57| Healing

When they arrived home, Sophie quickly got out of the car, hurrying to Ethan's side.

She reached for him, trying to help, but he gently pushed her hands away.

"I'm fine, Sophie," he muttered as he made his way inside.

"No, you're not," she argued, catching up to him.

Before he could take another step, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, holding him tight.

Ethan froze.

For a moment, he simply stood there, letting her hold him, as if she was the only thing grounding him after everything that had happened.

Finally, he exhaled, turning his head slightly toward her.

"It's cold. Let's go inside."

As they stepped into the living room, Sophie led him to the couch, gently easing him down.

The moment he sat, she rushed off to grab the first aid kit, but before she could, he caught her wrist.

"I have to get the—" she started, but the words died on her lips when she saw the look in his eyes.

His grip loosened, but his gaze never left her face.

"Sophie," he whispered, his voice filled with sadness.

Her heart tightened.

"It's my fault that you're... hurt."

She shook her head, trying to keep her emotions at bay as she quickly fetched the first aid kit and some ice before kneeling in front of him.

"Take off your shirt."

Ethan sighed. "Sophie, I'm okay."

"Please," she whispered.

Even he couldn't resist that.

With reluctance, Ethan peeled off his shirt, and the moment Sophie saw the bruises covering his torso, her stomach twisted painfully.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers tightening around the ice pack.

"Let's go to the hospital." She was already getting up.

Ethan caught her wrist, pulling her back down gently. "Now you're just being dramatic."

She turned to him with a pouty, tear-filled face, looking so heartbroken that he almost smiled—almost.

But he was so damn tired of seeing her cry.

With a sigh, Sophie pressed the ice to his bruises, her touch delicate, as if she was afraid of hurting him more. Then, she gently cleaned the cuts on his knuckles, her fingers trembling slightly.

Ethan couldn't take it anymore.

With one swift motion, he cupped her face, his thumb brushing away a stray tear.

His voice was low, firm, and filled with emotion when he spoke.

"Sophie, why didn't you tell me?"

Sophie froze, her breath catching.

She met his eyes and saw it clearly now—

Not just anger. Not just frustration.

But hurt.

She had hurt him.

She had made him feel like she couldn't trust him, and that realization shattered her.

It was time to come clean.

No more secrets.

No more carrying everything alone.

She took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry, Ethan. Those men... they're loan sharks. I borrowed money from them before we got married, when things were really tough. I thought I had paid them off, but they're demanding more."

Ethan's jaw tightened.

His eyes darkened, his fists clenching slightly.

"Mia told me that today," he admitted.

Sophie didn't even have the energy to be mad at Mia.

She had done what Sophie was too afraid to do.

"But not only about that."

Ethan's voice was steady, but she saw the flicker of something else in his eyes.

Something she didn't expect.

"I already knew about the loan sharks, Sophie."

Sophie's breath hitched.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"What?"

"I made sure I settled everything."

Her stomach dropped.

Then— anger.

Those slimy bastards had taken her life savings, even after they had been paid off.

A fresh wave of fury rolled through her, but she pushed it aside.

"Why did you feel like you had to hide it from me?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with something so raw, it nearly broke her.

She bit her lip, looking down.

"I was scared."

Her voice was so soft, it was almost a whisper.

She forced herself to continue.

"I didn't want you to think I married you for your money. Those loan sharks only came after me because of you, and I didn't want to burden you with it."

Ethan's expression softened instantly.

His grip on her tightened, his fingers intertwining with hers.

"Sophie, the last thing I care about in this world is money."

Her eyes snapped up to his, searching, pleading.

His voice was gentle, but so damn certain.

"I'd give you my kidney if you wanted me to."

Her lips parted, her breath shallow.

"I'd give you everything I own if you wanted it."

Her heart pounded in her chest.

His fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him.

"Because if something happened to you, Sophie—" His voice broke slightly, but he swallowed hard and pressed on.

"I'd never forgive myself."

A tear slipped down her cheek.

God.

Wasn't that the same as saying he loved her?

Why?

Why had she kept this from him, the one person who always made her feel safe?

Ethan brushed the tear away before she even had the chance to.

She exhaled shakily, her voice barely audible—

"Ethan, I'm sorry."

"You went through a hard time when your dad got sick." Ethan's voice was gentle. "Borrowing money from the loan sharks is nothing to be ashamed of."

He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch soft.

"You just wanted your dad to get better, Sophie."

Her chest tightened, another tear slipping down her cheek.

Her dad's death had shattered her. More than anything in her life.

It had broken her mother.

And when her mother broke, Sophie felt like she had to hold everything together.

She gave too much—so much that she sometimes wondered if there was anything left to give.

Why did she have to step up as the eldest?

Why did she have to be the rock?

She had just been a girl, watching her father die, and she couldn't do a damn thing to stop it.

She loved her dad so much.

He had been her hero, her protector, her safe place.

He was supposed to be there. To watch her grow, to tease her about boys, to walk her down the aisle one day.

She wished she could turn back time, back to when her family was whole, when things were normal.

But more than anything...

She wished she hadn't been forced to make all the tough decisions alone.

Ethan's thumb grazed over her cheek, pulling her out of her thoughts.

There was no judgment in his eyes. Only understanding.

