Page 59 of Rewind

Ethan stroked his chin in thought. “I’m one hundred percent certain; it was on Soo-ah’s orders. What I don’t understand is why she was so desperate to get rid of me. There must be something I’m missing. I have five years before it happens butif I can nip whatever this thing in the bud is, I can focus all my attention on you.”

“Maybe there was some kind of cataclysmic event that made her desperate. Do you remember anything that happened?”

Ethan frowned trying to dig through his memory. During his confrontation with Soo-ah, she’d been arrogant and expected him to fall in line with her wishes. But there was something else. She’d wanted him to sign paperwork stating that he’d make no claims to the JKB fortune…and company? Is that how it happened? His recollection of past events was still muddled.

“Did you remember something?”

“Yes, but it could be nothing. You know what, for the rest of the night, I only want to focus on you.” He pulled her back into his arms.

A smile curved her lips. “Oh? And what exactly do you have in mind?”

He flipped Amina onto her back and positioned himself on top of her. “Oh, I can think of several things I’d like to do to you right now.” He lowered his head and joined his lips to hers.

Chapter

Twenty

Amina couldn’t stop fidgeting and her nerves were getting the better of her. Ethan reached across the armrest and captured her hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Relax, everything is going to be fine. My mother will love you.”

That’s exactly what Mark had said, when he’d introduced her to his parents. And that’s what scared her. She knew that Ethan adored his mom and they were close. What if Ms. Han didn’t like her? What is she didn’t think Amina was good enough for her handsome, well-off, neurosurgeon son?

“You say that now, Ethan but I know how moms can be with their sons.”

“My mom would like nothing more than for me to settle down. She keeps asking when I’m going to find a nice girl. And the fact that I’m bringing you to meet her will let her know I’m very serious about you.”

“Have you brought any women home to meet her before?”

“You’d be the first and I intend for you to be the only. Relax.”

Amina still couldn’t shake her nerves. He gave her hand a squeeze. “I promise, if you get uncomfortable we can leave.”

She sighed, and looked at the scenery of the countryside.

The past three months had been like a fairy tale for Amina. She and Ethan were officially a couple and everyone at the office was aware of it. Paisley was supportive and happy about the relationship. Even Dr. Carter made a congratulatory remark about it.

A couple of the nurses in the office however who had once been friendly had grown cold toward her, especially Carole who never missed an opportunity to make a snide remark.

It was no big secret that a few of the nurses had a crush on Ethan so learning Amina had taken him off the market had made her some enemies. Amina didn’t mind as long as they did the job they were paid for.

Her relationship with Ethan was a dream come true. Amina’s only comparison was Mark and it was like night and day. Ethan’s love language was acts of service. If he got to the office before Amina, her favorite mocha latte would be on her desk waiting.

On the days he was not in the office, he would have lunch delivered to her. When they weren’t working, he’d take Amina on unique dates like to the botanical gardens. They’d gone to an escape room once, and axe throwing. He even cooked for her.

Each day, Amina fell more in love with him. She couldn’t believe this beautiful man belonged to her and he treated her like a queen. But a dark cloud still hovered over them that still gave her nightmares.

Mark unfortunately did not gracefully bow out of her life. But then again she didn't expect him to. She thought he would try to confront her a couple of times and finally move on. But for the past months, she’d dealt with nonstop harassment.

Shortly after the engagement party fiasco, she found all four tires of her car slashed and the word,WHORE, spray painted on the driver’s side door. She’d discovered it when Ethan had dropped her home to get a change of clothes.

The cameras that she’d had installed had caught a figure in a black hoodie but she couldn’t make out the face. She was certain Mark was the culprit but without concrete proof there wasn’t much she could do. Amina had planned to make an insurance claim but Ethan insisted he take care of everything. He ended up buying her four new tires and a new paint job.

He allowed her to use the extra parking space that came with his condo so Mark would no longer have access.

Mark left harassing text messages and voicemails to the point where she had to change her phone number. Despite going to the police with the messages, they told her there was nothing they could do because he didn’t make any actual threats.

The judicial system was equally disappointing because the judge denied her request for an order of protection, citing insufficient evidence. The judge had the nerve to tell her that if he hadn’t caused her physical harm then she should just ignore him. In Amina’s opinion, they weren’t going to do anything until he killed her.

As scary as that situation was, Amina felt good having Ethan in her corner.

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