The Ice-Cold General Learned Regret in the Language of Roses Novel

" Now can you let her go ? " Ethan's face was chalk white , sweat beading on his forehead , but he still forced himself to stand straight . " Let her walk and take it out on me instead . Whatever you want to do to me - even if you want my life - you can have it . " " Hahahahaha ! " The kidnapper's laughter turned wild . " So you really are crazy in love with her , huh ? Then I want to kill her even more . I want you to know what real despair feels like .

" Just as he raised the knife to bring it down on Nora , the security detail that had been lying in wait around the warehouse burst in and took him down in seconds . Nora tore free and threw herself at Ethan , clinging to him as she sobbed so hard she could ! words out . " Ethan ! Are you out of your mind ? Do you have any idea how dangerous that died ! " get the ould've Ethan weakly lifted a hand and gently brushed her tears away , his voice low . " Don't cry . It doesn't hurt . " " Look at all this blood and you're still saying it doesn't hurt ?

" Nora's panic flared into anger , and she suddenly snatched the bloody knife off the floor and dragged it across her own forearm . Blood welled up instantly . " What are you doing ? " Ethan's face changed in an instant , and he grabbed her wrist in a rush . Nora stared at him through a blur of tears , her voice coming out broken . " Does it hurt now ? Ethan , do you have any idea what it does to me , seeing you like this ? " She jabbed a finger at her own chest . " It hurts here , just as much as it does for you .

So from now on , even if you won't do it for yourself , at least don't pull stunts like that for my sake ." Ethan looked at the angry red gash on her arm and at the fierce resolve in her eyes , and his own vision went hot around the edges . He pulled her into a tight hug , his voice raw . " Okay . From now on , I'll take better care of myself . " Soon , an ambulance arrived , and the paramedics loaded Ethan onto a stretcher and rushed him out . From start to finish , no one noticed Scarlett standing in the shadows at the back of the warehouse , her face drained of color .

She felt like someone had pulled every ounce of strength out of her body , leaving her shivering with cold . What exactly was Ethan to Nora ? Chapter 2 6.67 % The way he looked at her , the way he'd stabbed himself without a second thought for her , the way she'd cut into her own arm for him - all of it added up to a bond no one else could touch , a live - or - die connection between them .... A storm of questions and icy guesses spun through Scarlett's mind so fast she thought she might lose it . Just then , a shadow fell over her .

Scarlett lifted her head and saw Nora standing in front of her , not even sure when Nora had gotten there . Without the slightest warning , Nora's hand whipped out and cracked across Scarlett's face . Scarlett's head snapped to the side , her cheek blazing with pain . Rage surged straight to her head ; Scarlett had never been one to turn the other cheek , and stop to think before her own hand came up , ready to slap her back just as hard . t even " Go ahead . Hit me . Beat me to death for all I care .

" Nora lifted her chin , eyes squeezed shut like she was walking to her execution , her voice thick with tears and hate . " Your precious Jones family has already destroyed my life with Ethan . If he and I can't be together in this lifetime , I don't want to live anyway ." Scarlett's raised hand shook and froze in the air . She swallowed the pain burning in her cheek and in her chest and stared Nora down , forcing the words through clenched teeth . " You and Ethan - what exactly are you to each other ?

" Nora looked at her with a smile that was both bitter and laced with sarcasm , and then she laid out the so - called truth from beginning to end . Two years ago , she and Ethan had been in love , already talking seriously about getting married . Then she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and told she needed a rare , insanely expensive imported drug just to stay alive . And in all of Southport , the only person with the connections to get that drug was Scarlett's father . To save her , Ethan went to beg her father for help . Richard Jones agreed - but he named his price .

He had a daughter , Scarlett , wild and impossible , spoiled and out of control , and she needed someone who could finally rein her in . If Ethan agreed to marry Scarlett and give her a child , Richard would hand over the medication . So Ethan married Scarlett - and cut off any chance he and Nora had of ever being together . By the time Nora finished , Scarlett felt like she'd been struck by lightning ; her teeth sank into her lower lip so Chanter 2 6.67 % hard that the metallic taste of blood spread slowly through her mouth . So that was it .

No wonder no matter how hard she pushed , how much chaos she caused , Ethan still seemed dead set on marrying her and refused to let go . No wonder that after the wedding he indulged her in everything , yet in bed he never seemed to have enough of her , coming after her almost every night , driving her past exhaustion even when she begged him to stop . The spoiling and affection she thought she'd won turned out to be nothing more than compromises he'd forced himself to make - for another woman's sake . The humiliation and the hurt were so fierce they nearly tore her apart .

She stared at Nora , her gaze sharp as a knife . " If even a single word of what you just saic make you wish you were dead . " swear I'll She paused , her voice splintering into something cold and final . " But if it's true , then I'll settle this - for you and for him . " With that , she turned away without another glance and stormed back to the Jones house . The moment she walked in , she saw her charming , womanizing father at the dining table with his demure wife and a cluster of spoiled illegitimate kids , all of them gathered around , enjoying a cozy family dinner . " Richard Jones .

" Scarlett used his full name , her voice icy . " We need to talk ." Her father's face darkened as he set his fork down with a clatter . " Watch your tone . You've been married to Ethan all this time and still haven't picked up an ounce of his steadiness . Can't even bother to call me Dad anymore ? You're getting more out of line by the day . " Scarlett stared at him through reddened eyes and said nothing . The next second , she stepped forward , grabbed the heavy tablecloth with both hands , and yanked it hard .

Plates and glasses crashed to the floor with a roar , food and soup splattering everywhere , sending her stepmother and the kids into a chorus of shrieks . " Now , " Scarlett said , standing in the middle of the wreckage , her eyes locked on her father , " can you talk to me properly ? " Chantor ? admin