Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 285

The doorbell rang, and I looked up from my laptop. I was finishing some emails before taking Silas to his first psychological consultation. I glanced at the time–too early for Ethan’s usual visits. I heard footsteps as Silas went to answer the door, and I continued typing, curious about who would be showing up unannounced this morning.

When I finally looked up, I caught the tail end of a tense exchange. Ethan stood in the doorway, his shoulders rigid despite his casual designer clothes. Silas had positioned himself like a gatekeeper, his lanky frame surprisingly imposing. Neither man spoke, but the silent standoff was eloquent enough.

Ethan finally broke eye contact, stepping around Silas with practiced grace. He spotted me coming down the stairs and his expression softened immediately.

“I brought you something,” he said, holding up a small insulated bag. “Blueberries and cherries, air–shipped from Venezuela this morning.”

The gesture wasn’t lost on me. This was Ethan’s way of extending an olive branch after our last interaction.

“Thanks,” I said, examining the perfectly ripe fruit. “But Silas and I were just about to head out.”

Ethan’s smile faltered. “Mind if I ask where you’re going?”

I glanced at Silas, who looked pale and exhausted, dark circles prominent under his eyes.

“Not really your business,” I replied, my tone deliberately light despite the words.

Ethan studied me for a long moment, drawing a deep breath. “Can we talk before you go?”

“I don’t have time right now,” I said, grabbing my keys.

Silas, who had been watching our exchange silently, suddenly spoke up. “I can go by myself. Just give me the address.”

I ignored him, keeping my eyes on Ethan. “Silas and I have plans.”

Ethan’s expression darkened subtly. “No time for me, but plenty for him.”

The air in the room grew heavy with tension. I sighed, realizing we weren’t going to leave without addressing whatever was eating at

Ethan.

“Fine. Let’s talk in my room,” I conceded, turning to Silas. “Wait for me, I’ll just be a minute.”

Ethan shook his head. “We can talk right here. I don’t think we need privacy from him.”

I narrowed my eyes, irritated by his presumption but too tired to argue. “Fine. Say what you need to say.”

Ethan didn’t waste time with preamble. “What exactly are we, Jade?”

I almost laughed at the cliché question. “Is Mr. Haxton feeling his age? Eager to settle down, have kids, and need some kind of label from

me?”

1/4

His jaw tightened. “How long do you plan on this… whatever it is between us? Or was it always just about the chase for you?”

“You seemed pretty content with our arrangement until now, I pointed out. “Getting greedy isn’t attractive, Ethan.”

“What am I to you?” he asked, his voice unnervingly calm.

I leaned against the counter, studying him. “For marriage? You’d be quite the catch, Ethan. But I have no plans to get married. I understand you’re not getting any younger, but we haven’t known each other that long. Your urgency puts me in an awkward position.”

I watched his face carefully as I continued. “If you’re willing to wait five or six years, maybe by then I’ll have clearer thoughts about marriage.”

“I like my freedom,” I said with a shrug. “Being tied down is my personal hell. If you can’t handle that…”

“I never wanted to cage you,” Ethan said, his composure slipping for the first time since I’d known him.

I looked at him, feeling a twinge of something almost like regret.

“Love isn’t a necessity for me, Ethan. At best, it’s a pleasant diversion. Someone with your status should be more clear–headed about this. Besides, you’ve known from the start that I’m no angel.”

“Then what have these past months meant?” he asked quietly.

“If you’re forcing me to either commit to a relationship or promise you forever right now, I’m sorry, but I can’t. I have too many things I need to do.”

Ethan stared at me in silence, his green eyes unreadable.

“I’ve been clear,” I said finally. “Maybe you should go home and reconsider what you want from us.”

His face hardened as he glanced at Silas, who was pretending not to listen. Without another word, Ethan turned and walked out.

I turned to Silas. “Let’s go.”

“You didn’t have to piss off Ethan Haxton,” Silas said as we drove toward the private clinic. “That guy could ruin both our lives with a phone call.”

I kept my eyes on the road. “What, I can’t have friends now?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Silas backpedaled. “It’s just… he’s Ethan fucking Haxton. And he’s clearly into you.”

“So I’m supposed to drop everything whenever he snaps his fingers?” I asked, irritation creeping into my voice. “Is that how it works?”

Silas fell silent, apparently sensing my mood.

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The private clinic was nestled in an upscale neighborhood. Nothing about it screamed “psychiatric facility,” which was precisely the point. People who came here valued discretion above all else.

Chris Jensen greeted us at the entrance, dressed in a white lab coat over a perfectly tailored charcoal suit with a blue tie that brought out

his eyes.

“Jade,” he said warmly, before turning to Silas with a practiced smile. “And you must be Silas. I’m Dr. Jensen.”

Silas nodded awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

“Jade rarely brings friends to meet me,” Chris remarked, leading us down a hallway. “You must be special.”

“You can wait in here,” Chris told me, gesturing to a luxurious waiting area with leather couches and a fully stocked refreshment bar. “This might take a while.”

I settled into a comfortable chair with my phone as Chris led Silas into his office. Three and a half hours later, they emerged. Silas looked drained but somehow lighter, while Chris maintained his professional demeanor despite the obvious lack of progress.

“We’ve made a start,” Chris said vaguely. “I’d like to schedule another session next week.”

Silas nodded, avoiding my eyes.

“Let’s get some food,” I suggested. “I’m starving.”

We ended up at an Italian restaurant a few blocks from the clinic. Chris had joined us, shedding his doctor persona the moment we were

seated.

“So, how are things with Haxton?” Chris asked casually as we waited for our food. “Any developments I should know about?”

I gave him a flat look. “Always bringing up the wrong topic.”

“Him?” Chris asked, pointing his fork at himself. “Or me?”

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