Ethan sat in the dimly lit bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The weight of everything that had happened pressed heavily on his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for the conversation ahead. His eyes flicked toward the door as it creaked open, and in walked Victor.
Victor spotted Ethan immediately and made his way over to the booth. Without a word, he slid into the seat across from him, his eyes cold and unreadable. Ethan could feel the tension emanating from him.
“I hope this isn’t some bullshit excuse for why you let things get this far,” Victor said, his voice gruff as he flagged down the bartender for a drink.
Ethan swallowed hard, avoiding eye contact for a moment. “It’s not an excuse. I just… I need to tell someone. I can’t keep this inside anymore.” His voice was strained, each word feeling like a lead weight dropping from his lips.
Victor leaned back, his expression hardening. “Go on, then. Tell me why you called me here
Ethan took another swig of whiskey, his hands trembling slightly. ” I knew all along that Tania was the one who wanted to kill Ella I didn’t know everything at first. When Ella disappeared, I was devastated, I was barely functioning and Tania was always there and one thing led to another she told me she was pregnant. But the day she told me she was pregnant…” His voice cracked, and he paused to gather himself, the memory too painful to recount clearly. “That was the same day I found out. I found out that Tania had something to do with Ella’s disappearance, that she was behind the attempt on her life.”
Victor’s eyes widened, and he nearly slammed his fist on the table. “You knew? You knew Tania was involved and you did nothing? You stayed married to her? Are you out of your mind?”
Ethan flinched at the outburst, feeling the sting of shame crawling under his skin. “I was in shock. I didn’t know how to handle it. I thought Ella was dead, Victor. Tania fed me lies, manipulated me, and I was grieving. I felt like I had nothing left. I just… I let it happen. I let it all happen.” His voice trailed off as the confession tumbled out.
Victor’s face turned crimson, fury etched into every feature. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of the table tightly. “So you’re telling me you knew about the hit Tania placed on Ella, but instead of going after her or finding the truth, you just accepted it? You just let it be?” His voice was a low growl, disbelief mixed with rage.
Ethan looked up, his face pale and drawn. “Yes. I was too broken to fight it. And by the time I realized what was happening, I had already dug myself too deep. I’m not proud of it, Victor. I hate myself for it.”
Victor leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief. “You let yourself believe that the lies were easier to live with. You should’ve fought for her. You should’ve fought for your family.”
Ethan bowed his head, unable to defend himself. The truth was, Victor was right. He should have fought harder for Ella, for their love. But instead, he had allowed the darkness of his grief to swallow him whole.
“You’re a coward,” Victor spat, his anger barely contained. “A goddamn coward. I can’t believe this. Ella was always there for you, and you…” He stopped, his hands balling into fists as he tried to keep himself from losing it completely.
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, steeling himself against the biting words. He deserved every bit of it, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear.
“Do you even realize the damage you’ve caused?” Victor continued, his voice quieter now, but the anger still burning behind his eyes. “Ella’s been through hell, and you let Tania get away with everything. All because it was easier for you.”
Ethan opened his eyes, the guilt etched deeply into his face. “I know,” he whispered. “I know I failed her.”
Victor stared at him, his eyes filled with disgust. “You don’t get it, Ethan. This isn’t just about Ella anymore. You have kids now. Twins. Leo and Liam. And they deserve better than this mess and Grace even if she’s not your blood Ethan how….
Ethan’s head snapped up at the mention of his children. “I love them,” he said, his voice stronger now. “I want to be a father to them, to make things right.”
Victor shook his head. “You want to be their father? Then start acting like one. Do the right thing for once. Stop hiding behind your guilt and your excuses.”
Ethan felt the weight of the words sink in. He had to take responsibility, not just for himself, but for his children. He had to face the truth, no matter how painful it was. “I will,” he said, his voice steadying. “I’m going to fix this, for them and for Ella.”
Victor didn’t respond right away. He studied Ethan’s face, searching for any sign of sincerity. After a long moment, he sighed and took a deep drink from his glass. “You’d better, Ethan. Because if you screw this up again, I’m not going to be the one cleaning up your mess.”
