Chapter 108: Christmas Surprises
ELLIE
The drive to Ethan’s parents‘ house in Irvington took just over thirty
minutes. The property, nestled in a suburban area, was surrounded by
lush, natural landscapes. The house wasn’t just enormous, it was
luxurious.
Despite all the money they seemed to have, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were
simply delightful.
They seemed so loving toward their two sons that it made the
atmosphere warm and welcoming. It quickly put me at ease.
Zoe and Bennett had arrived before us. It seemed they planned to stay
the night. After a pleasant chat in the living room, we all finally
gathered at the table for lunch.
I could tell Ethan was a little upset, even though he answered his
parents lovingly throughout the conversation.
Mary and Henry asked a few questions about how we met. It appeared
Ethan wasn’t one to share much about his love life with his parents.
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But, considering his past, maybe it was because he didn’t really have
one. In fact, he actively avoided anything beyond casual sex.
It made me reflect on how far we’d come, despite the obstacles. When
I met him, he abhorred any type of relationship beyond sex. But here
we were, officially together, in his parents‘ home.
We had overcome a lot, but his trauma seemed far more complex than
mine. I had managed to get over the abandonment and completely
forget Todd, but moving past the betrayal of someone you were about
to marry seemed a million times harder.
I was proud of him for fighting to get us here. The thought made me
rest my hand on his at the table, squeezing it lightly, which made him
look at me with a bit of confusion.
“It’s funny how fate works, isn’t it?” Ethan’s mother said. “You two
could have met much earlier if my son had attended his brother’s
wedding.”
“I suppose so,” I agreed with a smile.
“Fair point,” Bennett teased from across the table. “You missed my wedding and ended up missing out on the girl.”
“I’m not sure if that would’ve made any difference,” Ethan shrugged.
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“You would’ve just told me to stay away from her, like you did when I
met her.”
“You know I had my reasons,” Bennett replied.
“Sure, you were just playing the protective role with poor Miss Brown,
like everyone else,” Ethan retorted, dripping with sarcasm.
I shot Ethan a disapproving look before smiling at Bennett.
“Thank you for that,” I said.
“Are you sure you’re thanking the right person?” Zoe chimed in.
“Do you expect me to thank you for being nosy?” I asked, raising an
eyebrow.
“It seems there’s a lot we still don’t know, darling,” Ethan’s father
added with amusement.
I’d seen him at the wedding, but I hadn’t realized how much he
resembled his son. Bennett was practically a younger version of him-
maybe less charming and a bit more grumpy, but just as handsome.
His dark hair and strong jawline made him almost a carbon copy of
Henry.
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Ethan, on the other hand, had his mother’s dark blond hair, though
his features leaned more toward Henry’s. Some of his traits were a bit
more refined than Bennett’s, which might have been what made him
so attractive.
“But I’m sure my son would’ve noticed a girl like you,” Henry finally
said.
“No doubt about it,” Ethan agreed with a mischievous smile, placing
his hand on my thigh. “She had the most important thing,” he teased,
making me remember what he’d said the other day.
Bastard. I pinched his hand under the table, and he chuckled.
“A big heart,” he concluded, trying to hold back a laugh as he looked
at me.
I glared at him, trying to push his hand away, to no avail.
“I’m still mad at you,” his eyes burning with possessiveness as he
tried to mask it with a fake smile.
“Is that why you’re being such an idiot?” I shot back, forcing a fake
smile of my own.
His fingers tightened possessively around my thigh.
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“You’re lucky we’re at this table right now,” he murmured, almost
inaudibly.
“Or what?” I challenged.
“You’ll see, my beautiful, annoying little thing,” he muttered through gritted teeth, removing his hand from my thigh and gripping my chin
instead.
His tone not only irritated me, but also made me crave him to follow
through on his threat.
The conversation around the table continued, and I listened to a few more stories about Ethan and Bennett’s childhood and teenage years. Zoe seemed completely at home. After all, she was already part of the
family.
At some point, just before dessert, she suddenly stood up, excusing herself to go to the bathroom. I found it odd when Bennett followed
shortly after.
“Do you think this is, like, a couple thing?” I asked Ethan teasingly
before taking a sip of my juice.
“It’s just an excuse to fuck in one of the bathrooms,” he whispered,
and I nearly choked on my drink.
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I stared at him wide–eyed.
“You’re kidding.”
“Why the surprise?”
Oh God, it wasn’t a joke–he was actually serious. Were they really
going to do that with his parents here?
“Do you want to go to the bathroom too?” he asked loud enough for
his parents to hear.
“I’m fine,” I said, surprised by his skill at deception.
He smiled, pleased with himself for making me flustered.
*
An hour later, we decided it was time to leave. I said goodbye to
Henry, while Ethan did the same with his mother. Then we switched.
Mrs. Morgan approached me with a smile and hugged me warmly.
“You have no idea how happy I am to have you here,” she said, her eyes shining before she pulled back. “Not only is this the first time he’s brought someone here, but we also know how much this means
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after everything he’s been through. That’s why I’m sure you’re very
special. So, thank you.”
Her words touched me; she was clearly emotional.
“I love him,” I admitted. “Thank you for having me.”
“I hope it won’t be long before you visit again.”
“Of course.”
“Shall we?” Ethan asked, joining us.‘
I nodded.
“Thanks, Mom. Everything was wonderful,” he said, placing a hand on
my back and guiding me to the door.
His mother followed us.
“Come back soon,” she said before closing the door behind us.
“So, I’m the first girl you’ve ever brought home to meet your
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Chapter 108: Christmas Surprises.
parents?” I asked as we walked to the car.
“What do you want me to say? You know my history.”
“Your history of abominating anything beyond casual sex?” I teased.
“Speaking of sex…” he said, opening the car door for me. “Let’s go
home.”
“I actually need to stop by my place to grab your present and take a
shower.”
“Fine,” he sighed. “I can wait.”
“I thought you had dinner to prepare.”
“Right now, I’m hungry for something else.”
“Great. Save it for after dinner,” I replied with a smile, leaning in to
kiss his cheek before getting into the car.
After dropping me off at home, Ethan left, looking even more
impatient and irritated. I planned to put that energy to good use
later.
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Chapter 108: Christmas Surprises.
Once I’d taken a shower, I spent some time getting ready, butterflies
fluttering in my stomach and heat pooling between my legs as I
imagined the night ahead.
I truly missed him, craving the feel of his hands all over my body.
Wearing nothing but a long coat over Ethan’s gift, I grabbed my keys
and drove to his apartment, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
When I arrived and stopped in front of his door, I was ridiculously
nervous. It reminded me of the first night I came to him. The memory
made me smile and also turned me on.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked, adrenaline rushing through my veins
and my heart pounding in my chest.
Seconds passed, and when the door finally opened, my jaw dropped.
Ethan stood before me, wearing nothing but a Santa hat and a white
apron.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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