Bind you in hellbound
Chapter 180: ~Hellbound~

Chapter 180: ~Hellbound~

"I adore him. I’ll always love him," Elena said.

Ethan said nothing.

"Thank you, Mr. Ethan," Elena remarked, smiling through the mist of emotions.

I yearned to extend this stolen moment, to savor the intimacy that had become a distant memory. Elena, I thought, I want to hold you close, to erase the years that kept us apart.

If only circumstances had been different, perhaps I wouldn’t have found myself bound in marriage to Derek.

"Yes," I affirmed, ready to continue our journey. "Come, get in the car," Derek suggested, and I complied, settling into the vehicle.

"I will, love," Derek assured them both.

"Thank you very much, Ethan," I whispered, my words carried away by the breeze.

No response.

I nodded but avoided looking into her eyes. If our gazes locked, I feared I might crumble. The weight of the past, the intensity of our shared history, it threatened to overwhelm me.

"Please, God, pause this moment for a bit."

I’ll keep my promise, my love. I’ll watch over you both, unseen but present. I’ll be the wind that rustles through your hair and the warmth that caresses your face.

"No," I replied, my eyes still fixed on Elena and Paulina, oblivious to our conversation.

A quiet acknowledgment of his absence settled over me. In that moment, I lowered my head, grateful for the connection we shared, if only for a fleeting instance.

"It’s just I had never able to express my love in right way."

"Yes, Elena, I was looking forward to seeing you. Now you’re filled with everything I’ve got," I confessed. As my words lingered in the air, a voice interrupted, "Have you finished seeing them?"

"Why does my heart insist on seeing you as Paul, Ethan? Am I making a mistake by clinging to a semblance of the past?"

Elena’s point of view

He seemed lost in a world of his own, and Elena felt an unfamiliar ache in her chest. Something was amiss, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

"Ethan," I started, my voice trailing off, but he was gone.

I’m not ready to look at you. I don’t want you to see me cry. Elena, you were both my power and vulnerability. I don’t have anything more to ask of you because you’ve already given me the biggest gift of all, our daughter.

With closed eyes, I surrendered to the flood of emotions.

Seeing you from a distance, the pain in your eyes, the tears you shed, and the smiles you forced—it tore me apart. I wish I could wrap my arms around you and give you a warm embrace. I wish I could pause time right now. I wish I could stop you from leaving. I believed I had to endure this separation, just as I endured my own mistakes.

I hurriedly made my way out of that emotional encounter, seeking refuge in the solitude of my room. Once inside, my eyes were drawn to the picture adorning the wall—a cherished image of my beloved Elena and our precious baby. A pang of regret and longing gripped my heart as I murmured, "I didn’t have the courage to look at you, love, or else I wouldn’t be able to let you go."

"Elena!"

I just wanted to shout that I’m your Paul. But I can’t because I believe I have to punish myself even more. I kept an eye on you and my kid every day, darling. You have given me the greatest gift I have ever received.

Ethan’s point of view

"I’ll never be able to get enough of them. No one can take my gaze away from them," I added, feeling Derek’s intense stare. His eyes narrowed, sensing an underlying tension.

As I wiped away the traces of tears, a lingering wish surfaced within me—a yearning for Paul to have possessed the same kindness and understanding that Ethan had.

Taking a deep breath, Elena closed her eyes, attempting to collect her thoughts. Unintentionally, she found herself doing something unexpected. Driven by an instinct she couldn’t resist, she reached out to him, enveloping him in an embrace.

Ethan quickly shifted his gaze to the other side, a subtle attempt to conceal the tears that threatened to surface.

"How come you didn’t kill me that night?" he questioned, a smirk playing on his lips.

As Elena held onto me, my mind raced with conflicting thoughts. I wished, in that instant, that I could freeze time—suspend the world around us and relish the feeling of her in my arms. The desire to hold her, to bridge the distance that life had placed between us, overwhelmed my senses.

Ethan’s point of view.

I yearned for your happiness, even if it meant I couldn’t be the one to give it to you. The weight of my actions kept me from embracing you, from being the man you once knew.

I confronted him, "What brings you here now?"

"Will you come meet us, Mr. Ethan?" The question hung in the air, and for a moment, I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

Our daughter, Paulina, she’s the manifestation of our love.

"I know he’s with me." She paused, her eyes momentarily clouding with emotions.

She’s the bridge between us, and I thank you for allowing her to be that bridge.

Was he truly shedding tears?

My attempt to bid a proper farewell was halted as I turned back to Ethan, only to find him already walking away, retreating into the shadows of solitude. He left without uttering a single word, leaving behind a silence pregnant with unspoken sentiments.

"He loves me madly," Elena declared, her gaze fixed on Ethan.

"Wait a minute, sweetie, I forgot something," Derek said.

However, before we drove away, I cast one final glance out of the window. Through the glass, I tried to see Ethan, but he was nowhere.

The vulnerability he displayed, even for a brief moment, left me wondering about the depth of emotions he harbored.

He felt the weight of Elena’s words, the love she held for Paul, and the intricate dance of emotions between the past and the present.

As I stood there, barely holding back my tears, Elena’s voice pierced through my thoughts.

Elena’s sudden embrace caught me off guard, and for a moment, I stood there, unsure of how to respond. The unexpected warmth of her touch stirred emotions that had long been buried and my hands trembled with a mixture of excitement and hesitation.

"I’m not sure what’s ripping my heart apart," Elena thought, her concern growing.

"Honey, are you done?" he inquired, his concern evident. I nodded, offering a smile to reassure him.

In the first place, you recognized me. And I had a feeling you would. I knew you loved me so much that you tried to hate me for my deeds, but you couldn’t. Take a look at what you’ve done to yourself in the last few years.

"He promised me that he would always be there for me," Elena continued, her voice filled with both longing and gratitude.

Elena nodded in acknowledgment, holding Paulina in her lap. The excitement in Paulina’s voice filled the air as she said, "Da-dy, come fa-st."

Approaching the window, I stood there, my gaze fixed on the departing figures of Elena and Derek.

I raised an eyebrow, acknowledging his inquiry.

I turned to Derek, acknowledging him with a nod.

Finally, unable to resist any longer, I reciprocated the embrace. My arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as if to make up for the years of separation. In the quiet recesses of my mind, the words echoed, "Elena, I love you."

"Mr. Ethan," she finally spoke, her voice soft.

Without glancing at her, Ethan nodded.

It was a spontaneous act, driven by empathy and an unspoken connection she felt with him. Tears welled up in her eyes, tracing down her cheeks.

I sighed, recognizing the voice instantly.

Elena couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling as she observed Ethan. His demeanor, the subtle signs of distress, tugged at her heartstrings. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to offer comfort or respect his need for solitude.

There he was, Derek.

"Mr. Ethan," I called out, but Derek interjected with a gentle reminder of our imminent departure.

**

I’m Paul, Elena.

In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. A surge of emotions washed over me as I felt her familiar presence pressed against my chest. It had been too long since I experienced the comforting warmth of her embrace.

I yearned for the chance to turn back the clock, to rewrite the Chapters of our shared history.

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Ethan," she whispered, her voice laden with genuine gratitude.

Ethan’s point of view

A silent plea echoed in my mind.

**

I’m your Paul.

"He’ll never...." Elena trailed off, catching herself as she noticed Ethan’s gaze shifting.

As Ethan’s arms enveloped me, a solitary droplet found its way onto my shoulder. For correct content, please visit

Before I could voice my questions, Ethan withdrew from the embrace, averting his gaze.

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