5:45 AM – Ethan's Estate
The words were out of her mouth before she could take them back.
"I'll stay."
It wasn't just an agreement.
It was a surrender.
Lena stiffened beside her, her fingers tightening around Isabella's wrist.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, Isa, you can't—"
But Ethan had already heard.
And she saw it.
That flicker in his eyes.
Satisfaction.
Possession.
Like a predator that had finally trapped its prey.
A sick feeling curled in her stomach.
Had she just made the worst mistake of her life?
Or had she only admitted the truth?
That Ethan had already won before she even stepped through these gates.
---
5:46 AM – The Moment She Realized It Was Too Late
Ethan didn't move right away.
Didn't rush to grab her or pull her inside.
Instead, he let the weight of her decision settle.
He let her feel it.
The finality of it.
The way it wrapped around her like chains, invisible but unbreakable.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"Good choice."
The words weren't loud.
They weren't mocking.
But they sent a chill down her spine all the same.
Lena pulled at her arm.
"Isa, please, let's go. We'll figure something out. We always do."
Isabella wanted to believe that.
She really did.
But how?
With what?
No home. No money. No safety.
Ethan had made sure of that.
He hadn't needed to lay a single finger on her to break her.
He had taken everything away—until he was the only thing left.
And that was the most terrifying part of all.
---
5:48 AM – A Door That Closed Forever
"Let her leave."
Isabella's voice was barely above a whisper.
Lena's grip tightened.
"No."
She turned, desperation in her eyes.
"I won't leave you here."
Ethan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Lena," he said, his voice slow, patient—too patient.
Like he was talking to a child throwing a tantrum.
"Isabella made a choice. Respect it."
Lena's face twisted in anger.
"You mean you forced her into it."
Ethan tilted his head, studying her.
"Did I?"
The way he asked the question, so calm, so sure, made Isabella's blood run cold.
Because he hadn't forced her.
Not in the way people expected.
He hadn't locked her in a room.
Hadn't put a gun to her head.
He just took away every other option.
Made sure the only road left was the one that led back to him.
Lena's hands trembled as she turned back to Isabella.
Her eyes begged her to change her mind.
But she couldn't.
She wouldn't.
Because it was too late.
So, instead, she forced a small, broken smile.
"I'll be fine."
Lena's expression shattered.
"No, you won't."
Then she did something that nearly broke Isabella's resolve.
She hugged her.
Tightly.
Desperately.
Like it was the last time.
Because maybe it was.
Lena's voice cracked as she whispered, "I love you, Isa."
Isabella swallowed hard.
"I love you too."
And then—
Ethan gave a small nod.
And the guards pulled Lena away.
---
5:50 AM – The Last Look Back
Lena struggled.
She fought.
But Ethan's men were trained for this.
And Isabella—
She just stood there.
Watching.
Letting it happen.
Because this was her choice.
Wasn't it?
Then why did it feel like a death sentence?
Lena turned back one last time, her eyes burning with fury and heartbreak.
"I'll come back for you," she swore.
Then she was gone.
The gates shut behind her.
And just like that—
Isabella's last chance of freedom disappeared.
---
5:51 AM – A Cage Made of Gold
Silence settled between them.
Ethan didn't speak.
Didn't gloat.
He just stood there, watching her.
Waiting.
For what?
For her to beg?
For her to cry?
For her to regret?
She wouldn't give him that.
She turned to face him fully, lifting her chin.
"What now?"
His lips twitched.
"Now?"
He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
A touch so gentle.
So possessive.
It made her stomach twist.
"Now," he murmured, "we start over."
Start over?
As if the past hadn't happened?
As if the scars didn't exist?
As if he hadn't spent months hunting her down, breaking her until she had no choice but to crawl back to him?
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"You really think it's that easy?"
Ethan didn't flinch.
"I don't think anything about us has ever been easy."
And the worst part?
She knew he was right.
Because what was she, if not a moth drawn to his flame?
What was he, if not the fire that never truly let her go?