The echo of Ethan's whisper clung to her skin like smoke.
"Run to Paris, Rome, or the ends of the earth. I'll find you."
Lila barely made it out of the hallway before her brothers spotted her. Caleb cracked a grin, probably about to tease her, but his expression shifted the moment he noticed her flushed face and trembling hands.
"Lila?" Tyler frowned, stepping closer.
"I'm fine," she muttered quickly, brushing past them.
But Aiden wasn't fooled. His hand clamped down on her shoulder. "Did he—"
"No," she snapped. "Drop it."
Jordan's sharp eyes flicked down the hallway where Ethan had been moments ago. His jaw clenched. "This isn't over."
It never is, she thought bitterly.
That night, dinner was more tense than usual. Her mom had made pasta, her little sister chattered about her ballet practice, but all of it blurred as her dad cleared his throat and set his fork down.
"I heard about this school trip."
The room went silent.
Lila's heart sank.
Her dad's gaze swept across the table before landing squarely on her. "You're not going."
The words hit like a hammer. "What? Why not?"
"Because it's reckless. A month in another country without family? Absolutely not."
"It's not reckless—it's school! It's supervised!" She shot a desperate look at her mom, but her mom's sympathetic eyes dropped back to her plate.
Her big sister, however, spoke up. "Dad, it's not like she'd be alone. The school has chaperones, teachers, and—"
"Enough," her dad cut in, his voice final. "She's not going."
Her brothers nodded instantly, like soldiers falling in line.
"No way," Aiden added."Too dangerous," Tyler said."She'd get lost in the first airport," Caleb joked, though his smirk didn't reach his eyes.Jordan didn't say anything—just gave her that look, the one that said I'll drag you home myself if I have to.
Lila's chest burned. "You can't just—just control everything I do! I'm not a prisoner here!"
Her dad's gaze hardened. "You're my daughter. That's enough."
She pushed away from the table, her chair screeching against the floor, and stormed upstairs before the tears in her eyes could spill.
In her room, she buried her face in her pillow, muffling a scream.
She wanted out. Out of this house, out of these chains of protection, out of Ethan's suffocating gaze. But every path forward was blocked—by her family on one side and Ethan on the other.
When her phone buzzed on her nightstand, she grabbed it without thinking.
No name. No number. Just one message.
You're not going without me. – E
Her stomach flipped.
She deleted the message instantly, but the words burned into her mind.
Ethan's POV
He lay back on his bed, one arm folded under his head, staring at the ceiling. His phone rested on his chest, the glow of the screen fading after he sent the message.
He could still see her—flushed against the lockers, eyes wide, lips parted as if she wanted to say his name but couldn't.
She was going to leave him. He could feel it in the way her friends buzzed about the trip, in the way her eyes flickered with something like hope.
Hope of escape.
He wouldn't let it happen.
The thought of her gone for a month, in another country, surrounded by strangers? It twisted something sharp inside him. The idea of her laughing with someone else, confiding in someone else—it made his blood boil.
No.
If her family wanted to keep her caged, that was their mistake. Because cages made people restless. And when she got restless, she'd run.
She'd run straight to him.
The next day, school buzzed even louder about the trip. Flyers went up, teachers announced sign-ups, friends clustered in groups discussing host families and sightseeing.
Maya practically bounced beside Lila. "I already told my parents! They're excited. You are signing up, right?"
Lila hesitated, staring at the form in her hands.
She wanted this. She needed this. A chance to breathe away from her family, away from Ethan.
But as she looked up, she found Ethan across the cafeteria again, watching her. Always watching.
His gaze flicked down to the paper in her hands, then back to her eyes.
The message was clear.
Try it. I dare you.
Her hand trembled.
That afternoon, her brothers showed up at school early, practically dragging her to the car. "We're taking you home," Jordan said flatly.
"Why?" she demanded.
Aiden's scowl darkened. "Because Cole doesn't understand boundaries."
"He didn't do anything today," she argued.
"Not yet," Tyler muttered.
Caleb leaned over the seat, smirking. "Come on, Lil. You know this is fun. Four overprotective brothers, one obsessed football player—it's like you're living in a drama series."
She groaned. "Shut up, Caleb."
But deep down, she knew he was right.
And dramas never ended clean.
That night, she sat at her desk, staring at the unsigned form. The deadline was in two days.
If she didn't turn it in, she'd lose her chance.
If she did, she'd face war at home—and maybe something even darker from Ethan.
Her phone buzzed again.
Decide fast. Because if you go without me, Lila… I'll come find you. And you won't like how I do it. – E
Her blood ran cold.
For the first time, she realized Ethan wasn't just obsessed.
He was dangerous.
-----
If you like this than read my book "HER TEARS, HER PAIN"
And "When the Sky Burned Crimson "
They are unique and full of joy stories.
Waiting too see your respond.