Chapter 276: Coming To An Understanding (Bonus)

Within Ethan’s room a few hours later...

"What the fuck?" Percival’s voice rang out. "It’s no wonder it’s was so awkward this morning."

Ethan sighed, lying back on the bed.

Percival continued, pacing slightly. "I should punch you for doing Hayley like that."

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Bro, I thought I was bad with women," Percival went on. "But you? You’re terrible. Actually terrible."

Ethan shook his head.

"And why the hell would you tell Isabella?" Percival added. "What kind of dumb move was that?"

Ethan turned his head toward him. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

Ethan pushed himself up slightly. "Okay, tell me. What would you do if it were you, would you lie to Aliyah?"

Percival paused. "...It’s not lying, it’s just—"

"Just what?" Ethan pressed

"...I wouldn’t be in that position in the first place." Percival defended.

"Let’s run a test then," Ethan said. "You stay in this room, yeah? I’ll call Eduardo to go into those kinds of places in the city and get you a call girl...with Valerie’s kind of ass—"

Percival’s eyes widened immediately.

"—then tomorrow morning, try and look Aaliyah in the face like nothing happened."

Percival stared at him. "...That’s diabolical."

Ethan smiled slightly.

Percival shook his head, then suddenly paused. "Wait. Eduardo would actually do that?"

Ethan burst out laughing. "What an idiot."

"Fuck you," Percival muttered, dropping onto a chair.

He sighed after a second. "...Alright. So what now?"

Ethan leaned back again, staring at the ceiling. "I don’t know, man. I’m stuck still this night."

⸻

Later that night, Rayleigh’s car rolled into the compound, while Bella was already outside waiting.

The moment the car stopped, the doors opened and they stepped out. Isabella exchanged a brief nod with her brother before he continued on his way inside.

That left her and Ethan facing each other.

"Let’s go inside," she said.

He nodded. "Yeah."

They walked in together and made their way toward her room. The moment Ethan stepped inside, he glanced around almost in surprise. "Whoa... this place is twice the size of mine."

Isabella gave a faint smile. "You should see some of my sisters’ rooms."

That earned a small chuckle from him. Then it got quiet again.

She turned slightly. "So... about earlier."

Ethan’s attention returned to her.

She exhaled. "I had a lot on my mind. And there were things I didn’t say... things that kept bothering me. That’s why I wanted to talk."

He nodded. "Okay."

She looked at him. "First... I’m sorry for leaving like that. But I don’t think there’s any woman who wouldn’t have reacted the way I did."

"I understand," Ethan said quietly.

She nodded, then continued.

"I’m not going to ask about your feelings," she said. "I already know you like her. And with Hayley... it’s been there for a long time. You’ve always known each other."

There was a brief pause.

"But the problem is..." she added softly, "...I don’t know where that puts me."

She looked straight at him now.

"So what am I, Ethan?" she asked. "A passing thing? Something that fills a gap?"

Ethan’s expression changed immediately. "No—no, that’s not it."

He stepped forward quickly, taking her hand. "It’s not like that," he said, more firmly this time.

His other hand rose, gently cupping her cheek and turning her face toward him. "I love you babe," he said. "A lot."

Isabella held his gaze. For a moment, her eyes almost glinted... then she looked away, taking a slow breath. "...Okay."

There was another pause. "But I want to ask something of you," she said. "And it might not be easy."

Ethan nodded. "Go on."

She hesitated slightly, then continued. "With Hayley... whatever is there between you, I understand it might go further."

She looked down at her hands briefly. "But there’s also my dignity."

That made Ethan go still.

Isabella continued in a steady voice. "I don’t like the idea of being... someone you can just come to when you feel like it," she said. "Like I’m just another option. Someone you can share your body with whenever it suits you."

She lifted her gaze again.

"I’m not that," she said. "It makes me feel like a call girl, Ethan. I’m royalty... and more than that, I’m someone who values what I give of myself."

Ethan opened his mouth slightly. "Bella, I—"

"Just let me finish," she said.

He nodded.

"So... if this is going to continue," she went on, "then it has to mean something."

A small breath left her. "Get me married."

Ethan blinked in surprised.

"And If there’s any other woman you care about enough to reach that level with," she added, "then do the same with her. Marriage... or at least engagement."

She held his gaze. "There’s dignity in that. Not this... undefined thing where we all just exist around you."

Ethan stared at her for a moment, still processing it. "...Okay," he said slowly. Then after a second, "we joked about it once, but I didn’t think you’d be okay with being in a multiple wives situation"

"It’s not what I’d go for typically" she said, "but people make it work, so i guess, it’s okay"

Ethan nodded, then asked, "well, are we good?"

Isabella didn’t answer immediately, then suddenly a smile came on her face. "Stay tonight, then maybe I’ll consider if we are"

Ethan looked surprised. "Here? Wouldn’t that be a bit—"

"Oh please," she cut in lightly. "Everyone already knows about us."

Then she added, with a small smile, "but you’re not getting any tonight...I’m not even sure you’re getting anything anymore until we’re married."

Ethan looked amused. "Oh come on, that’s not fair."

She shrugged, still holding a smiling face. Before she could say anything else, he pulled her into a hug.

She hugged him back just as tightly. And for that moment... they stayed like that.

——

A few hours later...

Clothes were scattered across the floor.

A white shirt hung loosely off the edge of a chair. A jacket lay near the foot of the bed, then a light gown on the other end of it.

This was evidence that something that had clearly not gone according to plan.

Beneath the sheets, Isabella rested her head on his chest, with her arm crossed over, as though she had no intention of moving anytime soon.

Ethan’s fingers traced slow circles along her arm, with his other hand resting at her waist.

There was silence for a moment, then he said in an amused voice. "I thought you said I wasn’t getting any."

"Go away." She shifted, turning from him and pulling more of the sheets over herself as she moved to the other side of the bed.

Ethan smiled and moved after her, closing the space again as his arm slid around her waist from behind, pulling her back into him.

She let out a small breath, but didn’t resist.

Then he leaned over to kiss her cheek, which made her smile

For a while, neither of them said anything.

"...I just hope," Isabella began, breaking the silence, "whatever this turns into... it doesn’t end up like my family."

Ethan didn’t interrupt.

She continued, "I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I’m sharing a space where everyone is just... tolerating each other."

Her voice lowered slightly. "I’m not even sure Hayley and I could call ourselves friends right now."

Ethan tightened his hold on her just a little. "You don’t have to worry about that."

"You say that now," she murmured.

"I mean it," he replied. "Whatever this becomes... it won’t be like that."

She smiled a bit, "alright"

And for now, that was enough.