Chapter 26: Lost control

                                    

                                          
Adeline.
I glared at Ethan, my eyes blazing with pure hatred. "Whatever is going on between Eryx and me is none of your business!" I enunciated each word clearly.
Ethan smiled bitterly, looking away. "I don't understand why you're saying that—"
I cut him off, my anger boiling over. "For God's sake, Ethan! What's so hard to understand? We broke up, which means we're not in a relationship anymore. We've chosen our own paths, which means no more snooping into each other's business. It's not rocket science!"
Ethan's presence only fueled my anger. "But I didn't agree to that!" he exclaimed.
His words ignited a fire within me. "The hell you didn't!" I shouted, drawing the attention of everyone in the park. I knew I wasn't behaving well, especially in a public place with children present.
"I came to you and said I couldn't be with you anymore," I continued, my voice rising. "I told you I wanted a breakup and freedom from your controlling behavior. You agreed! You told me to get lost and said you could easily find another girl for your... exploits."
Ethan shouted back, "I was drunk, Adeline!"
I screamed, "So what? What difference does that make?" I was aware that people were recording me with their phones, but I didn't care.
"Even after that night, you hung out with girls who weren't me," I accused. "You told them we were officially broken up! You posted on social media that you were free to live your life now! Come on, Ethan! Not everyone is dumb and stupid!"
Eryx.
What the...? Adeline's voice, raised in anger, carried through the air. Ethan. Her ex. Arguing. In public. Cameras everywhere. This can't be happening. Not now, not like this.
My gut twisted with tension, but I pushed down the unease. I'm a man who controls situations, not one who's controlled by them. But... but Adeline. She's different. This is different.
Intervene? Don't intervene? What's the right move here? Cameras will capture every moment, every word. The media will have a field day. "Adeline's Secret Boyfriend" will be splashed across every headline. Her parents, friends, coworkers, Elena... everyone will know.
And when the truth comes out, it'll be a disaster. Her career, her reputation... everything she's worked for. No. This can't happen.
More cameras emerging, capturing her "hidden side." This is a nightmare. I have to... I have to... protect her. From Ethan. From the media. From herself.
Screw it. I don't know what's wrong and right anymore. All i know is I have to get to her. Now.
I strode into the scene, my eyes locked onto Adeline's furious expression. Ethan's gaze met mine, a spark of hostility igniting in his eyes. I wrapped my hand around Adeline's shoulder, my grip firm but gentle. "We gotta go!" I said, trying to steer her away from the escalating situation.
But Ethan wasn't having it. "You think you scared me with your warning?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Who are you, dude?"
I glared at him, my expression unyielding. Fear? No. Never. I know better. I didn't dignify his question with a response. Instead, I focused on Adeline, trying to calm her down.
"It's fine. Let's go!" I muttered to her, trying to defuse the situation.
But Ethan continued to provoke her. "You're so quick to judge me, but what about you? Were you faithful to me, or were you already screwing him behind my back?"
My grip on Adeline's shoulder tightened, a surge of protectiveness washing over me. I turned to face Ethan, my voice firm but controlled. "Careful there."
Adeline shot back, her voice laced with venom. "You want to talk about faithfulness? You, who cheated on me multiple times? You, who thought you could control me and own me?"
Ethan's face reddened with anger, but Adeline pressed on. "I was done with you the moment I found out about your infidelity. And now, I'm free from your toxic behavior."
Ethan snarled, "So you're just going to run to him, and let him control you instead?"
Adeline didn't hesitate, her response a resounding "At least he doesn't cheat on me, He respects me."
My grip on her shoulder tightened, a subtle gesture of support and protection. I could feel her tension, her anger, and I knew I had to get her out of there before things escalated further. 
I tried to steer Adeline away, but she stood firm, her eyes blazing with defiance. "You're delusional if you think you can compare to him," she spat at Ethan. "You'll only end up embarrassing yourself. I'm with him now, and that's all that matters."
My mind was racing. Okay, that's it. Enough. She's going to spill the tea. But I couldn't just drag her away. Adeline, please. Don't. I felt a surge of anxiety, my heart pounding in my chest. Our secret's out. What does this mean for us? For our arrangement?
Ethan's face reddened with anger. "You're just going to run to him with your tail between your legs?"
Adeline's laughter was icy. "I'm not running from you, Ethan. I'm running towards someone who actually deserves me. Someone who knows how to treat a woman."
I felt a wave of pride and possessiveness wash over me. She's mine, I thought, the words echoing in my mind. I pushed away the nagging reminder that this wasn't real. That we weren't really together. No, I told myself. Don't think about that now. Just protect her. My grip on her shoulder tightened.
But she didn't back down. "I found him as a man, unlike the boy I saw in you," she declared, her voice dripping with disdain. "I want to be with a man. I'm with him! Got it?"
I looked at her. Did she just...? I felt a rush of emotions: pride, possessiveness, and a hint of fear. What would happen now that she'd declared her feelings in public?
I held her tighter, my grip firm but gentle, and turned to steer her away. She came with me, her shoulders still squared, her head held high. We walked out of the scene, leaving Ethan's curses and shouts behind us. I'll deal with his shit later.
As we reached the car, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. We were safe, for now. But my mind was still reeling. What did this mean for us? I pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the present. Adeline hopped into the car, her eyes still flashing with anger. I drove away, the darkness of the evening engulfing us.
***
As we drove away from the chaos, the night air enveloped us, a stark contrast to the tension that still lingered. Adeline's anger had begun to dissipate, replaced by a quiet contemplation. I glanced at her, her profile illuminated by the dashboard lights.
The city lights blurred together as we drove, the only sound the hum of the engine. I felt a sense of unease creeping in, my mind replaying the events of the night. What had just happened? What did it mean for us?
Adeline's voice cut through the silence, her tone barely above a whisper. "What have I done?"
My heart skipped a beat. She sounded scared, regretful. I glanced at her, her eyes wide with fear.
Adeline's gaze drifted out the window, her voice cracking. "Everyone saw us. Everyone knows. What will my family think? My friends? What will they say?"
I felt a pang of concern, my mind racing with the implications. I reached out, taking her hand in mine.
"We'll face it together," I said, my voice firm.
But Adeline just shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, Eryx. I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have..."
Her voice trailed off, and I could see the anger and frustration building up inside her. I squeezed her hand, trying to offer what little comfort I could.
But it was too late. The dam had burst, and Adeline's emotions came flooding out. She pulled her hand away, her face crumbling as she struggled to hold back tears.
I felt a pang of helplessness as I watched her, unsure of how to comfort her. The city lights blurred together as we drove, the only sound the quiet sobbing coming from beside me.