Time slowed down. 

As I watched Christian step towards Ethan, I started to feel anger stir within me. It tasted like metal in my mouth. There he was, Christian Grey, arrogant as usual even though he had nothing to be arrogant about. He was the only one that had done any of us wrong and yet, here he was trying to show dominance? 

Before I could check myself, I felt both of my fists curl into balls so tight that at first I thought I was scared. But I was mistaken. It was a sudden flash of courage that filled me and I jumped right in front of the train. Flaying both my hands out to the side to protect Ethan, I jutted my chin forward in my own show of dominance. 

My stance was enough to bring Christian to a halt. His eyes were still crazed and his face was still reeling from the situation of it all, but at least he had stopped. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." He spat through gritted teeth. 

I narrowed my eyes at him and then squared my shoulders a little more. 

"What are you doing, Ana?" Ethan said from behind me. 

Christian raised both his eyebrows, as if asking the exact same question. Even though I knew he was trying to challenge me, he was still incredibly sexy. Especially now as he looked so furious all hot and bothered. 

UGH! Pay attention! My inner goddess demanded, too invested in my fight to watch me fail now.

I swallowed hard, taking the moment to appreciate that he was extremely attractive but grounding myself in the context of it all. He cheated on me. He hurt me. If I did not stop him he would hurt Ethan as well. Enough is enough. My nose caught a whiff of the flowers in the room and I felt emboldened by the fact he tried to buy me back with money. 

His fucking money. 

"I'm standing up for myself, Grey." I spoke my words loud and clear. 

I had no clue what I was expecting to happen. My mind had only made out the decision to act this way, but now that I had completed my action, everything seemed up in the air. I felt my breath catch at my teeth, refusing to come or go. Instead, I was practically frozen in place watching Christian. 

It was surprise first that coloured his face. Not outright shock, but rather a sneaky small surprise that appeared to have impressed him. The shift was instant. The muscles in Christian's body relaxed and his eyes softened, returning to the beautiful grey that I found comfort in. He then flashed me a bright smile that only served to disarm me. It was my turn to be confused. 

"Oh, how i've missed you, Ana." He cooed, and it felt like it was just the two of us in the room. 

My heart began to warm at his words and I took a step forward. 

He nodded at my entranced state, folding his arms outward to welcome me. "You're mine, Ana." 

He was right. I had given myself to him. Heck, in my mind I had already married the two of us. 

"Um... Ana?" Kate snapped, her voice so tart that she broke my line of thought.

I turned to look at her, stopping in my tracks. 

She gesticulated wildly towards Christian, "Did we already forget? You know..." Her eyes grew wide and suggestive... "the cheating? the wanting to beat my brother up?" 

"No." I told her, but my eyes found their way back to Christian. He was still standing there with the warm familiar smile and the open arms. I took another step towards him. "Nothing happened between me and Ethan." I confessed, unsolicited. 

Christian pressed his lips into a firm line before smiling. "I know."

He believed me. A sense of relief flooded through me. "So please don't hurt him."

"I won't." Christian promised. "I just want to hold you."

That sounded nice. 

"I just want to be with you, Ana. Give me the chance to apologize and make things right." 

Oh, even better. My mind chose that exact moment to replay all the best parts of our relationship. Every moment that I had needed him, he had been there. I had no idea how things would turn out, but I was willing to try. We were not perfect and we would make mistakes, all that mattered was that we worked past it all. Together. Everything would be okay. 

"Ana." My name echoed through the luxurious room, but not off Christian's tongue. 

Ethan. 

I noticed Christian grow uncomfortable but I turned anyway to look at Ethan, who had not moved from his place. Ethan had his arms folded across his chest, his face firm with silent commitment. "I did not want this to be the time or the place to tell you, Ana."

"Tell me what?" I was confused. 

Ethan cleared his throat, looking first at his sister and then back at me. " That I like you, Ana. I always have and I always will." 

"ETHAN." Christian snarled.

Before I could move, Christian lunged past me for Ethan. I watched as the two of them tumbled to the ground with Christian on top. Ethan was pinned as Christian pounded into his face repeatedly. I felt immobilized, watching Ethan not fight back. Why was he not fighting back? He lay there, unmoving, allowing Christian to land blow after blow. Even with all the commotion, Ethan's eyes remained on me. It was as if he felt that he deserved to be beat. 

Oh, Ethan.