Chapter 7: The other side of him part one

After the warm welcome from Ethan, family dinner was served, and what got Petal's attention was that most of the dishes were her favorite and Ethan's too. She had a feeling that this was Lana's way of telling her to stay the night here or maybe she was just overthinking.

"I cut the meat into small pieces." Ethan said as he put the plate in front of me and asked the maid to bring a glass of fresh juice as I don't drink alcohol.

I reached for the fork and started eating, aware of the family's eyes on me. It made me feel uncomfortable but I tried to not show it and act normal.

The family chatted over dinner about different things but for me, My focus was on Issac's son who had grown up since I left the house. The baby was so adorable and I couldn't take my eyes off him. I imagined that if I and Ethan had a child, I imagined that the baby looks like Ethan, and had its eye color, hair, facial features, and everything. It would be beautiful to have our own.

I felt Ethan's hand on my waist as he leaned closer and whispered in my ear."We could start making our own baby starting tonight."

He pulled away and sat up straight and I turned to look at him trying my best to not blush. I still don't know how he can read my mind so easily like this.

"Look at the lovely couple." I heard Alice say and I responded by glaring at her and she just laughed.

After dinner, Ethan stepped outside to receive a call and I excused myself to go to the bathroom. After I finished, I was about to go back to leaving the room but I changed my mind when I saw one of the bodyguards leave the room.

I waited for the bodyguard to leave before I walked towards the huge wooden doors and pushed the door open and stepped inside only to be met with a horrible sight that I didn't expect.

Two men were tied up with ropes to chairs, they were bitten and tortured. Blood was covering their faces and clothes. Fear took over me and I couldn't move from my place, I wanted to but I couldn't.

Did Ethan do this to them?

Is this what happens in those meetings?

And is that the different side that he was talking about?

I found myself asking as I continued looking at the two men and realized that this isn't a meeting room. It is a torture room.

One of them lifted his head and looked at it and that's when I realized that I shouldn't be here any longer. I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me. I looked around and saw no one so I went back to living while thinking about what I saw.

I shouldn't be shocked by what I saw because I'm already aware of who Ethan is and what he does. I too come from a family that runs the same business.

While I was walking, I saw Ethan talking to guards and by the serious look on his face, It seemed that something important happened. I stood there waiting for him, not very close but far enough.

When Ethan finished talking, he dismissed the guards and started walking toward me. As he was walking, I couldn't stop thinking about what I saw and I found myself asking, how could a person be kind yet terrifying to others?

Ethan approached me with a frown on his face and asked."Are you alright? you look pale."

Ah, he immediately noticed. Sometimes I forget how strong of an observer he is.

"I'm fine." I replied, signaling.

He didn't seem to believe me and reached to touch my face only for his frown to deepen."I don't think you're, you're cold as ice." He said and reached to feel my hands.

Honestly, I wasn't aware of my body temperature until I was told. But I tried to continue pretending to be fine.

"It's because of the air conditioners." I replied, signaling and pointing in the direction of ACs.

My attempt to convince him succeeded as he relaxed a little.

"Turn off the ACs and get me a clean blanket." Ethan ordered the passing maid, his voice mixed with worry and anger.

Ethan was about to tell me something when one of the bodyguards rushed towards us and whispered something in the air and then the bodyguard left.

It must be something related somehow to the men who are locked up in that room.

Ethan turned to look at me and asked."Do you still want to see me working?"

I nodded my head without thinking because I wanted to see that other dark side of him.

"Very well then. Come with me." Ethan said taking my hands in his and we started walking in the direction of the meeting room but we didn't enter it.

We took a turn and walked straight ahead before we stopped in front of a door that I saw for the first time. Ethan opened the door to the room and stepped inside and asked me to enter and I followed him.

It was a control room where you could watch everything through the screens. My father had one too.

"Petal!" Issac said, clearly confused about why I'm here.

"Petal is here to watch the meeting." Ethan explains and Issac gives him a look that says what's going on.

I knew that Ethan wouldn't let me actually be there but it was okay by me.

The two brothers looked at each as if they were having an internal conversation that no one could hear.

"Okay." Issac said and looked at me, offering me a smile which I returned.

Pressing a kiss at the top of my head. Ethan left the room.