Chapter 46:
Fighting Each Other** The air was thick with frustration as I stepped into my new house. It would take time for me to wrap my head around this unfamiliar space being called my home. After parking the truck, I climbed out, only to find an unexpected sight: Rowan was sitting outside my house, a smug look plastered across his face. With irritation brewing within me, I marched over, ready to unleash my anger. “If you’ve come to lecture me about Emma, I suggest you take your shiny black Aston Martin and leave,” I snapped, my finger pointing accusingly at his car. If he thought he could show up here and harass me after my confrontation with Emma, he was sorely mistaken. “What are you talking about?” he stood, confusion etched on his face. “Oh, come on!” I spat, recalling Emma's venomous words. “She must have spun you some tales, hasn’t she?” I tapped my foot, waiting for him to confirm my suspicions. What other reason could he have for being here moments after my heated exchange with Emma? “I don’t know what the hell you’re on about, but I’m not interested in your drama,” he replied, running a hand through his hair, a sign of his own rising tension. “Then why are you even here?” I pressed, curiosity and irritation competing for my attention. “Travis called. He thought you might need help unpacking furniture,” he replied, his casual tone only intensifying my discomfort. At the mere mention of Travis, my blood began to boil again. How could these two be so connected, standing idly by when Emma made threats? And now here was Rowan, scolding me for getting angry. “What did he do this time?” I growled. “He stayed quiet while Emma threatened Noah,” I spat. “Then he had the gall to reprimand me when I almost lost it.” I braced myself for his explosive reaction, expecting him to defend Emma, but to my surprise, he didn’t. “She did what?” His voice boomed, and the fury in it felt tangible, the ground beneath me quaking with his anger. I blinked, taken aback. “I didn’t want to fight her, so I tried to walk away. But she stopped me, threatening Noah because he’s part of the reason she lost you.” The storm brewing behind his eyes was frightening. It was a dangerous, electric look—a side of Rowan I never expected to see in relation to Emma. “If she so much as touches a hair on his head, it will be the last thing she ever does,” he growled, his voice taking on a menacing timbre. I couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise. His threat rang clear, and the intensity in his gaze told me he was dead serious—he would take action to protect Noah. “Calm down, will you?” I tried to soothe him. “After the warning I gave her, she won’t dare look in Noah’s direction again.” I could still see the fear in Emma’s eyes from our confrontation—she knew she had crossed a line she shouldn't have. My sisterly affection for her had long vanished, and she was very aware of my willingness to defend Noah at all costs. Rowan was struggling to contain his temper. I knew how hard that was for him. His temper could be explosive, but in moments like these, he held it tightly, although there were times I wondered how much more pressure he could handle. “Look…” I began, but then I noticed his eyes were unfocused, drifting behind me. The fury returned to his features tenfold as I heard a car door slam. A tired sigh escaped my lips as I realized it was Ethan. They were like oil and water, and it was clear from Rowan’s expression that he shared the sentiment. “What’s he doing here?” they both growled in unison, as if I wasn’t even standing there. I stepped back, surveying the two of them. Both were glaring intently, brows furrowed, fists clenched. “Looks like you’re both here to help me move furniture, so can we get on with it?” I didn’t wait for a response; instead, I turned and headed towards the truck. Unlocking it, I glanced at them again. Four arms were better than two, and some of the furniture was heavier than I wanted to handle alone. “Stop staring at each other and come help me,” I called out, frustration bubbling over when neither of them budged. With a grunt, Rowan advanced toward me, and Ethan begrudgingly followed suit. “So, what are we lifting first?” I mumbled, growing more irritated by their inactivity. It was apparent that if I asked them to leave, they wouldn’t, but they weren’t helping either. If I had known this would happen, I would’ve just hired movers. Finally, Ethan stepped up, grabbing one side of the sofa with a resigned expression. After a moment’s hesitation, Rowan took the other end. They moved in silence, tension thick between them, while I carried lighter items inside. For about thirty minutes, we toiled in quiet misery. I attempted to engage them in conversation, but their moods were like storm clouds hanging low, ready to erupt at any moment. Just as I was reaching for some throw pillows, a loud crash echoed from the living room. Panic surged through me, and I rushed inside to find Ethan and Rowan grappling on the floor, fists flying. “Stay the hell away from her!” Rowan snarled, landing a punch squarely on Ethan’s jaw. My mouth fell open in shock. It felt surreal watching them fight like children over a toy. Not that they were fighting for me—Rowan would never resort to such juvenile antics. “The hell I will! You had your chance, and you blew it!” Ethan retorted, retaliating with a harsh blow to Rowan’s midsection. “Would you two STOP IT?” I shrieked, but my voice was drowned out by their scuffles. As they continued throwing punches, furniture was knocked over and pillows were strewn everywhere. Frustrated, I dashed to grab a bowl of water, not thinking twice before dousing both of them with it. They blinked, stunned as the water dripped from their hair, staring at me as if I’d lost my mind. “What the hell are you two thinking? Fighting and making a mess in my house!” I screamed at them, my anger boiling over. “He started it,” Ethan muttered childishly. “I don’t care who started it!” I exclaimed, taking a deep breath to compose myself. “Rowan, what the hell is wrong with you? What’s your problem?” His eyes flashed with defiance. “My problem is you’re dating this jerk-off!” I didn’t expect that to come out of his mouth. Why would he interfere in my dating life? “Who I date is none of your business, Rowan. Shouldn’t you be relieved that I’m busy with him and not bothering you anymore?” I shot back, arms crossed defiantly. “If you were with anyone else, I wouldn’t care. But this guy is a whole different story,” he said, his voice loaded with contempt. “Stop calling him names!” I shot back, unable to suppress my indignation. Ethan didn’t deserve such disrespect, especially from my ex-husband. “Why can’t you see it? Can’t you recognize he’s not who he pretends to be? Are you so desperate for attention that you’re ignoring the obvious red flags?” he mocked, his words slicing through me like shards of glass. My heart clenched painfully, the truth in his words biting deep. “Get out of my house, Rowan. I won’t tolerate you disrespecting Ethan or me!” I hissed through clenched teeth, fists balled up at my sides. The urge to strike him was almost overwhelming. He glared at me, those fierce eyes throwing daggers. “If you refuse to see reason, then I’ll gladly take my leave. I won’t stand by and watch you moon over some guy with a hidden agenda who’s only using you.” Before he could storm off, he shot me one last warning gaze. “Mark my words, Ava, that bastard isn’t who he claims to be. When he hurts you, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. I warned you, and you didn’t listen.” With that ominous proclamation, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I stood there, heart racing. Was he wrong? I wanted to deny it, but doubt crept in. Ethan cared for me—unlike Rowan, who seemed consumed by anger and jealousy. I wouldn’t let his words plant seeds of fear in my heart. Ethan would never hurt me. I had to believe that.