He could see it now—

How hard she had been pretending.

How much she had been holding it all in.

Sophie tried to hold it together.

But the dam broke.

Tears poured down her cheeks, her voice cracking.

"I was so scared, Ethan. I borrowed the money because I didn't want to lose him—"

A sharp, shaky breath.

"But I still lost him."

Her voice wavered.

Her body shook.

"Why did he leave me to handle everything alone?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to keep the grief from swallowing her whole.

But it was too much.

Years of buried pain surged forward.

Years of pretending to be okay.

And for the first time in forever, she let it break her.

A wrecked sob tore from her chest, her hands covering her face.

"I've been pretending I'm okay, but I'm not."

Her voice trembled.

"I'm so scared... I'm tired, and sometimes, I don't even want to live my life."

Ethan's breath hitched.

Sophie's lips parted, as if she wanted to say more—

Her voice so small, so fragile—

"But I love my life. I love my family. I love—"

You.

The words almost escaped her lips.

But her tears won instead.

She felt Ethan pull her into his arms, holding her so tight—as if he could shield her from the weight of everything she carried.

"You're strong, Sophie, but you don't have to be strong by yourself anymore," Ethan murmured against her hair.

His arms tightened around her, his warmth steadying her shaking body.

"You can count on me."

His voice was a promise.

"I'll make the hard decisions for you when you don't want to think about them."

"I'll handle them for you, so you can be free."

Sophie's heart clenched.

Someone to share the burden.

Someone who would make the hard decisions for her.

That didn't sound so bad.

Her fingers clutched onto his shirt, her tears soaking into the fabric.

Slowly, she felt the weight on her chest begin to lift.

For the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe again.

Ethan rested his forehead against hers, his breath calm and steady— a silent reassurance.

"You're safe," he whispered.

His fingers traced soothing circles against her back.

"With me, you'll always be safe."

Sophie nestled against him, her body still trembling.

But this time, it wasn't from pain.

Or fear.

It was relief.

Her eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion pulling her under.

"I'm so tired," she whispered.

Ethan's lips pressed softly against her temple.

"Close your eyes for a bit," he said gently, his fingers threading through her hair.

"I'll stay with you."

Feeling safe, Sophie closed her eyes, but she wasn't really sleeping. She could feel his warmth beside her, and after everything that happened tonight, the thought of being away from him terrified her.

Ethan soothed Sophie's hair as she rested against him.

He tried to stay calm, to keep his breathing steady for her sake.

But inside—

Inside, he felt nothing but rage.

He couldn't stop replaying what had happened.

How those men had cornered her.

How they dared to threaten her.

How they thought they could put their hands on his Sophie.

He swallowed down the searing fury, his jaw tightening as he exhaled slowly.

He needed to do something.

Now.

Carefully, Ethan stood up from the couch, making sure his movements were quiet so he wouldn't wake her.

But as he stepped away, Sophie stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

"Ethan?" she called out softly, her voice laced with sleep.

He glanced back, his gaze dark and unreadable. "I need to make a call," he said. "I'll be right back."

Sophie blinked sleepily, barely whispering, "Okay."

Once inside his study, Ethan closed the door sharply.

He didn't bother lowering his voice.

Sophie, still curled up on the couch, could hear every word.

His fingers moved swiftly as he dialed.

Jessica picked up on the first ring. "Ethan? Is there a problem?"

He didn't bother with greetings.

"Jessica," he said, his voice like steel. "I need you to fix a situation. Immediately."

Jessica, startled by his clipped tone, straightened on the other end. "Of course. What's going on?"

Ethan's grip on the phone tightened. "Those goddamn loan sharks. I was very clear when I told you to deal with them."

A brief pause.

"But I did," Jessica insisted. "And I wasn't polite about it either."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "Then tell me, Jessica, why the hell did loan sharks walk into Sophie's shop today and try to shake her down?"

Silence.

A rare moment where Jessica Morgan had no answer.

Jessica inhaled sharply. "I... I have no idea why. Ethan, I'm so sorry."

Ethan didn't care for apologies. Sophie almost got hurt today.

And someone was going to pay for that.

"I know you're good at your job," Ethan continued, his voice low and deadly, "but I don't tolerate slip-ups like this. Not when it comes to her."

Jessica sounded genuinely rattled. "I'll look into it immediately. This should never have happened."

Ethan's next words were like ice. "Sophie almost got hurt today."

Jessica gasped, realizing the severity of the situation. "Oh my God. Is she okay?"

Ethan exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay composed. "She's fine. Barely."

But he would never let this happen again.

"Find them."

Jessica swallowed. "Sir?"

"Find their boss. Find their entire operation. And I want it destroyed." His voice was like a blade. "Burn it to the ground."

Jessica hesitated for only a second before responding. "Absolutely. I'll make it my top priority."

But Ethan wasn't finished.

"While you're at it, I want names. Photos. Every man involved in this pathetic excuse of a business."

His voice dropped even lower, dangerously calm.

"I want them dealt with. Legally."

For now.

Jessica nodded hurriedly. "Understood. I'll get on this immediately."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Make sure you do your job well this time."

And without waiting for a response, he hung up.

His pulse was throbbing in his ears, the anger far from fading.

He would fix this.

No matter what it took.

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