Chapter 2
I froze, unable to move.
Ethan's fingers were icy cold as they slid across my collarbone through the thin fabric of my hospital gown.
The touch was way too intimate and dangerous.
I stammered, "D-Don't you dare!"
I tried to push him away, but he grabbed my wrist in a flash.
His grip was so tight, it hurt.
Ethan snorted, like he'd heard the funniest joke ever. "Don't I dare?
"Come on, Hannah, you love this part.
"Wasn't it always you begging me to get reckless?"
My mind went blank.
Was I that wild before?
No way!
That was impossible!
I tried to break free, but my strength was nothing compared to his.
"Let me go! This is a hospital," I hissed, keeping my voice low so the nurses outside wouldn't hear.
Ethan didn't bother to respond to my protests.
He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear.
"So what if it's a hospital? We've done it in way crazier places. Don't you remember?" he whispered.
His words hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me totally rattled.
So I was not just a heartbreaker; I was a wild child too?
Shame hit me all at once, my face burning hot.
"Ethan, if you keep this up, I'm gonna call for help," I warned.
"Go ahead," Ethan said, letting go of my hand but pulling me closer, his arm snaking around my waist. "Let everyone see how Miss Carter, even after losing her memory, can't help but make a move on her ex."
Ex?
"We broke up?" I asked.
Ethan froze.
He straightened up, towering over me, his face going dark in an instant.
"Break up?" he sneered. "In your dreams.
"Unless I say so, you're stuck with me for life."
His possessive words sent a chill down my spine.
He felt more like a debt collector than a boyfriend.
Seeing how furious he looked, I didn't dare provoke him further.
I had no choice but to soften my tone and try to reason with him. "Ethan, I'm serious. I really don't remember anything.
"Can you tell me who I am, where I live, and who my parents are?"
When I brought up my parents, Ethan's expression shifted.
The teasing and sarcasm faded, replaced by an emotion I couldn't quite figure out.
He was silent for a few seconds, then sat back down in his chair.
He said, "Your name is Hannah Carter. You're a grad student at Petrico University. As for your parents..."
He paused, his gaze drifting off into the distance, avoiding my eyes.
"Your parents passed away a long time ago," he said softly. "You've been on your own ever since."
My heart sank.
Even though the nurse had hinted at it, having Ethan confirm it made it so much harder to accept.
A wave of loneliness crashed over me.
I really was all alone in this world.
Ethan seemed to notice how down I was.
He reached out and ruffled my hair a little stiffly.
His touch was rough, but his voice was a lot softer than before. "Come on, don't look like the world ended.
"You don't have your parents, but you've got me.
"We'll get married, and I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
That sounded kind of sweet, if I ignored his earlier murderous glare.
I sniffled, trying to hold back the ache in my chest.
"What about the other two?" I asked hesitantly. "Prof. Hayes, and that Rich Fool guy?"
Ethan's hand froze.
The next second, he grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him.
All the warmth drained from his face, leaving nothing but raw anger.
He snapped, "Hannah, do you have a death wish?
"You just woke up and you've already got your mind on other men?"
I was forced to tilt my head back, my neck aching from the strain. "I was simply asking. They're both at the top of my contacts list, you know."
"Delete them," Ethan ordered coldly. "Do it now, right here.
"You don't need anyone but me."
His possessiveness was suffocating.
I was too scared to resist, my hands trembling as I pulled out my phone.
The second I unlocked it, a new message popped up. It was from Prof. Hayes.
It read: [Tomorrow at 3 PM, the café by the west gate of the university.
[If you don't show up, you'll bear all the consequences.]
Ethan's gaze sliced across the screen like a blade.
I felt the air around me turn icy cold.