Chapter 14

The sunlight streamed through the blinds of Ethan’s bedroom window in his off-campus apartment, casting slanted golden rays over the rumpled sheets. The scent of saltwater and sunscreen still lingered faintly in the air, a reminder of the blissful summer he had spent in Cozumel with Allia and Simone. The memories were still vivid—the endless days of sailing, snorkeling, and laughter, and the steamy, passionate nights spent tangled together in bed.

But now, back at school, the reality of their lives was creeping in again.

The three of them had returned to campus excited for the start of their sophomore year, but the carefree ease they shared in Mexico slowly began to unravel as the semester went on.

At first, things seemed perfect. They still spent most of their time together—studying, going out, and occasionally sneaking away for a long weekend trip in the King Air. Ethan loved being able to fly them away on a whim, taking them to remote beaches and small towns, places where no one knew them, where they could be free together.

But slowly, cracks began to form.

Ethan was busier than ever, diving deeper into his coursework and field training. His classes were grueling, especially now that he was enrolled in advanced chemistry courses while continuing with Farsi and Mandarin. He was also still training with Tiffany, perfecting his forgery, lockpicking, and con artist skills.

By the time midterms rolled around, Ethan was often exhausted, spending late nights at the lab or working on advanced language exercises. He found himself cancelling dates more and more often, telling Allia and Simone that he needed to study or train.

At first, they were understanding—supportive, even.

“You’re building your future,” Simone had whispered one night as she traced slow circles on his chest, her lips brushing his collarbone. “We get it. We’re here for you.”

But slowly, their time together shrank from daily visits and nights spent in each other’s arms, to brief coffee dates, then to only seeing each other on weekends.

By April, the strain was clear.

One evening, after finishing a three-hour lab, Ethan drove to Simone’s apartment unannounced. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair messy, and he could barely keep his eyes open, but he was determined to see them, thinking a spontaneous visit would make things feel right again.

When Simone answered the door, her eyes were puffy and red, and Allia was sitting on the couch, clearly having just wiped away her own tears. The weight in the room was palpable.

“Hey ... what’s going on?” Ethan asked, his voice soft with concern.

Simone’s lower lip trembled, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she just stepped aside, letting him in.

Allia stood slowly, wringing her hands nervously.

“Ethan,” she began softly, her voice wavering. “We need to talk.”

His chest tightened. The tone of her voice made his stomach lurch with dread.

He glanced between them, his heart pounding.

Simone wiped her eyes, her voice barely a whisper.

“We love you, Ethan,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “We do ... but we can’t keep doing this.”

Ethan stared at them, trying to process her words.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Allia took a small step forward, her hands trembling slightly.

“This...” She gestured between the three of them. “We’ve been trying so hard to hold on, but ... it’s too much. You’re always so busy. And we get it—you have so much on your plate—but we ... we feel like we’re in the way.”

Simone’s voice cracked, her eyes filled with tears again.

“And the truth is...” she whispered, barely able to meet his gaze. “We love you, but we love each other more.”

The words hit him like a punch to the gut.

He staggered back slightly, gripping the edge of the couch for support.

For a few moments, there was only silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing.

Finally, he forced himself to speak, though his voice shook.

“Are you sure?” he asked softly, his eyes burning.

Simone let out a choked sob and nodded.

“We don’t want to lose you entirely,” Allia whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “But ... we can’t be with you like this anymore. It’s just ... not fair. To you or to us.”

Ethan felt his throat tighten, but he nodded slowly, blinking back tears.

“I understand,” he finally whispered, though his voice felt raw. “I love you both too much to hold you back.”

They stood in heavy silence, and then Allia and Simone stepped forward, each pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. It was a kiss of goodbye—tender, heartbreaking, and final.

In the days and weeks that followed, Ethan threw himself into his studies with relentless focus. He buried his heartbreak under long hours in the lab, late-night flight hours, and even more training with Tiffany.

The nights were the hardest. He’d often wake up reaching for them, only to find the bed empty. The scent of Simone’s perfume and Allia’s shampoo still clung faintly to his sheets, a painful reminder of what he had lost.

Despite the pain, they remained friendly. He would see them around campus sometimes—walking hand-in-hand, smiling and laughing, clearly still in love. They would exchange smiles and friendly waves, but there was always a bit of sadness in their eyes when they looked at him.

They were happy, but it was no longer with him.

Over the next two years, Ethan avoided serious relationships, opting instead for casual dating. He went on a few dates here and there—some enjoyable, others less so—but he never let anyone get too close.

Instead, he focused on his goals, continuing to ace his courses and perfecting his fieldcraft. His language skills grew sharper, and by the time he entered his senior year, he was fluent in both Farsi and Mandarin, able to switch effortlessly between dialects.

He also earned his commercial pilot’s license, passing the FAA exams with ease. His King Air 350ER became his sanctuary, a place where he could escape the pressures of life and find freedom in the skies.

He continued to work with his parents, occasionally helping his mother with small intelligence operations or his father with forensic investigations. His skills grew sharper, his body stronger, and his resolve more focused.

Just a few weeks into his senior year, Ethan’s parents called him. He had barely settled back into his campus routine when he answered the phone, expecting a casual chat.

Instead, his father’s voice was somber.

“Hey, sport,” his father greeted him, but there was an unusual tension in his voice.

“Hey, Dad. What’s going on?”

His father cleared his throat.

“Your mom and I ... we’re going to be gone for a while. She’s been asked to look into a case, and it’s big.”

Ethan leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowing.

“How long are you going to be gone?”

There was a brief pause.

“Not sure yet,” his father admitted. “It could be a few weeks ... or longer.”

Ethan’s stomach tightened.

“Is everything okay?”

There was another brief silence, and then his father’s voice lowered slightly, reassuring but cautious.

“Yeah, son. Don’t worry. Your mother and I can handle ourselves.”