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Part 37 – Cracks in the Control
The days after the incident passed quietly, but not for Anna. Ethan seemed calmer, more careful, almost as if he was trying to make up for his earlier aggression. He took her out, texted her constantly, and made sure she never felt "ignored." On the surface, it looked like everything was fine. But deep down, Anna still carried Ryan's words in her heart: If he really loved you, he wouldn't treat you like property.
One afternoon, Anna spotted Ryan near the school courtyard, leaning against the railing, reading something on his phone. She hesitated at first—Ethan's angry face from last time flashed in her mind—but then she thought, Why should I feel guilty for having a friend?
"Hey," she said softly, walking over.
Ryan looked up, surprised but glad. "Anna. I thought you wouldn't talk to me again."
She smiled faintly. "Of course I would. You're my friend. I don't want Ethan's anger to ruin that."
Ryan closed his phone and studied her. "You shouldn't let him decide who you can or can't talk to."
"I know," Anna admitted, her voice low. "But you know how he is. He doesn't like…" she paused, searching for the right word, "…sharing."
Ryan gave her a small smile, one that was both sad and understanding. "That's not love, Anna. That's fear. Possession."
Anna didn't reply. Instead, she tried to lighten the mood, asking him about his weekend plans, joking about teachers, laughing at his sarcasm. For the first time in weeks, she felt free—like she could breathe without looking over her shoulder. Ryan had that effect. He didn't demand, didn't control; he just listened.
They walked around the courtyard, laughing over some silly rumor about a classmate. Ryan nudged her shoulder playfully, and Anna giggled, feeling… normal.
But normal never lasted long with Ethan around.
Across the yard, Ethan was watching. His jaw clenched, fists curling at his sides as he saw Anna smiling at Ryan, their easy banter flowing like it had been there forever. To Ethan, it wasn't just a conversation. It was betrayal.
By the time Anna and Ryan noticed him, he was already walking toward them, his steps sharp and heavy.
"Didn't I tell you," Ethan said, his voice cold as ice, eyes locked on Ryan, "to stay away from her?"
Ryan didn't flinch. He looked at Ethan calmly, though his voice carried firm conviction. "And I told you—it's her choice who she talks to. Not yours."
Anna's eyes widened. She tried to step between them. "Ethan, please. We were just—"
But Ethan didn't care for explanations. His glare was venomous. "You think you can come near her after my warning?"
Ryan took a step forward, meeting Ethan's rage head-on. "You don't own her. She's not some object you get to lock away. If she wants to talk to me, I'll talk to her. You can't stop that."
Anna felt her heart race. She was terrified—for Ryan, for herself. She had never seen anyone challenge Ethan like this.
Ethan's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "You've got guts. But don't mistake guts for wisdom." He turned suddenly, grabbing Anna's wrist tightly. "We're leaving."
"Ethan—" Anna tried to protest, but his grip was like iron. Ryan moved as if to stop him, but Anna shook her head quickly at Ryan, silently begging him not to push it further. She didn't want him hurt again.
Ethan dragged her out of the courtyard, ignoring her small protests. The hallway was empty, the air tense. He pulled her all the way outside, where his car was parked.
"Ethan, you're hurting me!" she cried, struggling to free her hand. But he didn't let go until they were inside his house, door slammed shut behind them.
And then, before she could react—his hand struck her cheek.
The sound echoed in the silence.
Anna froze. Her hand instinctively went to her face, eyes wide in shock. It wasn't the pain—it was the disbelief. Ethan had never crossed this line before.
"Do you not understand?" Ethan's voice trembled with anger. "I told you not to be around him. I told you. Why do you keep disobeying me?"
Tears welled in her eyes, but she tried to steady her voice. "Because he's my friend, Ethan! That's all! You can't keep me from everyone I care about!"
Ethan's anger wavered at her words, but only slightly. His chest heaved as he paced the room, running a hand through his hair. "You don't get it, Anna. The world isn't safe. People aren't safe. Ryan isn't safe. They'll all try to take you away from me. I can't let that happen."
Anna whispered, "You're not protecting me. You're trapping me."
The words slipped out before she could stop them. Ethan stopped pacing. His eyes softened for a moment, pain flashing across them, as if her words had pierced something inside him.
He moved closer, cupping her face where he had just struck her. His thumb brushed her cheek gently, apologetically. "I… I didn't mean to hurt you. You just make me crazy sometimes, Anna. The thought of losing you—it kills me. I love you too much."
Anna stood still, torn. Part of her wanted to believe his apology, to let the tenderness soothe the sting of his slap. But another part of her screamed that love shouldn't hurt this way. Love shouldn't make her feel like a prisoner.
Ethan leaned his forehead against hers. "Don't cry, baby. I can't stand it when you cry. Just… don't make me jealous again. Please."
Anna closed her eyes, the tears spilling freely now. She whispered, "Then trust me. That's all I ever wanted—for you to trust me."
But in her heart, she knew the truth—Ethan's love wasn't built on trust. It was built on fear.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, Ryan's voice echoed louder than ever: That's not love, Anna. That's possession.
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