Chapter 49: 42.𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Liam stops the car infront of the restaurant, I turn my head and look at the building taking in its appearance. Liam takes my hand in his, his thumb caressing my knuckles gently "If you need me, I am right here" he says assuring me.

I smile and shake my head "It's alright, you have too many things to do. Go back"

He keeps looking at, his eyes soft and relaxed. Just by his gaze I could feel myself blushing, "what do you wanna have for dinner tonight? I will make anything" he asks

I chuckle at his attempt to relax me from the situation. "Hmm the best dish you could cook. Try to leave me speechless" I reply, trying to sound a bit playfully. He nods "as you wish, my lady" he says with a charming grin. His hand still holding mine, as if he doesn't wanna let it go.

"You must really like me, don't you?" I tease, the way he acts, talks and just agrees to everything I ask without any second thoughts makes him the best man I have ever met.

"Like is an understatement for my feelings" He brings my hand to his lips and presses a small kiss on my knuckles. My cheeks heat up at his gesture. We have been dating for a while now yet he never fails to make me feel butterflies.

He is the man straight out of fantasy that no one could reach

I giggle pulling my hand back "Okay my dear boyfriend, I think I should go now"

His smiles drops for a second with the thought of me leaving. But he nods with a sigh "Call me if you need. Okay?"

"I will, don't worry" I peck his cheek before getting down if the car. He glances one last time before driving away. I take a deep breath and walk inside the restaurant towards the reception.

"Hello, I am here to meet Ethan Miller?" I inform the lady at the reception. She looks up from the computer and smiles "Good afternoon ma'am, sure give me a minute" she says. After a few seconds another woman comes to the reception to guide me.

"This way ma'am" The hostess says, guiding me inside the restaurant, as we walk upstairs to another floor. The people dining on the first level can be visible from here. But I knew Ethan wouldn't book a table like others, he likes his privacy. Hence, the hostess is taking me to the private dining section.

Ethan Miller, my older brother. Working as a criminal lawyer under Miller's co. & Attorneys, Dad's firm. He is the best Criminal Lawyers out there just like dad. He was the best brother for me too, until he graduated high school and started to distant himself. Henry, my second older brother, he's a business lawyer, he also works with Ethan only. At Least Henry was still there being my brother

She walks ahead of me, I keep rubbing the strap of my bag with the growing anxiety within me. After receiving Ethan's message I was more panicked and worried about it. He doesn't message me usually unless it's something about a family dinner or event. But it's something else and he wanted me to meet him really badly?

It's been two years since he called me Ella, only mom calls me that. It's my nickname from my mother, but Ethan calling me made something shake breathen me.

I am already too overwhelmed by the fact that my design was rejected by NYX, I am trying to accept it but it still hurts. Liam has been trying to get my mind off it, Ethan's message totally ruined his efforts.

The hostess opens the door and steps aside. I take a deep breath calming myself and walk inside. The faint music playing in the background, the room is decorated with a green and musky interior. The large table is placed in the center of the room, and there he is.

Ethan sitting right in front of me, his perfectly ironed navy blue suit. His deep brown eyes stare at me, he looks too much like dad's younger version "Hey little sister" he says keeping the menu aside, leaning against the seat with his one leg crossed over the other

"Well hello older brother" I say with the same tone as him and take a seat right opposite to him. He chuckles "How have you been"

The waiter comes and places a glass of water in front me before exiting the room. "Been well, moreover happy. How about you? " I reply, my voice is a bit colder than usual. He smiles slightly, noticing my tone. "As you can see," he says, opening his arms.

His voice is more natural than before

For a second I would believe that he is the old Ethan

"So why did you call me?" I ask to get straight to the point. I don't have that much patience for small chit chats. Ethan shifts in his seat, putting his leg down and leaning forward "I have many things to talk about, drink some water first, it's hot outside" He suggests, his voice calm and gentle. Almost as if he is genuinely worried.

I nod and take a few sips of water, the cold liquid cooling off my mind a little. He sighs and leans back again "So, how's it going with your boyfriend?" the water gets stuck in my throat and I choke as he mentions Liam. His eyes widens and he moves forward grabbing a few tissues and passing them to me. I take them and wipe my mouth, coughing to clear my throat

How the hell does he know?

Henry wouldn't say anything like this to Ethan unless I want him to

"I didn't mean to surprise you, I just asked" he says casually. I glare at him and put the tissues aside. "How do you know?" I question. He shrugs his shoulders "I came to meet you before your birthday, to give your present of course. But I saw you going with a guy, upon researching I got to know he's your boyfriend and you went with him to Thailand" He answers, his each other shocking me beyond.

He knew everything from the start?

