abcnovels
Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Chapter 107
“We need to talk,” a voice reached out to Ethan as he stepped into the corridor. He turned to find
Nathan there.
“I don’t think we have any business together,” Ethan replied curtly, his voice had an unhidden tinge of
irritation.
Nathan’s expression hardened. “Why do you keep coming around?” he asked, frustration evident in his
tone.
Ethan moved forward, closing the distance between them. “The only person who I have something with
is Hazel and her kids. You…,” Ethan pointed at Nathan emphasizing his point,
…..are a third party,” he stated firmly.
Nathan scoffed in annoyance. “Only if you knew,” he mumbled under his breath. ‘what names were on
the kids‘ birth certificates.’
“What did you say?” Ethan asked, having missed Nathan’s mumbled words.
“You have no idea,” Nathan chuckled lightly, a hint of triumph in his tone. He had sighed that certificate
that night as the father of Hazel’s kids, now who had the upper hand? he gloated inwardly.
“If that’s all you’ve got to say, have a goodnight rest” Ethan stated drily.
Undeterred, Nathan pressed on, irritation lacing his tone.
“Why do you keep coming around? Even the kids are getting attached to you.”
“What’s it to you?” Ethan retorted, his tone challenging, unapologetic for the connections forming
between him and Hazel’s children.
“You have a wife,” Nathan stated bluntly, his frustration simmering.
“Oh really, I do?” Ethan feigned surprise, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Thanks for pointing that out, I didn’t realize I was married,” he added, dismissively turning away.
Ethan’s arrogant demeanor grated on Nathan’s nerves. “You should stop now,” Nathan warned, his
tone serious, but Ethan, maintaining his arrogance, continued walking away, unfazed by the man’s
warning,
“It’s best you stayed away,” Nathan declared fiercely, his words cutting through the air. Ethan halted, his
steps abruptly arrested by the intensity of Nathan’s statement.
“What did you say?” Ethan demanded his tone becoming cold as he walked back to here Nathan stood.
“Stay away from Hazel and her kids,” Nathan repeated, his tone louder and more resolute this time.
The confrontation between the two men had reached a critical point.
“What exactly do you want?” Nathan yelled, his frustration clearly seen.
“You two are divorced, you’re remarried, you have a wife!” He emphasized strongly.
“Why don’t you stay out of what doesn’t concern you?” Ethan retorted, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
“It concerns me,” Nathan stated. Ethan was the one Intruding here.
It was he who had been there from the first day till now, right from the kids birth. Ethan? who was he
anyway, this man had come out from nowhere! His only contribution was his sperm!
7
“You have history with her; she’s your ex. Why are you still coming around? Have a little decency and
stay away from them, would you?” Nathan stated firinly.
Before someone gets badly hurt.” Nathan finished then walked away.
Someone could get hurt.
That person would be Hazel.
Ethan sighed and stood there for sometime.
15%
The last place he felt like being at the moment was his home. His home now felt like a cold building and
he wasn’t sure he was willing to see Bella. He might just end up doing something he would regret.
Heading down to his car, he found Axel still standing there waiting for him.
“You waited?” Ethan questioned, surprised by Axel’s patience.
Axel nodded.
“You drank,” he stated
“Just sipped a glass,” Ethan replied casually.
Thought you said you’d be too busy driving your girlfriend around to chauffeur me,” Ethan teased, a
playful smirk on his
face.
Axel’s eyes widened at the mention of “girlfriend.” A blush colored his ears as he stammered, “She’s
not my girlfriend.”
“I was right, it was a female that started keeping you occupied,” Ethan declared with a knowing grin.
“Shut
up and get in the car, or I’ll leave you here,” Axel threatened, his ears turning an even deeper shade of
red.
Ethan chuckled lightly.
Axel had changed significantly, he was a lot moree human now.
He had other purpose other than work. Axel of before, his life only revolved around work. But now he
took more personal breaks and excuses for himself. He even came late to work a couple of times.
Moving out for the pack and staying at that apartment was the best thing that had happened to his
friend.
“This girl, she doesn’t happen to be that neighbor you mentioned the other time, is she?” Ethan probed
with a knowing.
smirk.
Axel’s silence answered the question.
Ethan smiled.
At least, one of his friends was alive and happy.
The car enveloped in a contemplative silence, the two deep in thoughts.
Axel spoke softly, breaking the stillness. “Next week would have been Christopher’s birthday.”
Ethan acknowledged the statement with a solemn “Yes,” his mind wandering into memories.
“It’s just us two left, Ethan muttered, a weight of contemplation in his words. Axel understood Ethan’s
words.
Their close knit friend group had suffered a huge blow. They had lost Derrick when they were still
young boys in their teen. years. A short while afterwards, Axel’s father banished him out of the country
sending him to a foreign one. Only Ethan and Christopher had remained.
Ethan’s thoughts lingered on the friends they had lost. “First, we lost Derrick,” he sighed, his gaze fixed
on the passing night
time scenery. “Then Christopher’s passing came as a huge shock,” he added, his words carrying the
weight of memories.
“Take care of yourself, Axel. You’re the only friend I’ve got left, Ethan stated quietly, a sense of
vulnerability seeping into his usually composed demeanor.
Ethan’s contemplation shifted to a suggestion. “We should meet on that day, have a drink or
something.” He gazed at the streetlights, the dim glow illuminating the subtle emotions etched on his
face.
“You’ve changed,” Axel remarked. “I mean, you’re becoming sentimental. What happened to you?” he
asked, a hint of amusement in his voice at witnessing this unexpected side of Ethan.
It wasn’t just this time, but other times as well.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” Ethan replied, a light chuckle escaping him..
“Right, we’ve both changed,” Axel concurred.
“Drive to the office,” Ethan ordered with an exhausted sigh. He would not be heading home tonight.
Ethan’s exhaustion took its toll as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, only to find the car pulling into
the driveway of his mansion when he opened them again.
“Axel, what is this?” Ethan muttered, his instructions seemingly disregarded.
“I specifically told you to drive to the office,” he reminded Axel.
“Go home, Ethan,” Axel urged, concerned about his friend spending the night in the cold, empty
company.
“If I accidentally murder Bella tonight, would you take responsibility?” Ethan asked darkly with a frown.
“You won’t,” Nathan replied with a chuckle attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.