Diana stepped outside, needing air, needing space away from walls that felt like they were closing in.
She barely made it past the gates
"Diana."
She froze.
No.
Not again.
She turned slowly.
Ethan.
Leaning against his car like he had all the time in the world.
Like he had been waiting.
"You need to stop doing this," she said immediately.
He pushed off the car, walking toward her. "And you need to start listening."
"I'm not interested."
"You should be."
Diana laughed dryly. "You lost that right."
Ethan stopped in front of her, his expression darker than before. Less controlled.
More desperate.
"This isn't you," he said. "Marrying him? Living here? This isn't your life."
Diana crossed her arms. "You don't get to decide what my life looks like anymore."
"I'm trying to fix things."
"By doing what?" she snapped. "Showing up uninvited? Acting like nothing happened?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "It wasn't supposed to happen like that."
Her eyes flashed. "But it did."
Silence.
Sharp.
Painful.
Then Ethan stepped closer.
Too close.
"I still love you," he said.
Diana's breath caught.
For a second
Just a second
Her heart reacted.
Stupid.
Weak.
Dangerous.
Then reality hit.
Hard.
"And I don't," she said.
The words came out colder than she expected.
But she didn't take them back.
Ethan flinched.
But he didn't step away.
Instead, his hand shot out
Grabbing her wrist.
Diana's body tensed instantly.
"Let go."
"No," he said, his grip tightening slightly. "Not until you listen."
Her pulse spiked. "Ethan"
"I made a mistake," he cut in. "One mistake. And you threw everything away for him?"
Diana's anger exploded. "You didn't make a mistake—you made a choice."
His eyes darkened. "So did you."
The air shifted.
Dangerous.
Wrong.
"Let go of me," she said again, sharper this time.
But Ethan didn't.
His grip held.
Firm.
Possessive.
Desperate.
And that was it.
That was the moment everything changed.
"Release her."
The voice was quiet.
Deadly.
Ethan froze.
Slowly…
He turned.
Victor stood a few feet away.
Still.
Controlled.
But his eyes
Cold.
Empty.
Dangerous.
Diana's heart dropped.
Not from fear.
But from what she knew was coming.
Ethan scoffed, though his grip loosened slightly. "You really think you can just control everything, don't you?"
Victor didn't move.
"Release her," he repeated.
Same tone.
Same calm.
But this time…
It wasn't a request.
Ethan hesitated.
Then let go.
Diana stepped back immediately, putting distance between them.
Her wrist tingled where his hand had been.
Wrong.
Everything about it felt wrong.
Victor's gaze flicked to her wrist briefly.
Then back to Ethan.
And something in his expression shifted.
"Leave," Victor said.
Ethan let out a short laugh. "Or what?"
Silence.
Then
Victor stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Each step deliberate.
"You don't want to find out," he said.
Ethan held his gaze for a second longer.
Then smirked slightly.
"You think she's yours now?" he asked. "You think a ring changes anything?"
Victor stopped.
Right in front of him.
Close enough for the tension to snap.
"I don't think," Victor said quietly.
A pause.
Then
"I know."
Something in Ethan's expression flickered.
Not fear.
But recognition.
This wasn't a game to Victor.
Ethan exhaled sharply, stepping back. "This isn't over."
Victor didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Ethan got in his car and drove off.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Unfinished.
Silence settled again.
But this time…
It was heavier.
Diana let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"That wasn't necessary," she said.
Victor turned to her slowly.
"Wasn't it?"
She frowned. "I could've handled it."
"He grabbed you."
"And I told him to let go."
"And he didn't."
That stopped her.
Victor stepped closer.
Not aggressively.
But with intent.
"Listen carefully," he said, his voice lower now. "I don't tolerate anyone putting their hands on what's mine."
Diana's heart skipped.
"There you go again," she said softly. "I'm not something you own."
Victor's gaze locked onto hers.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
"No," he said.
A pause.
Then
"But you are something I protect."
Diana's breath caught.
And this time…
She didn't argue.
Because for the first time
It didn't feel like control.
It felt like something else.
Something she wasn't ready to name.
But whatever it was…
It was pulling her in.