Page 51 of SEAL'S Secret Vows

“I should come with you. I won’t be staying back so nobody should try to stop me. Lauren, I’m sure Javier and Titan will keep you company for a while.” Chase grabs his phone before anyone can stop him and gives Lauren a kiss on the forehead.

Well, there goes avoiding him.

***

Different camera angles of the hotel are displayed on the screen, and I take notes on specific entry and exit points in case things get out of hand. But something seems suspicious about all this. Before I can dwell on it further, my phone rings.

It's Chase.

“Hey, Nora.” He sounds panicked. “There’s an emergency and I won't be able to go home today. You should go home without me.” My heart sinks, but I quickly push aside my disappointment, knowing that his work often comes first.

“I understand. Good luck.” I hang up, hoping I didn’t sound harsh. I start making a plan on getting quicker access into the hotel, but I can't shake the feeling of worry for Chase. What trouble has he got into now? I reach for my phone, hesitating before sending him a quick text.

I hope everything's okay. Let me know if you need anything.I type, sending it off before second-guessing myself.

Hours later, I still feel restless. Something about Chase's tone on the phone seemed off. Was it just the emergency, or was there something else bothering him? I push the thought aside, chalking it up to my overactive imagination. On the flip side, I don’t know how I’d sleep with him in the same room after what I heard, so it is to my advantage that he’s not coming home tonight. How do I sleep easy knowing he might be in some sort of trouble?

“Hey, Emma.” I tap her shoulder twice and adjust her glasses that have fallen off halfway. “I’m going home.”

“Home? Okay. Good night. I’ll let you know if I find anything.” She rubs her eyes with her fists and dozes off again. I take off her glasses and place them on the table shaking my head with a smile. “Oh, Emma.”

As I step outside the gates, doubts continue to plague me. Can I trust Chase's feelings for me? Or am I just going to be another name on his list of relationships? I try to shake off the negative thoughts, but they cling to me like a stubborn shadow.

“Nora.” Ethan’s voice catches me by surprise. How long has he been waiting for me outside? My heart races as I prepare myself for another confrontation. But to my surprise, he approaches me with a calm demeanor.

He looks better. Less… frantic, at least, and certainly less angry.

I consider turning on my heel and going inside, but for some reason, I wait.

“Can I give you a ride? Please don’t say no.” He adds quickly. “I just want to talk.”

“I can’t. I have to get home soon.” I strap my bag tighter and take a few steps, but he interrupts.

“Please. I can drop you off.” His eyes are pleading, but I’m not moved.

“Not after what you said.” I snap. His eyes harden for a second before he takes a deep breath.

“You have to understand why I was so angry,” he says, his voice even.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “You still shouldn’t have spoken to me like that.”

“I’m sorry for my outburst.”Is he apologizing?I can’t remember that happening even once in our entire relationship.“I was wrong to lash out at you.”

“If this is about us getting back together, it’s not possible. Move on.”

“I have moved on. I just came to apologize.”

Is he really apologizing or is there more to it? Time will tell. It must be one of his tricks.

“Why are you saying this now?” I ask, frowning.

Ethan averts his eyes. My suspicions grow.

“Tell me,” I insist.

His eyes snap up, and I see that same cold, calculating look I have grown used to. “My team advised me it would be in my best interest to cut ties. Formally.” He says this through clenched teeth.

I frown. Then, a light bulb goes off. “Your election… You’re going to start campaigning, and you don’t want me to say anything bad about you when the news reporters find me.”

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