Chapter 18 – The Last Fight

Lina sat at the sleek desk in her new private study, staring at the glowing screen.

The online class had already started. The professor's voice droned on, but she wasn't paying attention.

Her mind was somewhere else.

Somewhere far away from this golden cage Ethan had built for her.

The illusion of choice.

The illusion of freedom.

But no matter how much she studied, no matter how many books she read—she wasn't free.

Her fingers clenched into a fist.

She had played his game.

She had obeyed.

She had pretended to submit.

And yet, he still had full control.

She couldn't let it continue.

She had to fight back.

One last time.

That night, after Ethan had fallen asleep beside her, Lina moved.

Slow.

Silent.

Careful.

She had memorized the security system.

She had studied the doors, the windows, the layout of the entire house.

She knew where the blind spots were.

Her breath was steady as she tiptoed toward the hallway.

She wasn't foolish enough to try contacting anyone online again.

But if she could just get outside—

She could run.

Her fingers brushed against the doorknob.

She twisted it slowly—

And an alarm blared.

Her breath hitched violently.

The lights flooded the hallway.

Her pulse spiked in terror.

And then—a voice cut through the sirens.

"Tsk, tsk, love. I thought you were smarter than this."

Lina spun around—and met Ethan's cold, amused gaze.

Her stomach plummeted.

She had walked straight into a trap.

Ethan stalked toward her, slow, deliberate.

Lina stepped back, heart hammering against her ribs.

"Ethan—"

"Shhh," he whispered, cutting her off.

His fingers brushed her cheek—soft, almost tender.

But his eyes were burning with something much darker.

"You disappoint me, love," he murmured. "I thought we were past this."

Lina clenched her jaw, refusing to look away.

"I'll never stop trying," she whispered.

Ethan's smirk widened.

"Won't you?"

Without warning, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her against his chest.

Lina gasped, her breath catching at the sheer force of him.

"You don't get it, do you?" he murmured, tilting her chin up.

His gray eyes were unreadable.

Fascinated. Amused. Possessive.

"You could run for the rest of your life, Lina," he whispered. "But I would always find you."

Her stomach twisted.

"You can't keep me here forever," she shot back.

Ethan chuckled.

"Who's going to stop me?"

His voice was so calm.

So certain.

Like there was nothing in the world that could take her from him.

Lina's breath shuddered.

And for the first time, she realized—he was right.

There was no one.

No law.

No police.

No force stronger than him.

Ethan pressed a soft kiss to her temple, his grip tightening.

"Now," he murmured. "Let's try this again."

The next morning, Lina woke up in his arms.

She barely remembered how she got there.

Only the feeling of his warm breath against her neck as he had whispered over and over again—

"Mine."

Her body was too exhausted to fight.

And when she opened her eyes, Ethan was already watching her.

"Good morning, love," he murmured, stroking her cheek.

Lina stiffened.

She didn't answer.

Ethan smirked.

"Still angry?" he teased.

Lina turned her head away.

Ethan sighed dramatically.

"I suppose you need another lesson, then," he mused.

Her stomach tightened.

Another lesson?

Before she could ask what he meant, he pulled her into his lap, forcing her to straddle him.

Her heart skipped violently.

He tilted her chin up, his touch maddeningly gentle.

"You can be mad at me all you want," he murmured, "but you will never leave me."

Lina's breath hitched.

Because she knew he was right.

She wasn't leaving.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever.

Ethan smiled, satisfied.

"Good girl," he whispered.

And then, he kissed her.

Deep.

Slow.

Unforgiving.

And this time—Lina didn't fight it.

That night, Lina sat by the window, staring at the darkness outside.

She didn't try to escape again.

She didn't think about running.

Because what was the point?

Ethan had proven it.

She was his.

And there was no breaking free.

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Ethan appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him.

"Are you crying, love?" he murmured.

Lina closed her eyes. "No."

Ethan smirked, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.

"Liar."

And she was.

Because deep down, she knew the truth.

The last tear had fallen.

There was no more fight left in her.

Only him.

Only Ethan.

Only this life she could never escape.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***