Ethan's full attention was on Bella. The anger in his eyes was unmistakable. Bella lifted her gaze for a moment, then quickly lowered it again. Ethan exhaled sharply and spoke.
"What did you mean by what you told me last time?"
Bella's voice trembled. "Divorce… I meant separation… even though we're not really together right now, but—"
Ethan suddenly grabbed the edges of her chair and pulled it closer to him. Bella stumbled slightly, and Ethan steadied her by holding her arms.
"Do you think marriage is some kind of child's game?" he said, his voice low and intense. "Do you even realize what you're saying?"
Bella nodded timidly.
"Why?" Ethan demanded.
Bella didn't answer. Ethan lifted her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"I asked you why."
Bella swallowed. "Your parents… and my dad… they forced you."
"Forced me?" Ethan scoffed softly. He brushed away the tears welling in her eyes. "They didn't force me to marry you, Bella. They only pushed for the marriage to happen sooner. You're in training. I didn't want to burden you with a new responsibility like marriage so soon."
Bella stared at him in shock. Ethan smiled faintly.
After a moment, she whispered, "You… you like Officer Becky, right? I mean… you like her…"
"What?" Ethan blinked. "Who told you that?"
"That day… you and Officer Matthew… you were hiding our marriage from her. I didn't mean to listen to your conversation; I just came to your office and—"
"You assumed from that," Ethan said, astonished, "that I like Officer Becky? No. She's just a good friend. And I didn't want her to know because I didn't want to give her another chance to say anything that might hurt you."
Bella whispered, "Officer Becky likes you… I heard her talking to Officer Emma."
"But I don't like Becky," Ethan said firmly. "I… I like you. Not from today. From long before."
Bella looked at him, and a warm blush spread across her cheeks. She had waited so long—so long—to hear those words from him, and now he had finally said them.
Ethan sighed. "And from today, don't ever bring up that word—divorce—between us again."
Shy, Bella nodded. "Okay."
"You have nothing else to say?" he asked.
"I already said everything… and I asked everything," she replied softly.
"Everything?" Ethan repeated, disappointed.
Bella smiled a little. "Hmm."
Ethan shook his head lightly and looked away.
Bella stood. "I should go… my training session is about to start."
Ethan nodded.
She walked toward the door but paused at the threshold.
"Officer Ethan," she called gently.
He turned to look at her.
Bella's voice softened. "I'm happy to be with you… as your life partner."
A slow, genuine smile spread across Ethan's face.