CHAPTER 25 HEARTACHE AND HOPE

Ethan’s face was a mask of pain and confusion, his eyes flitting back and forth as he searched for a way out. “Maddeline, I…” “No, Ethan,” she said, her voice rising with each word. “I won’t let you wiggle your way out of this. Not this time. You need to choose, right now, before this moment slips away and we both regret it for the rest of our lives. Me or your fear, Ethan. Which is it going to be?” Ethan straightened his posture and took a deep breath, exuding confidence and control. “I’m not afraid, Madeline,” he said, meeting her gaze with a steady gaze of his own. “But I also don’t want us to jump into a relationship simply because of our shared past. I need time, I need to get to know you again, to rediscover the woman you’ve become, before I can make that commitment. I want to be sure that this is real, that it’s not just a momentary passion clouding our judgement.” She held his gaze, her eyes searching his face for signs of doubt or uncertainty. But his expression remained re