Fabian rolled over in bed, his eyes slowly adjusting to the soft light filtering through the curtains. He rubbed his face, feeling the exhaustion deep in his bones, but there was a sense of relief, too. Last night had been… cathartic, in a way. Speaking to Ella, seeing her face, even if it was strained, had lifted a weight off his shoulders. He missed her, more than he could put into words. But no matter how much he longed for her, Fabian knew one thing with absolute certainty her heart would always belong to Ethan.
He sighed, sitting up in bed, his thoughts lingering on that truth. He had accepted it a long time ago, even if it hurt to admit. But what can I do? he thought with resignation. He would stay by her side, help her through this nightmare, but after all was said and done, he knew where she would go. Back to Ethan. It was inevitable.
His thoughts shifted to Crystal. A pang of guilt twisted in his chest. He had tried to warn her about Tania’s manipulation, about the dark path she was heading down, but Crystal hadn’t listened. And now, she was gone another life destroyed by Tania’s endless web of lies. I couldn’t save her, he thought, his heart heavy with regret. He wanted to do more, but what good could he really do? Tania was like a black hole, sucking in everything and everyone around her.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts. Fabian dragged himself out of bed and answered it, finding one of his old contacts from the underground world of hired assassins waiting for him.
“You’re still in the game, huh?” Fabian muttered, motioning for the man to come inside.
“We never really leave, do we?” the man replied with a grim smile. “Got a job offer for you. Thought you might be interested.”
Fabian frowned, his mind immediately going back to Ella. He had sworn to himself that he wouldn’t be a part of this world anymore not for Tania, not for anyone. But the temptation was there, nagging at the back of his mind. Maybe, just maybe, one last job could finally give him the closure he needed.
Fabian shut the door behind him, his mind still lingering on the nagging question: What does Fred want? It had been months since he’d last spoken to Fred, one of the few remaining contacts from his dark past. Fred had always been reliable, but his presence now, in the midst of everything, couldn’t be a coincidence. Tania’s name flitted through Fabian’s mind, her shadow never far from the decisions he had to make.
“What job?” Fabian asked, his tone cautious, trying to gauge whether this was a setup, or worse-another plot tied to Tania.
Fred leaned back against the wall, folding his arms as a crooked smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “It’s something… personal,” he began, his voice low but steady. “This one’s big, Fabian. I wouldn’t come to you if it wasn’t.”
Fabian’s stomach tightened. He could feel the old pull, that familiar itch. The world of hired assassins, once a part of his identity, now felt foreign, though not completely erased. It was tempting, in a sickening way, to think about diving back into it. The money, the adrenaline, the ruthless efficiency he had once prided himself on. But he had sworn off this life especially after what Tania had done to him, to Ella.
Fabian’s eyes narrowed as he studied Fred. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this. “Why me?” he asked, crossing his arms defensively. “I told you, I’m done with this life.”
Fred shrugged, looking almost apologetic, though Fabian knew better than to trust appearances. “You’re the best, Fabian. This job well, let’s just say it needs someone with your skill set. Someone who can disappear when needed, someone who understands the stakes.”
Fabian felt the weight of those words. The stakes. It always came down to that, didn’t it? High risks, higher rewards. But what would this job cost him? More than he was willing to give, he suspected. Still, curiosity gnawed at him. “What’s the job?” he asked, unable to help himself.
Fred hesitated, then reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small envelope. He tossed it onto the table in front of Fabian, its contents still a mystery. “Before you make any decisions, take a look at that. It’ll explain everything.”
Fabian’s fingers itched to tear the envelope open, but he didn’t move. Instead, he studied Fred again, suspicion clouding his mind. “What’s inside?”
Fred smirked. “Someone Tania wants gone.”
The room felt colder. Fabian’s blood turned to ice at the mention of her name. Of course, it was always Tania. She was the puppet master, pulling strings from the shadows. Fabian clenched his fists at his sides, the urge to reject the offer surging through him. He had spent months distancing himself from her poisonous influence, trying to break free from the web of deceit and manipulation she had woven around everyone. But here it was again, pulling him back in.
“Why should I care what Tania wants?” Fabian muttered, his jaw tight with anger. “I’m not her errand boy anymore.”
Fred shrugged casually, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. “Maybe you shouldn’t care. But let’s just say… this one’s different. You might actually want to do this.”
Fabian stared at him, debating whether to throw Fred out of his house or hear him out. His mind whirred with questions, doubts, and a flicker of interest that he hated himself for feeling. Could this job really give him what he wanted? Fred’s words gnawed at him. What could possibly be so different this time?
He thought back to Crystal, the guilt of her loss still fresh in his mind. He had tried to save her from Tania’s claws, but he had failed. Now, another offer from the same dark world that had consumed him for so long. Could he handle diving back into it?
Fabian let out a slow breath, his resolve teetering on a dangerous edge. He had promised himself he would never kill again. Not after what happened to Ella. Not after Tania’s betrayal. But the lure was there, just beneath the surface. Maybe Fred was right. Maybe this was his way out, his final act in a world he no longer wanted to be part of. One last job, he thought.
“Alright,” Fabian said, his voice steady but laced with tension. “Tell me what this is about.”
Fred’s smirk widened as he nodded toward the envelope. “Open it. You’ll see for yourself.”
Fabian picked it up, the weight of the decision heavy in his hand. His fingers slid along the seal, the tearing sound echoing in the quiet room. Inside was a photo grainy, but unmistakable. Fabian’s eyes widened in shock as the face in the picture came into focus. His pulse quickened.
It was Derek.
His mind raced. Why Derek ? What was Tania’s angle here? He had expected something sinister, but not this. Derek had been helping Ella, uncovering the truth behind Tania’s schemes. And now, Tania wanted him dead?
Fabian’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the photo. This was no ordinary hit. This was personal. If he took the job, he would be helping Tania destroy the only person who might be able to stop her. But if he didn’t… what would happen to Ella? What would happen to him?
Fabian clenched his jaw, the war inside him growing louder. His conscience screamed at him to walk away, but that old, dark part of him the part that had survived so much whispered something else. This is your chance to finally be free.
“Well?” Fred’s voice broke through his thoughts, impatient now. “What’s it gonna be, Fabian? You in, or out?”
Fabian stared down at the photo again, his decision hanging in the balance. He had to choose, and he had to choose soon. But no matter what he decided, he knew there would be no going back.
At the Hospital
Tania was pacing her hospital room, her nerves on edge as the clock ticked closer to noon. Where was Ethan? He hadn’t come to see her since that morning. She had expected him to at least be by her side after everything the pregnancy news, the emotional confrontation they’d had. But nothing. No calls, no visits.
She bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly. Does he already know? she wondered. Surely, the doctors would have told him. He must have spoken to them by now. But why wasn’t he here? She had hoped the baby would be the key to securing her place in his life, but now doubt was creeping in. What if it wasn’t enough? What if Ethan didn’t care anymore?
The door opened, and Tania looked up, hope flaring in her chest. But it was just the nurse, coming to check her vitals again.
“Any word from my husband?” Tania asked, trying to sound casual, but the anxiety in her voice betrayed her.
The nurse shook her head. “Not yet, ma’am. But I’m sure he’ll come soon. Try to rest in the meantime.”
As the nurse left, Tania’s fear grew. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Ethan was slipping away from her, and she was losing control of everything.
I have to do something. I can’t just sit here.