Curse

[POV Ethan]

Three days before the ending of the war, I received a letter from my superior, the leader of the military forces and my godfather. General Julius Crane. He didn't tell me before but I suspected it, something must have happened to my mother. She had never failed to send me a letter every month even if I couldn't reply to her. But a few days ago, I didn't receive any news about her, and I knew deep inside me that something had happened to her.

'I am sorry, Ethan, but I couldn't let you lose focus. The battle with the Mierens was around the corner and I couldn't let you be distracted. I hope you understand and forgive me.

There is no other way to say this, but your mother, and my dear cousin died one year ago, the fifth of November. The cause was a heart attack but it seems that something happened to her to give her such a shock. According to the medical reports, she was healthy and stable in her last medical checks. Something must have happened to her the day of her death.

I will send my people to investigate and keep you informed. By the time you receive this letter, you will be allowed to go back home.

Be safe on your way back.

Julius Crane.'

I looked into the reason of my mother's death. That woman, my wife was not at home, only the servants, the butler and the housekeeper, and according to the security cameras, they were all in their places in the first floor. The second floor was empty and the last person to see my mother alive was that woman. She left and three hours later, the housekeeper walked to the second floor to attend my mother but just a few seconds later she came running downstairs shouting about my mother's death.

Something must have happened, that woman must be the one who did it. And I knew it, when I looked at my mother's things, I found it, hidden inside a book, one she loved to read whenever she thought about father. There she hid the paternity test. The shock must have been enough to cause her that heart attack, she must have told her. She must have give her pain.

The day I arrived at the mansion, the Butler received me, but that woman was not inside. She was somewhere with that daughter of hers. I called Demian, my friend and lawyer and asked to continue the procedures of the divorce. I won't give anything to that woman if she doesn't want to lose that daughter of hers. Even now, that child is still registered as my daughter.

I will make her leave with nothing.

Then I will make her responsible for my mother's death. One way or another, she will pay.

Emma called me a few minutes later after my arrival, I never questioned how she came to know about my return, but I didn't care. She was precious to me, though, I knew my mother didn't like her.

"Ethan, I… I am sorry, you know about my situation, my parents didn't aprove…"

"I understand," I said with a sigh. I knew that it won't be fair to her, a young capable woman to waste her youth like that, for a man that may not return alive. "It's okay."

"Ethan," I heard her little cries. However, somehow, I didn't feel the same tenderness as many years ago.

That memory… simple, and pure was still lingering in my mind. That woman, her cries, her voice and her confession. I held her that night, I was drunk but not enough to make me lose consciousness. I never thought she would be that beautiful, that she would transform in a few years of not seeing her into someone that will keep haunting my mind, even in battle, at night, I kept imaging her, her taste, her touch, her voice. I wanted her body… so much. This is a curse.

"I love you, Ethan," she whispered when I finished inside her, then she cried and cried, she turned her back to me and waited for me to leave the room.

I felt bad for her, that day my mind was blurred with hatred and unwillingness. I wanted someone to feel the same pain, and I called Emma's name while having that woman underneath me in my bed. I did it to make her lose any hope of a loving marriage, to make her hate me and forget about me. Maybe that way, it will be easy for her to move on later.

But… I never thought that she will do that to my mother.

"The young madame is here, Master Ethan," the butler told me but I already knew. From the study's window, it was easy to see the entrance. She came back with that daughter of hers.

"Tell her to come upstairs."

"Yes, Master."

I waited in front of the desk, waited to see her, that shameful but fascinating face. Those green eyes, that black and soft long hair, that pale little face and that enchanting figure that I couldn't forget. I waited to see her, that woman who cheated on me while I was away, waiting to be obliterated by the enemies' tropes.

She knocked on the door, "may I come inside?"

"Come," I felt my throat gulp. She was finally here.

Then she opened the door, she wasn't wearing the large coat covering her figure. Only the blue dress with buttons on the front. Lovely, pure, she looked so innocent. Lies! They were all lies.

I walked towards her. The soft perfume of lavanda lingered in her body. She smelled so good, so pure.

'Take her,' my mind was cheating on me. 'Kiss her, kiss her…'

Those fluffy lips, that pure skin. That soft hair. 'Take her, kiss her, now!'

"Sir…"

My hand moved without me knowing. Towards her lovely cheek, towards her pure skin. Soft and marvelous. Even better that in my dreams and nights.

"What are you doing?" I heard her speak, her voice was soft and melodious. The same as that night I shared with her. Lovely. I wanted to hear more, much more. "Sir…"

I circled her waist with my other arm, that tiny soft little waist made it so hard to control my instincts to simply ravage her right there. To rip her clothes, to push my fingers inside her, and feel her wetness. Ready to take the rest of me.

'Kiss her… kiss her…'

I leaned forward. Her breath was almost a moment away, just one single move and her lips will be mine again.

"Divorce me," she said. Her eyes were not closed, her cheeks were still pale and without any flush. She looked at me as if I was a disgusting monster.