Chapter 20
Ethan’s POV
I stormed into my father’s office without knocking.
“Dad, we need to talk about Aria p>
My father, Richard Holt, barely looked up from his paperwork. At sixty-two, he still commanded Silver Creek Pack with an iron fist, though lately he’d been pressuring me more and more about expansion.
“What about her?” His tone was dismissive.
“She’s demanding ten percent equity stake in the company p>
That got his attention. His head snapped up, eyes narrowing. “Absolutely not. That woman has done nothing to earn p>
“She can get us a meeting with Vincent Smith’s heir,” I cut him off.
Dad’s expression shifted slightly. Vincent Smith’s mysterious heir had been the talk of the business world for weeks. Whoever inherited that empire would control massive assets across multiple Pack territories.
“How p>
“She has connections. Claims she can arrange an introduction.” I wasn’t entirely sure if Aria was bluffing, but she’d sounded confident enough.
Dad leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Still no. We don’t negotiate with p>
“Dad p>
“No, Ethan.” His voice went Alpha-hard. “You have bigger problems. The territory dispute with Riverside Pack is escalating. Three of our patrol wolves got injured last night. Handle that first. Then we’ll discuss your fake wife p>
Fake wife. The word felt like ash in my mouth now.
“Fine,” I muttered.
I left his office, frustration burning through my veins. My wolf was restless, pacing beneath my skin. Everything was falling apart—the company, Pack security, and now Aria.
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
Straight to voicemail.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
I tried again. Same result.
Fine. I’d text her.
[Aria, we need to talk. When are you coming home p>
Delivered. Read.
No response.
I sent another. [Please. Just tell me when you’ll be back p>
Read.
Still nothing.
My wolf snarled in frustration. She was ignoring me. Actually ignoring me.
For the next three days, I got the same treatment. Every call went to voicemail. Every text was read but unanswered.
By the fourth day, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I left the office early and drove home, my hands gripping the steering wheel too tight. Clara noticed my mood the moment I walked through the door.
“Ethan? What’s wrong? Is the company situation still bad p>
Her voice was soft, soothing. She moved toward me, but I barely registered her touch.
I needed to see Aria. Needed to figure out what the hell she was playing at.
I took the stairs two at a time and shoved open the door to her room.
Empty.
Not just empty—cleared out. The bed was stripped bare, closet doors hanging open to reveal nothing but empty hangers. Her desk, her dresser, even the bathroom—all wiped clean like she’d never been here at all.
“What the fuck?” The words came out strangled.
Clara appeared in the doorway behind me, eyes widening. “Ethan p>
“When did she move out?” I couldn’t breathe properly. “When the fuck did she move out p>
I’d thought she was just staying somewhere else for a few days. Cooling off. Not… not this.
Clara looked genuinely surprised too. “I… I don’t know. I thought she was just working late p>
Marcus suddenly ran up, clapping his hands. “Good! The mean lady’s finally gone! Yay p>
Something snapped inside me.
“Shut up!” The growl ripped from my throat before I could stop it.
My hand moved on instinct—one sharp slap that sent Marcus stumbling backward onto the floor.
“Ethan!” Clara’s scream echoed through the hallway.
Marcus wailed, and I watched the red mark bloom across his small face. Clara dropped to her knees, gathering him into her arms.
“How dare you!” Tears streamed down her face as she glared at me. “How could you hit him that hard p>
She swept Marcus up and disappeared into their room, slamming the door.
I stood there, breathing hard, my hand still tingling from the impact.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Get the housekeepers,” I barked at a passing servant. “Now p>
Within minutes, three terrified women stood before me in Aria’s empty room.
“When did she leave? Why wasn’t I informed p>
The eldest one wrung her hands. “S-several days ago, Alpha. She said you were very busy and asked us not to mention it p>
Several days ago. Right after Clara moved in.
My wolf howled. Of course. Of course that’s when she left.
I dismissed them and paced the empty room. This was supposed to be temporary. She was supposed to cool off and come back. She always came back.
An hour later, Clara found me in my study. Her eyes were red from crying, but her expression had softened.
“I’m sorry,” I said before she could speak. “I shouldn’t have… I didn’t mean to hit him that hard p>
“I know.” She crossed the room and took my hand. “I know this is all so stressful for you. The company, the Pack, now Aria leaving p>
Her understanding made it worse somehow.
“She’ll come back,” Clara continued gently. “She’s probably just trying to get your attention p>
“Maybe.” But I wasn’t sure anymore.
“Ethan Clara bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking. You know I studied finance too. What if I came to work at the company? Just as Aria’s assistant. That way when she comes back, there’s someone already helping with her workload p>
I started to refuse immediately. “Clara, that’s not p>
“Think about it,” she pressed. “If Aria knows I’m there, she might feel threatened. Motivated to come back faster. Women understand these things, Ethan. Trust me p>
I wanted to say no. But the company was bleeding money. The Smith deal was still hanging. And Aria clearly wasn’t coming back anytime soon.
Maybe Clara was right. Maybe a little competition would bring Aria running back.
“Fine,” I heard myself say. “But only as an assistant. Nothing that would make Aria think you’re replacing her p>
Clara’s face lit up. “Of course. I’ll start tomorrow p>
The next day, Clara officially joined Holt Enterprises. By evening, I got a notification that the HR system had automatically sent Aria an update about the new employee in her department.
I stared at my phone all day.
Nothing.
Not a call. Not a text. Not even an angry message demanding to know what the fuck I was thinking.
My fingers hovered over her contact at least a dozen times, but I forced myself not to call. She’d gotten the notification. She knew Clara was there now.
If she cared, she’d reach out.
By the end of the day, my screen remained dark.
I sat alone in my office as the sun set, staring at the phone in my hand.
Had I been wrong about everything?
Aria had been… everything. She’d built the company from near bankruptcy. She’d worked herself to exhaustion. She’d loved me with a devotion that bordered on worship.
I’d been so certain she couldn’t walk away. That no matter what I did, no matter how I treated her, she’d stay.
Because I was her mate. Her Alpha. Her everything.
But now p>
My wolf whined softly, a sound of loss I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
What if I’d finally pushed her too far?