The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 278: Ch 277: Angry Rage - Part 1

As soon as they reached home, Ethan didn’t say a word to anyone.

He moved straight for Selene’s room, her weight still resting lightly in his arms.

He laid her gently on the bed, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. Her breathing was steady. Her pulse, normal.

She was fine.

He let out a quiet, relieved sigh.

He was just about to leave when a shadow blocked his way.

Zara.

"We need to talk."

She said flatly, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Ethan looked at her, then glanced over her shoulder at the kids.

Nora, Noah, and Orion stood a short distance away, watching with curiosity and unease. Orion looked particularly concerned, his brows furrowed as he subtly reached a hand toward Zara.

Ethan’s tone was dry.

"They part of this talk too?"

Zara followed his gaze and sighed. She turned to the kids, softening just slightly.

"I’ll be fine. This is between me and him.""

She said.

Orion looked like he wanted to protest, but he nodded reluctantly.

Ethan said nothing as he led Zara toward a secure room in the back of the house— reinforced, soundproof, and built exactly for this type of confrontation.

The door shut with a quiet click, sealing them inside.

The second the lock engaged, Ethan turned to her.

"What’s wrong with you?"

He didn’t get another word out before Zara grabbed the front of his shirt, yanked him forward, and shook him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

She snapped. Her voice was low but laced with fury.

Ethan’s expression didn’t change.

"Zara—"

"No! Don’t ’Zara’ me right now! You—"

She shouted, cutting him off. She shoved him once, hard.

"You left us!"

He stayed steady under her push, eyes narrowing.

"You’re going to have to explain what that means."

Zara took a step back, breathing hard. Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides. She was trying—really trying—not to explode.

"You went ahead. Alone! You didn’t tell anyone. You didn’t warn us. You just... disappeared and left the rest of us to deal with a collapsing dungeon, monsters swarming us from every side, and no idea if you or Selene were even alive!"

She said, voice shaking.

Ethan was quiet for a long moment.

"You think I didn’t have a reason?"

He finally said.

"I don’t care what your reason was! You’re supposed to be the one we can rely on, Ethan! The one who thinks three steps ahead! And instead, you acted like some lone wolf in a hero fantasy and nearly got everyone killed!"

Zara snapped.

Ethan didn’t flinch at her words.

"Selene was—"

"Selene, Selene, Selene!"

Zara cut him off, voice rising.

"I get it, okay? I get that she means something to you. But so do the kids! So do we! What if one of them had died while you were off playing guardian angel to her?"

His jaw clenched.

"That didn’t happen."

"But it could have! You think you’re the only one who wants to protect people? You think I didn’t look at those kids and wonder which one I was going to have to bury when this was over?"

Zara said, stepping closer. Her voice cracked just a little.

Ethan’s gaze softened slightly, but he didn’t move.

"I didn’t ask for you to take responsibility."

"That’s the problem, Ethan! You think you’re doing everyone a favor by going it alone, but all you’re doing is making it harder for the rest of us to trust you."

She snapped.

There was silence. Thick. Heavy.

Zara took a deep breath and looked away for a second, then back at him. Her voice was lower now. Tired.

"I just want to know that if something like that happens again... you’ll trust us to help you."

Ethan looked down at the floor, his expression unreadable.

"I’ll think about it."

He muttered.

"As if you meant anything you said. All you do is open your mouth and say words. But you never follow through with them. And I am quite tired of this."

Zara spoke in a soft voice, but her anger was evident in the way she spoke.

Ethan stayed behind in the silent room, his hands shoved in his pockets as he stared at the door Zara had just walked out of.

Moments later, she came back—not to apologize or soften her words, but because she wasn’t finished.

"I can read you like a book, Ethan. And I know exactly what you’re going to do next."

Zara said, her voice low, arms crossed.

Ethan turned to face her, jaw tight.

"Zara—"

She raised a hand.

"No. Let me finish."

She took a step closer, eyes narrowed.

"You say you’ll think about what I said and that you’ll improve. But I know you. When it comes down to it, if you have to choose between Selene and the rest of us, you’ll leave us without a second thought."

Ethan didn’t say anything. He didn’t deny it. And that silence—that was what made Zara chuckle bitterly.

"Right. That’s what I thought."

She said, her lips twisting into something tired and disappointed.

That attitude—so sure, so bitter—it rubbed Ethan the wrong way. He straightened, finally speaking.

"I never asked you or the kids to follow me. You did that on your own."

He said firmly. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Zara narrowed her eyes.

"Because you saved my life. Because I thought we were in this together."

"And now your life is bound to mine, right? Isn’t that what you keep saying? That you owe me? Then don’t act surprised when I make calls you don’t like."

He said sharply.

Zara’s jaw clenched.

"And those kids? They came into this because of Selene. They’re still here because of Selene. Don’t put that weight on me."

Ethan continued, voice colder now.

Zara looked like she was trying to keep herself from shouting. Ethan wasn’t done.

"You’re being too sensitive right now. If those kids have a problem, they’ll speak for themselves. They don’t need you to fight their battles."

That did it.