The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 95

Chapter 86: Coming home to him

Bella pov

We talked business for a while, and I was impressed by Ethan’s vision. He wasn’t just chasing profit-he genuinely cared about environmental impact and ethical practices. His passion for the work was evident in every word. “You really love what you do,” I observed.

“I do, but it’s not everything.” He leaned back as our entrees arrived. “I learned that the hard way when I spent years building the company and woke up one day realizing I had no life outside of work.”

“What changed?”

“My sister got sick.” His expression sobered. “Breast cancer, stage three. Suddenly all the deals and mergers felt meaningless compared to spending time with her.”

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Is she okay now?”

“She is, years in remission.” His smile was genuine. “But it changed my perspective. Success doesn’t mean much if you don’t have people to share it with.”

I thought about my own success, my empire built alone, my victories with no one to celebrate them except Maya and Tom. “That’s wise.”

“It’s survival.” Ethan reached across the table, his hand covering mine. “Bella, I know your story. I know about the marriage, the abandonment, building everything on your own. That takes incredible strength.”

“You’ve been researching me.” I didn’t pull my hand away.

“Of course I have.” His thumb stroked my knuckles, the touch pleasant but not electrifying. “I wanted to understand who you are beyond the business headlines. And what I found was remarkable-a woman who survived impossible circumstances and came out stronger.”

“I had no choice.” I looked at our joined hands. “Strength isn’t really strength when it’s the only option.”

“I disagree.” Ethan’s voice was firm. “You had lots of options. You could have given up, could have let bitterness consume you, could have taken the easy path. You chose the hard one, chose to build rather than destroy. That’s real strength.”

The words were kind, the sentiment genuine. I should have felt something-warmth, attraction, the flutter of possibility. Instead, I felt nothing.

He was perfect on paper-successful, kind, emotionally intelligent, genuinely interested in me. Any woman would be lucky to have him. But I wasn’t any woman. I was a woman who’d moaned another man’s name while touching herself, who kissed that man like her life depended on it, who couldn’t stop thinking about grey eyes and possessive hands and the way Caleb looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Ethan said quietly.

I looked up, startled. “What?”

“Caleb.” He smiled sadly. “You’ve been here with me, engaged in the conversation, laughing at my stories.

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<Chapter 86 Coming home to him

But there’s a part of you that’s somewhere else, with someone else.”

“I’m sorry.” I pulled my hand back. “That’s not fair to you.”

“No, but it’s honest. Ethan sipped his wine. “Can I ask you something?”

“Why did you agree to this date if you’re still in love with him?”

“I’m not in love with him.” The denial was automatic.

+25 Points

“Bella, I’ve been around enough to recognize what unfinished business looks like.” Ethan’s voice was gentle. “Whatever is between you and Caleb, it’s not over. Maybe it never will be.”

“He destroyed me,” I said quietly. “Threw me away when I needed him most. How do I come back from that?”

“I don’t know.” Ethan was quiet for a moment. “But I know that running away from it by dating me isn’t the

answer.”

“You’re supposed to be trying to win me over, not talking me out of dating you.”

“I am trying to win you over.” He smiled. “Just not tonight, not when your heart is clearly elsewhere. Bella, I like you. A lot. And I think in different circumstances, we could be really good together. But I’m not interested in being the safe choice or the rebound or the way you avoid dealing with your real feelings.”

“So what now?” I asked.

“Now we finish our very nice dinner, I take you home, and I tell you that when you actually figure out what you want, if it turns out to be me, I’ll be here.” He raised his wine glass. “But if it’s him, I hope you’re brave enough to take that chance.”

We finished dinner with easier conversation, the pressure of romance removed. Ethan was funny and smart and by the end of the meal, I genuinely liked him as a person. Just not the way I needed to like someone I was dating.

He drove me home around ten, walked me to the building entrance like a gentleman.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said. “And for being honest.”

“Thank you for trying.” He kissed my cheek, friendly and warm. “Good luck, Bella. With whatever

decide.”

I watched him drive away, then took the elevator up to the penthouse, my mind spinning.

you

Ethan was right. I’d been running, using him as an excuse to avoid dealing with my real feelings about Caleb. It wasn’t fair to anyone-not to Ethan, not to myself, not even to Caleb.

The penthouse was dark when I entered. Tom was at Maya’s, the space quiet and empty. I kicked off my heels and was heading to my room when I saw him.

Caleb, sitting in the dark living room, a glass of scotch in his hand, his eyes tracking my movement with barely contained fury.”Have a nice time?” His voice was cold, controlled.

“It was fine.” I set down my clutch. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

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Chapter 86 Coming home to hum

+25 Points

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