Ethan nodded. “I won’t screw it up this time.”
But deep down, he wasn’t sure if it was already too late.
Victor’s gaze remained sharp, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I never thought you could fall this far, Ethan. You’ve always been the guy with the perfect life, the perfect marriage. What happened to you? What happened to the man who would’ve done anything for Ella?”
Ethan rubbed a hand over his face, the rough stubble on his chin reminding him how little he had taken care of himself in the past few days. “I don’t know, Victor. I think… I think when I lost her, I lost myself, too.”
Victor let out a bitter laugh. “Lost yourself? That’s your excuse? You weren’t the only one grieving, Ethan. You weren’t the only one who was devastated by Ella’s disappearance. But instead of searching for the truth, you married the very woman who destroyed your life. That’s not grief that’s cowardice.”
Ethan flinched at the accusation, but he didn’t argue. He couldn’t. Victor was right.
The bartender came by, refilling Victor’s drink. He didn’t touch it immediately, staring into the amber liquid as if searching for answers. “Do you know what I hate the most about this?” Victor asked quietly.
Ethan looked at him, waiting.
“I hate that you still want forgiveness,” Victor said, his voice raw with emotion. “You think you can just say you’re sorry, and it’ll fix everything. But it won’t, Ethan. You can’t undo what you’ve done.”
“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” Ethan replied, his voice barely audible. “I don’t deserve it.”
“Damn right you don’t,” Victor snapped. “But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make amends. Especially for those boys. They didn’t ask for any of this, and they deserve better than to be caught in the middle of your mess.”
Ethan clenched his fists, the weight of his responsibility crashing down on him. “I know, Victor. I know I’ve failed them, too. But I’m going to be there for them now. I have to be.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Do you even know what that means? Being a father? It’s not just about showing up when it’s convenient for you. It’s about being there, every damn day. It’s about making sacrifices, about putting them first no matter what. Can you do that, Ethan? Can you really be the father they need?”
Ethan swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of Victor’s words. He thought about Leo and Liam his sons, who didn’t even know him yet. Could he be the father they needed? Could he be the man they deserved, after everything?
“I don’t have a choice,” Ethan said finally, his voice steady. “I have to be.”
Victor leaned back, studying him for a long moment. “You say that now, but talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. And from where I’m standing, you’ve done nothing but make the wrong choices.”
“I know I’ve made mistakes,” Ethan admitted. “But I’m done hiding. I’m done pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. I’m going to make things right, for my kids, for Ella.”
Victor scoffed. “And what about Tania? You think she’s just going to sit back and let you tear everything apart? She’s not going to go down without a fight, Ethan. She’s dangerous, and you’ve seen what she’s capable of.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “I’m not afraid of her anymore. She’s manipulated me long enough. I’ll deal with her.”
“You’d better,” Victor warned. “Because if you don’t, she’ll come after you, and she won’t stop until she’s destroyed everything you have left.”
Ethan met Victor’s gaze, determination burning in his eyes. “I won’t let her. I’m not the same man I was six years ago. I’m done being a pawn in her game.”
Victor studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I hope you mean that, Ethan. Because if you don’t, this isn’t going to end well for anyone.”
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy between them. Ethan felt the guilt gnawing at him, the regret of every bad decision he’d made over the years. But for the first time in a long time, there was also a flicker of hope. He couldn’t change the past, but maybe just maybe he could fix the future.
Victor drained the rest of his drink and stood up, tossing some bills onto the table. “Good luck, Ethan. You’re going to need it.”
Ethan watched him go, feeling the loss of his friend’s trust like a physical blow. He sat there for a long time after Victor left, staring into his empty glass, lost in thought. The path ahead was uncertain, and the obstacles were overwhelming, but one thing was clear: he couldn’t afford to fail again.
With a deep breath, Ethan stood up, leaving the bar behind. It was time to face the consequences of his actions, to confront Tania, and most importantly, to fight for his children and for Ella. This time, he wouldn’t run. This time, he would stand and fight.