"Then why didn't you confront me? Wouldn't you come up and ask about him?" I ask

He shakes his head "why would I? You looked happy, honestly? More happier than when you were with that ostrich looking guy!" He comments. I couldn't help but snort when he described miles as ostrich "why? I thought you liked him" I say still laughing a little. He gives me a ' 'seriously?' look

"I never liked him, I just liked his potential for being a lawyer. That guy was always poking his invisible beak in our house" he mutters, I could sense the annoyance in his voice

Well I knew that not Ethan nor Henry liked him, but why did he mention miles?

"By the way, did you meet Miles? Like recently?"

I stop laughing and look at him seriously "yeah I did, why?" I don't think I will mention the whole conversation to him. "You know he broke his arm" he informs. My eyes widens in shock "What? Seriously? He got into an accident or something?" I hate that guy but being a human still concerns me

He chuckles "the bruises on his face are something else to me" I frown at his words, did he get into a fight or something. Noticing my expressions Ethan smirks and says "You didn't know what happened, do you?" I shake my head in denial

He laughs, after years I see him laughing genuinely. "that biker boyfriend of your broke his arm"

Okay what?

"The other day, I went to my university to meet an old professor of mine. Only to be welcomed by a broken face Miles. Oh Lord, his face was worth a good laugh!" Ethan says while laughing, enjoying the moment. Well, Ethan Miles and I studied in the same law University so it's common to bump into that guy "Mike's seriously came to me and whined how your boyfriend beat the shut out of him"

But seriously?

Liam beat him? Moreover, he broke his arm?

God- I need time to process all this

Well when I talked about my past with miles to Liam, he seemed calm and unbothered. I thought it's because he is more focused on my hangover but no-

He was practically planning his murder or what?

"Anyways, I give your boyfriend a plus point for that" Ethan says, his laughter dies down as he sips some water "But Ella, you should have said us about that guy's behavior"

"How could I? Mom liked him and trusted him, and even you! I thought you might not even care about it and tell me to continue to date him because he is a good student or whatever"

He frowns "Ella, just put all that argument of us about law and fashion designing aside and think. Would I allow a guy who verbally abused you, to stay anywhere near you?" He scoffs leaning back "okay you don't trust me, I get it. But Henry? He was there too, you could have just explained it right? Why take all that shit alone?"

I look down fidgeting with my fingers, "it did cross my mind. But you both were so busy with your problems which were a lot bigger than mine and I didn't wanna be a nuisance. I wanted to handle it by my own and I did"

He sighs massaging his forehead "If anything like this happens again, you will say one of us. No matter what, if not me then Henry. Okay?" I nod in response.

I still don't understand how he is behaving right now. It's not new, this is how Ethan used to be like in my childhood, caring and protective. But suddenly seeing this side of him again is confusing me so much.

"You aren't gonna say anything about Liam? I thought you would disprove of him"

He raises his eyebrow at me, amused by my words "First of all, who am I to approve of him? I am not the one dating him. As long as he keeps you happy and all I am fine" he says, making me even more surprised. How is he so chill about all this? "I met him Ella, a while ago Liam visited us"

My head snaps in his direction, he met Liam? When?

"A few days ago, he came to my office. Henry was there too, he knew Liam because of his mother but not that he was dating you. Whereas I was aware because I saw him with you" he says, taking his time with the words. I sit on the edge of my chair listening to his words

"That guy came to us and politely explained the whole situation about what happened at your dorm and how you will live with him for now. More shocking thing? He asked for our permission to keep you with him and asked me for help to find that guy who tried to hurt you" Ethan adds, he shakes his head at the last sentence astonished by Liam's behavior

No wonder Henry wasn't too shocked when he saw liam with me. They met already, that's why even Ethan is not reacting that much. I was panicking for no reason.

Liam meeting my brothers and asking them for help and permission to let me stay with him, all this is too much for me to handle. Of course he would ask them. "Don't live in fear Ella, that guy wouldn't let anyone harm you" Ethan points out.

I relax in my chair. I know that i could trust Liam with my life and he wouldn't let anyone harm me. But what if in this process he gets hurt? What will I do then?

Before I could say something else, the door opens the the waiters brings in the food and places it on the table. Among everything my eyes fall on the mini pizza set on a tray, the cute square shaped food makes me wanna grab it and eat.

I hesitate to take it thinking is it the right time or not. Ethan's gaze follows mine, a slight smile appears on his lips. He takes the pizza tray and keeps it in front of me "I ordered it for you, eat as much as you want" he says, I look at him and smile. He remembers

I grab the pizza and start eating it, the delicious cheese melting in my mouth making me forget about everything. For sometime, we both eat in silence. Neither of us speaking. During the whole time my thoughts were just about Liam, I gotta go back home as soon as possible

"There's another reason I called you" Ethan breaks the silence, I lift my head looking at him. His expression more serious and stern right now. "stay away from dad, he's out of his mind right now" Ethan says. I look at him confused "what are you talking about?"

