Chapter 18

"Mr. Fletcher, I think I’ve made myself clear." Her voice remained even—no anger, no trace of emotion. "It’s over between us. Legally and emotionally, it’s finished. Please don’t come into my life again." She didn’t look at him after that. Instead, she walked right over to the rocking chair, sat down, picked up the book she'd left half-finished on the side table, and flipped it open—as if everything that just happened was nothing but a minor interruption. Sunlight poured over her, casting her in a warm glow, but she sat there cold and indifferent, like an iceberg. Ethan stayed kneeling in the sand, watching her peaceful profile, the softness of her dress still lingering on his fingers. His heart plunged into darkness, dropping deeper with every breath. Suddenly, not far away, loud whistling and drunken laughter cut through the quiet. A handful of local punks, drunk and swaggering, staggered over. Their eyes slid over Natalie with obvious bad intentions, and their mouths spilled cr