Chapter 57: No Right to Control Me
From a distance, beyond Casey’s first words, Easton overheard the rest of their conversation. Ellis mentioned calling the police, but he didn’t take it seriously. What caught his attention was how Ellis stood behind the teenager, seeking protection, her body mostly shielded by him. She peeked out from behind him, as if Easton were an unforgivable villain she needed to avoid, while the teenager was her sole protector. His brows furrowed deeply at this sight.
“Come here!”
The man’s commanding tone was like a dog owner calling their pet. Ellis shot him an annoyed glare. “Rotten cucumber! Freak! You broke into my house and took advantage of me—just wait, you’re getting arrested!”
Touching someone you love brings pleasure. But touching someone you despise? The instinct is to recoil. Even the slightest accidental brush would bring disgust and revulsion. Right now, her stomach churned at the thought.
Looks can be deceiving, but sometimes they tell the truth. Casey gave Easton a once-over and concluded he fit Ellis’s description—well-dressed but rotten inside. Shifting his stance, Casey completely blocked Ellis from Easton’s view. Lifting his gaze, he stared directly at Easton, his stance one of absolute protectiveness. “Who the hell are you? Picking a fight with my person—did you ask me first?”
That word, my person, grated on Easton’s ears like nothing ever had before. His already dark expression grew icier, his whole body exuding a chilling aura. His lips pressed into a thin line as he repeated, word for word, “Your person?”
Behind Casey, Ellis watched closely, eager for him to drive Easton away. But the way Easton repeated those words…why did it sound so eerie?
“If she’s not my person, then is she yours?” Casey glanced back at Ellis. “You’ve got one minute to get the hell out of my house, or I’ll do exactly what she said—call the cops and let you enjoy a night in a cell.”
“Go ahead.” Easton strode forward. Casey had anticipated his move; he was sure Easton would come for Ellis.
“Go upstairs. I’ll handle him.” Signaling Ellis to get to safety, Casey readied himself to teach this bastard a lesson. A pervert breaking into his place? No way in hell was he letting that slide. But he miscalculated. Easton moved fast—faster than expected—easily dodging him and heading straight for Ellis.
“Do you even know how to pick your battles? You’re in your twenties, but you act worse than a kid in kindergarten.”
Ellis wasn’t moving fast enough. Before she could escape upstairs, Easton caught up, cutting off her path and scolding her. She glared at him, furious. “You’re the one who acts worse than a kindergartener!”
It was a weak insult, completely ineffective.
“This relationship is…but let me remind you—I’m her husband. Calling the cops won’t do a damn thing.”
“Husband?”
Casey’s finger hovered over the dial pad before he hesitated, deleting the ‘11’ he had just entered. He turned to Ellis for confirmation. “This freak is your husband?” It was as if he had set a trap for himself.
Ellis, looking awkward, nodded. Then, after a pause, she added, “He’s my soon-to-be ex-husband.”
Casey silently put his phone away. Seeing his stunned reaction, Ellis felt like digging a hole and burying herself in it.
“Uh…” She tried to break the awkward silence, but before she could finish her sentence, a hand suddenly grabbed her left wrist.
“You’re coming with me!”
The firm, unyielding voice rang in her ears. Ellis gritted her teeth. “You there—what the hell do you think you’re doing?” She struggled, trying to shake off his grip. She yanked and pulled, but Easton’s grip was like steel. He didn’t answer her; he just dragged her toward the door.
Since Ellis had confirmed he was her husband, Casey couldn’t interfere in their marital issues. He could only stand there, watching as Easton took her away. It all happened so suddenly—Easton’s arrival, then his abrupt decision to drag her off. Ellis had no idea what he was up to, but she certainly wasn’t going to cooperate.
Just a few steps from leaving the house, she grabbed onto the wall, refusing to move. For the first time, there was resistance. Easton stopped and glanced at her hand braced against the wall. He looked like he was about to say something, but before he could, Ellis misunderstood his intent. She braced herself for whatever nonsense he was about to spout—only for him to say nothing. Instead, with zero effort, he pried her fingers off the wall.
That was it. She was done. If her hands weren’t pinned, she would have slapped him.
“You’re illegally restraining me!” she shouted. “Let me go!”
“Oh? So I let you go, and you run back to live with him?”
As she struggled, Easton simply did what he had done earlier—pulled her into his arms, locking her in place. His dark eyes bored into hers, refusing to look away. There was clear anger in his gaze, but Ellis had no clue why. It only pissed her off more.
“You’re insane! Who the hell told you I live with Casey?” She lowered her head, lifted her foot, and stomped down hard on his polished shoe. “And even if I did, it’s none of your damn business!”