OWNED BY TWO BROTHERS

Ava’s P.O.V

“Jesus, Pascal! Even after all these years, you still make me laugh.” I said, laughing harder than I had in a long time.

“Honestly, Ava…” His hand covered mine, and his thumb brushed over my hand. “I’ve really missed you.”

I looked at his hand and swallowed hard. But before I could say anything…

“What the hell are you doing here?”

A voice from behind hit me like a wall. My smile disappeared as I recognized it.

I froze and pulled my hand away from Pascal’s. Slowly, I turned.

I was right. It was Ethan. He stood there, his face blank, but the deep frown and veins on his forehead showed I was in trouble.

My breath caught.

“Ethan…”

He didn’t respond. He didn’t even notice me standing up too fast, almost knocking my chair back. His eyes went past me and landed on Pascal.

I had told him I was visiting a friend but I knew telling him it was a guy would only make matters worse. I only needed a breath of fresh air from Ethan and I would go back home.

But here he was, ambushing me.

I felt the thick, dangerous tension. I knew what Ethan could do to Pascal, so I had to act.

“Uh… Ethan, this is Pascal,” I said quickly, moving closer, my voice shaking. “The one I told you I’d be meeting. Pascal, this is my husband, Ethan.”

Pascal stood there, calm as always, and offered a polite smile. He held out his hand.

“Hey, man. Nice to meet you.”

Ethan didn’t take it. He didn’t even look. His eyes stayed on me, his face unreadable.

“Let’s go,” he said, then turned and walked away.

I had no choice but to follow. I knew better than to argue.

I gave Pascal, who looked confused, a quick apologetic glance, mouthed a silent ‘sorry’, grabbed my bag, and hurried after Ethan.

~**

The car ride was painfully awkward.

I sat stiffly, hands clasped in my lap with my mind racing but my mouth staying shut.

Ethan barely looked at me, let alone speak. He focused on driving.

I knew what was coming and it scared me more than anything.

The moment we got home, he was out of the car.

I barely kept up, hurrying inside. The door had barely clicked shut when it happened.

A rough hand grabbed my shoulder, shoving me hard against the wall.

Pain shot through my back, and the air rushed from my lungs as my head hit the wall.

“Ethan…!” I gasped.

He didn’t care. His hand tightened on my shoulder, his voice low but burning with anger.

“So that’s what you do now?” Ethan snarled. “Running around with younger men, letting him put his hands on you, his eyes all over your body like he wanted to devour you. And you foolish girl, laughing with him instead of remembering you have a husband at home!”

My head throbbed, but I forced the words out.

“Ethan, you’re being paranoid… please. He’s just a former colleague who reached out and we—”

“Am I not enough for you anymore, Ava?” he yelled. “Is that it? Do you need someone younger?”

“No!” My voice shook with panic. “Pascal is just my friend…”

But Ethan wasn’t listening. He never listened. Once he made up his mind, only his own words mattered.

His jaw tightened. He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a low, angry grunt. His eyes looked wild, deranged. He paced one step, then suddenly slammed me harder against the wall.

I gasped.

“How dare you let him touch you?” he hissed, leaning in so close I could feel his breath. “How dare you meet another man and even hug him?”

My throat tightened.

“You lied and told me you were meeting a female colleague. What would’ve happened if I didn’t show up?” His voice dropped, darker and colder.

“Nothing would have happened and—”

“Would you have gone with him to the hotel? Would you have slept with him?”

“Stop it!” I snapped, fear finally breaking through. “You’re being insane, Ethan. Pascal is just a colleague who wanted to catch up. I didn’t tell you he was a man because I knew exactly how you would act. And you even followed me to his place? Is that what our relationship has come to?”

“Yes, Ava. It has come to that,” he said coldly. “Because I don’t trust you. No… I don’t trust the people around you. If you want to f*ck someone so badly, you could have just come to me. You know I’ll give you everything. Since you want it that badly… fine. I’ll give it to you.”

He started loosening his belt.

My heart stuttered.

“No… Ethan… wait…”

But he didn’t stop. His lips crashed onto mine, roughly with anger.

I struggled instantly, pushing against his chest and turning my face away. But he held me in place like I weighed nothing.

Panic surged through me.

“No… Ethan, stop…”

But he didn't stop.

Then a terrifying realization hit me. I can’t let this happen. I was carrying his child.

I have a child inside me!

My hand moved instinctively between my stomach and his body.

The baby. It would be harmed if this kept going.

“Ethan, I can’t…” My voice trembled as I struggled against him.

He didn’t hear me. Or maybe he just didn’t care and that was all it took.

I drove my knee up as hard as I could into his groin.

Ethan let out a sharp groan. His grip loosened just enough for me to break free.

I ran toward my room, but I barely took five steps toward the staircase when he yanked my hair back violently.

“Don’t you dare run away from me, Ava!” he seethed.

Pain exploded across my scalp as he dragged me backward down the stairs. I cried out, stumbling from the force.

Then he pushed me hard.

My body slammed against the floor. The impact was too much. A sharp pain burst behind my eyes, blinding me.

At the same time, something twisted in my abdomen, making my gasp which made my vision blurry as the room spun.

“Ethan…” I tried to call out, but my voice sounded weak.

Then I felt something warm run down between my legs.

No… no… no…

“Not my baby, please.” I muttered silently.

Before I could do anything, everything went dark.

Ava’s P.O.V

That familiar scent hit me first.

Slowly, painfully, my eyes fluttered open.

The first thing I saw was the white ceiling. I was in the hospital again, a different one this time.

Ethan must have brought me here.

A dull ache throbbed through my body. When I tried to move, a sharper pain shot through my arm. I winced.

I looked down and saw an IV line taped to my hand, the needle pulling slightly under my skin. The sting made me s*ck in a quiet breath.

“Mrs. Vale?”

I turned my head. An older woman in scrubs stood beside the bed, watching me. A nurse.

I tried to push myself up, but the moment I moved, pain ripped through my abdomen. It was so sudden I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

Then I remembered everything, the reason I was here. My eyes widened immediately.

“My child…” I whispered, placing my hand on my stomach.

“Ma’am,” the nurse said, stepping closer.

“Is my child okay?” I asked, my