Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 377: You shouldn’t run like that

Ethan barely managed to shut the door with his foot as he carried Kathrine into his condo, her arms loosely looped around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder as if she belonged there. The lights were off, the space quiet and unfamiliar to her, but peaceful.

"Home," he muttered more to himself than her.

Kathrine lifted her head slowly, squinting around. "This doesn’t look like my house."

"It’s not," Ethan replied, careful as he kicked off his shoes. "It’s mine."

She hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm. Kidnapper house."

He sighed. "We already cleared this. Not a kidnapper."

"Oh right," she said, nodding seriously. "Boyfriend."

He paused mid-step. "You remember that part now?"

She smiled lazily. "Bits and pieces."

He carried her toward the bedroom, grateful for one thing at least. His mother, Stephane, had returned to Country X earlier that morning. If she were here, he would never hear the end of it. The silence tonight felt heavier, more intimate.

Ethan gently lowered Kathrine onto the edge of the bed. "Okay. Sit. Shoes off."

She obeyed halfway, kicking one shoe off before flopping backward dramatically. "Ethan."

"Yes."

"Your bed is very... bed-like."

He ignored that. "You need to sleep."

She turned her head, blinking at him. "You’re very bossy."

"And you’re very drunk."

She smiled at that, wide and unfiltered. "You’re handsome when you scold."

Ethan straightened immediately. "Don’t say things like that."

"Why not?" she asked innocently. "It’s a compliment."

"You won’t remember it tomorrow."

She propped herself up on her elbows. "That’s sad."

He reached for a blanket. "Sleep, Kathrine."

She watched him quietly for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. Not hard. Just enough to stop him.

"Don’t go," she said softly. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Ethan froze. He had been making sure not to lose control especially when she was drunk. But seeing her almost begging him made him hard.

"I’m not going anywhere," he replied, a little too quickly.

She shook her head. "You always say that."

His chest tightened. "Kathrine..."

"I know I’m annoying," she continued, words slurring just slightly. "And dramatic. And drunk. But when I wake up, I’ll pretend I’m fine again. And you’ll pretend you don’t worry."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, defeated. "I do worry. That’s why I don’t want you to feel embaressed"

Her lips curved into a small smile. "I knew it."

She tugged his hand again, clumsier this time. "Lie down. Just until I sleep."

Ethan hesitated. Every instinct told him not to cross that line tonight. She wasn’t sober. He was. That mattered.

"I can’t," he said quietly.

Kathrine frowned. "Why?"

"Because you’re not thinking clearly."

She stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. "That’s fair."

Relief washed through him too fast.

Then she leaned forward and rested her forehead against his arm. "But I am thinking clearly about one thing."

"And that is?"

"I feel safe with you."

That stopped him cold.

She sighed, curling slightly on the bed. "You don’t have to do anything. Just stay. Please."

Ethan closed his eyes.

This was dangerous. Not because of temptation, but because of how easily she dismantled his defenses without even trying.

He lay down beside her, careful to keep space between them. "I’m staying until you sleep. That’s it."

Her face lit up. "Yay."

She shifted closer almost immediately, her head finding his chest like it had practiced this before. He stiffened, then slowly relaxed, placing one arm awkwardly at his side.

"Personal space," he warned.

She nodded against him. "Respecting it emotionally."

He snorted before he could stop himself.

Minutes passed. He thought she had finally fallen asleep until she spoke again.

"You smell nice."

"Go to sleep."

"Like home."

"Kathrine."

She tilted her head up, eyes half-lidded. "Do you like me?"

"Yes."

"Like... like me-like me?"

He swallowed. "Yes."

She smiled, satisfied. "Good. Because I like you too."

Then she yawned, big and unrestrained, her body finally growing heavy. Her fingers curled into his shirt, grip loosening as sleep took her.

Ethan stayed still long after her breathing evened out.

Carefully, gently, he shifted the blanket over her and adjusted himself just enough so she was comfortable. He didn’t kiss her. Didn’t touch her beyond what was necessary.

But he didn’t move away either.

Resisting her had been hard. Letting himself stay was harder. And as he stared at the dark ceiling, one thought repeated quietly in his mind.

Tomorrow, everything would be different with Kathrine freaking out.

***

***

The night had settled into an uneasy quiet by the time the two sisters were already asleep, unaware of the world still moving beyond their doors.

Betty, on the other hand, was very much awake.

The cab had sputtered, coughed, and finally died barely ten minutes away from her home. The driver apologized far too casually before driving off in another vehicle, leaving her standing alone under a flickering streetlight, her phone battery blinking dangerously low.

"I can walk," she had told herself.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

Her footsteps echoed too loudly against the empty road as she hugged her jacket tighter around herself. Every sound felt amplified. The rustle of leaves. The distant bark of a dog. The hum of a passing car that didn’t slow down.

And then there it was.

The feeling.

That awful, crawling sensation at the back of her neck.

Someone was behind her.

Betty told herself not to panic. She counted her steps. One. Two. Three. Her pace quickened without her meaning to. The sound followed.

Her breath hitched.

Don’t look back, she warned herself.

But when her heart began to hammer harder, fear clawing at her chest, she broke into a run.

Her shoes slapped against the pavement as she turned down a narrower street, lungs burning, thoughts spiraling. Please don’t let this be real. Please don’t—

Footsteps followed closer now.

She glanced back once and nearly stumbled. A shadow moved beneath the streetlights, tall and unmistakably human.

Betty gasped and ran harder, her chest tightening, her vision blurring with panic. Home was just a few streets away. She could make it. She had to.

She turned sharply into an alley she knew led to the main road—

And stopped short.

A figure stepped out from the darkness, blocking her path completely.

Betty skidded to a halt, her heart slamming violently against her ribs. She staggered back, eyes wide, hands shaking as she raised them instinctively.

"Please," she whispered, voice trembling. "I don’t have anything—"

"Betty."

The sound of her name froze her in place.

She stared at him, her breath catching painfully in her throat as the man stepped forward into the light.

Theo.

Her long-lost breath escaped her in a broken exhale. "Theo?"

He looked the same. Too calm. Too composed. Dark hair slightly damp, hands shoved casually into his jacket pockets as if he hadn’t just chased her through empty streets.

"You shouldn’t run like that," he said quietly, but the dangerous tone in his voice made her gulp.

"W-what do you want, Theo?" Betty fumbled as the fear intensified when he slowly approached her.

"You"