Chapter 7

Ethan

I splashed water on my face, trying to shake off the unease Maddie had caused. I know it was a huge mistake to have slept with her. Shit, shit, shit! But in that period of abstinence, she had been my only outlet. I wasn't going to make excuses; I had been desperate for sex, and she offered. I was very clear that it would only be sex. I glared down at my crotch.

"This is your fault, for not staying hidden."

Now, how am I going to fix things with her? There was no easy way out, nothing would ever be the same, and the family was going to notice. If my godmother finds out...—I looked at my penis again.

"He'll tear you apart; you won't escape even by disappearing off the face of the earth. Only by getting married, and I wouldn't get married for anything."

I left the bathroom; James was in the room. Judging by his tight expression, I knew he was going to get a scolding... But what did I do?

I quickly searched my memories for inappropriate conversations, attitudes, gestures, or actions on my part since leaving prison, but there was nothing; I hadn't done anything, I've behaved like a lamb.

"Ethan," he said, pointing to the door. "I saw Maddie come out of your room crying. What did you do to her?" "Shit, I'm screwed!"

"Nothing."

"Ethan, her feelings for you are obvious."

Everyone knew it. Her eyes broadcast it to everyone, constantly saying," I love you, Ethan."

"It's her, James. I haven't given her any indication of anything."

"But you made her cry, you need to be more careful."

"So what do you want? Should I deceive her and pretend to love her when it's not true?"

"She loves you, be more empathetic, I'm telling you from experience. You might regret it later."

"Look, brother. I'm not going to get her hopes up. If she's in love, that doesn't mean I have to feel the same way. Do you think it's fair to be by her side if I don't feel the same? I've been clear in every way possible. Is it my fault she's in love? Don't mess with me, James, with that nonsense!"

"One, stop being rude. Two, I'm just asking you to be a gentleman. The time will come when she realizes she has no hope with you, and I hope she finds someone else and makes her feel how much she's worth."

"I know how brave, strong, and intelligent Maddie is. She's a beautiful woman, she has an amazing figure, she has nothing to envy in any of those skinny girls. But I love her like a sister."

"You slept with her, you kissed her entire body, your mouth was on every inch of her soft skin." Shit, The thought made it sound almost incestuous, what a time to think about it.

"Well, you're right about that."

"James, I'd give my life for Maddie. If they hurt her, I'd gladly go back to jail after killing whoever dared to harm her. But it's one thing to love her the way you love Claire. Do you understand?" "Why did the words that came out of my mouth feel so bad?" "Now let's go to the party."

"I'm going to look at Amelia, then I'll come down."

In the hallway, he went to his old room, and I went back to the party. The truth was, I did feel like a real bastard for what I did to Maddie. I took her virginity, gladly accepted her innocence, and enjoyed some very intimate moments. When I got to the living room, I saw Damian come in with Robert behind him. My father was coming out of the kitchen with a bottle for Derek.

"Charles, can I borrow your office for a moment? Please." I glanced at Damian.

"I screwed up, brother."

"And then some, come on, young man. I need to talk to you seriously."

Dad and I exchanged a glance. It was unusual to see Robert use that tone with his children, not even with Ryan, who was a handful and at that tiresome age. We watched them walk away.

"It seems that a parent's job never ends."

"That's the great thing about having you as parents," I said.

If he finds out, he'll beat me for the first time, even though I'm an adult.—She checked the temperature of the baby bottle again.

"Sycophant. Come on, your nephew is starting a war with your mother." I smiled.

Dad walked over to the table where Mom was sitting with Claire, and I walked over to the table I shared with my friends. But I had a feeling of unease in my chest.