My first piece of art that brought me recognition when I won an award for it was a work that I produced while Ethan was making love to me. When he broke up with me, I either sold or locked away most of the pieces that I painted during my time with him. I couldn’t look at any of my work without remember him. He was such a big part of my life and his influence on me felt endless.


    Come to think of it, to this day, I don’t think I ever got around to returning that umbre to him.


    To my utter disbelief, Ethan is right here in front of me again. If I just reach out my hand, I could touch him. He’s real.


    However, something about him has changed. Ethan is now the head of the Silva mafia bang…or perhaps, he was always a part of Silva, but I just didn’t know it…


    "It’s great to see you again. It’s been around a year now, hasn’t it? My Malissa," Ethan spoke up as he stood up from his seat and came to stand right in front of Hayden and me.


    He just addressed me directly and he called me ’My Malissa’. Just like back then when we were still together.


    I nced over at Hayden and his face had turned into an emotionless stone mask. That was enough proof for me to know that Hayden did not miss out on how Ethan had chosen to address me.


    "Why are you here, Ethan?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion.


    "I could ask you the same thing. Malissa, baby, why are you here?" Ethan asked, his voice smooth.


    "What are you saying? Don’t call me that!" I spat.


    How dare he dump me and then talk to me as if nothing happened?


    "Come here, Malissa," Ethan said calmly as he took a step forward towards me.


    Suddenly, Hayden wrapped his arm around my waist and yanked me backwards behind him protectively. I gasped in shock at his action. Hayden had not said anything after introducing himself when we entered the room; however, I knew that he was watching the scene between Ethan and me. I could tell from his stiff body in front of me that he wasn’t liking what he was seeing or hearing.


    "It’s been a while, Hayden. d to see that you’re well…" Ethan said as he looked straight at Hayden.


    Pale blue eyes met with vivid green ones as the two men stared at each other. The atmosphere became more tense as tension filled the room along with the silence. I felt like I was going to suffocate and wished that I could just disappear.


    "You know her?" Hayden asked Ethan tly.


    I hid behind Hayden as I watched to see what Ethan would say. My head hurts and my chest felt tight and for a moment, I just wished that Ethan wouldn’t tell Hayden the truth. I wished that he would lie and say that he got the wrong person. Although, I doubt that Hayden would believe a low lie like that.


    "Of course, I know her. Malissa is my ex-girlfriend," Ethan announced with a cocky grin.


    "I see. Well, she’s my girlfriend now," Hayden replied, unfazed.


    If he was surprised with this new piece of information, he didn’t show it at all. His hand was still in front of me, as if guarding me away from Ethan. It wasn’t necessary, I wouldn’t dare move regardless.


    "Come back to me, Malissa," Ethan said as if it was the most obvious thing for me to do.


    "What are you saying? You dumped me! Remember?" I cried out in anger.


    When he dumped me, I begged him over and over again for him to stay. I told him that I loved him and that I would do anything for us to continued to be together. I cried until I felt like I had no tears left but, in the end, he left anyways.


    Looking back on it, it was funny, what a girl could do in her desperation. I remembered kneeling down at his feet and hugging his leg as he tried to walk away from me. That was so stupid, I guess. After he left the apartment where we had been living together, he never returned, and I never heard from him ever again. He just disappeared.


    Now that we’re somehow reunited, he’s telling me that he wants me back. Just like that?


    "I wanted to give you a shot at a normal and happy life. I didn’t break up with you so that you could date another mafia-boss-to-be," Ethan said to me before his eyes red at Hayden, making me fully aware who he was referring to.


    "I don’t understand…" I mumbled, clearly confused.


    Why does it sound like…he’s still in love with me? He broke up with me…because he wanted me to have a normal life? I don’t understand and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to understand either.


    "I love you, Malissa. I only stepped aside because I had to go back and take over Silva. Honestly, I didn’t think being a mafia boss’s wife would suit a pure girl like you," Ethan exined.


    "Then…" I whispered as my mind worked hard to connect the dots.


    Did he leave me because he didn’t want to get me involved with the mafia?


    "I wanted you to have a normal life with a bright future. If I had known that you would end up with this rotten mafia heir, I never would have stepped aside and let you go. It was my mistake. Come back to me, Malissa," Ethan said passionately.


    "I…" I was just speechless.


    "Being with me, or any mafia for that matter, will always be better than being with him," Ethan spat.


    I nced over at Hayden and was surprised at how calm and controlled he appeared to be. Hayden did not say anything to defend himself and he didn’t say anything to persuade me. What is he thinking?


    "The thing is…" I began exining.


    I bet Ethan doesn’t know about the debt and the contract between me and the boss of Torex. Not that it was the main issue right now but still…


    "If it’s the debt that you owe old man Torex, I’ll pay it all back…with interest," Ethan said and I could tell that he waspletely serious.


    --To be continued…