He sighs and puts his fork down "He doesn't care about anything anymore, he is just behind making more money. He is forcing Henry and me to take wrong cases just for more profit"

"But why? That still doesn't answer the question why you want me to stay away from him" I ask, my brain is not catching up with his words. Ethan's jaw clenches as he straighten his posture "your design wasn't rejected by NYX, dad paid the board to decline your design"

The fork in my hand drops on the floor, I look at him with a mixture of shock and fear. My fingers grips on the edges of the chair.

What is that supposed to mean?

Why would dad do that?

Why

"He wants you to study law again, this was his plan. He thought that after you fail it you would be devastated by the rejection and come back to study law again" Ethan adds. My breathing gets heavy, my grip tightens at the edges of the chair until my knuckles turns white.

"But i thought he supported me? He was the one who agreed to let me pursue fashion designing when you objected it" my voice cracks as I speak

Ethan sighs, his eyes softens looking at as if he feels bad "Dad was the one who asked me to convince you to study law. I never wanted you to do that, I didn't want you to walk on the same path that Henry and I were forced to take" he says, his voice low as he avoids my gaze. I could notice his guilty expressions

"But you were so into sending me there! We had so many fights and arguments! Why?!" I almost yell, feeling betrayed and played.

He shakes his head, "I am sorry, I swear on my life that I never intended to hurt you or send you in that field. Dad wanted you to take the same path as us, but he knew you had different choices. So, he asked me to convince you as he knew you wouldn't say no to me directly. You would atleast try and you did"

Dad knew that I would not reject Ethan, he knew our bond and I wouldn't like to hurt any of my family. I did fight but at the end I did bend to his will.

Oh God

I feel like my breathing is getting cut off

My head spinning as his words rings inside me

"He didn't think you would leave it after the 1st year and suddenly pursue fashion designing. It was unexpected, that's when I thought you might finally come out of it but no. He was furious and continued to make me go against you" Ethan adds, I could hear his tone changing as he speaks

"Then why didn't you stop him? You could have right? Why did you let him use you?" I ask, almost yelling at him feeling angry on him. He let dad use him and just continued to hurt me

"I was helpless okay? You think I had a choice? Henry had a choice? He might have been a father for you both but for me, he was never there. He is abusive Stella, if I say no then it would become my worst experience, he treated me worst than an animal. He blackmailed me that he would hurt mom, you and Henry the same way he did with me!" Ethan breaks out, his hand slamming against the table that makes it vibrate from the sensation. "The only reason he didn't do something directly is because I know his biggest secrets, he knows I am a threat to his reputation"

My heart clenches at the thoughts of how much my own father hurt his son to mould him into something Ethan never wanted to be. No one knew, not mom, nor Henry. Ethan became a puppet under him and he couldn't do anything other than taking it all silently.

He was a kid too, yet wasn't allowed to escape

Anger

Betrayal

Disgust

I couldn't believe my own father, the one whom I loved and respected the most would be like this

My head hangs low as I keep staring at my hands trembling, Ethan stands in front of me

"I am sorry Stella,I am really sorry for everything. I know my apology would never make up for my words, I couldn't be forgiven, the circumstances made me hurt my sister whom I adore the most. After you left the house, the next day I gathered the courage to leave too" he crouch down in front of me. His face calm and collected as if he is used to all that, he doesn't show pain

He isn't able to show pain

"I never wanted to be the villain in your story, I was forced to" his words breaks my heart.

The person I trusted has turned out to be an enemy.

"Stay where you are, don't come back to the house no matter what. I have already talked with Henry, if necessary we will come and meet you. We will make it right" he says with a promise. "but why does he want me to study law? You and Henry-"

Ethan cuts me off "He wants you to handle his firm, not me or Henry. He wants you to run it, that's why"

"But he wanted you to become the next heir, he did all that to you so that you would run his firm right?" I ask, my head hurting with all the information.

Ethan shakes his head and laughs, it's not a normal happy one. It's a deep laugh "Because I went against him and I have proof of his sins, he knows if I get the position then I will reveal it all. He won't risk it with me anymore and you are the best candidate who would listen to him without any questions" he completes

I stay still in my seat, unable to move or speak my mind recalling all the memories, conversation and everything. This all is too overwhelming for me to stay sane.

I wanna go back home

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

Author's Note

For everyone who thought Ethan is the stalker, like seriously? A brother stalking his own sister is disturbing on soooo many levels. Anyways the stalker isn't Ethan nor Stella's father.

It's for you all to decide if Ethan deserves forgiveness. He had his reasons and he was helpless but what he did was wrong too but at least he supports Stella ?

I was supposed to add the confession scene here but it looked really messed up so I will forward it to the next chapter.

Here's a spoiler and I want y'all to try and decode it 🤭

"Iangfyniagmltyiagwyswytwyd"

Voting target- 310+ votes & 160+ comments

-have a nice day 💕