Then she heard Ethan's voice-low and tired. "Watch her," he said to James.

A moment later, he left with Chloe.

Pretending to be asleep was excruciating. When Ethan had covered her with his jacket and leaned into the sofa, she had felt. comforted. But now, an hour had passed since he left with Chloe.

Everyone else eventually said their goodbyes, leaving only James to keep watch.

Sophia opened her eyes. "They all left?"

James looked startled. "Sophia! I mean. Mrs. Griffin. Ethan just stepped out. He'll be back soon."

"Oh," she said softly. "You can go. I'll wait."

"Are you sure?"

"I have a friend nearby. I'll call her. Ethan's always busy. I'm used to it." She called Lily.

James said, "Then I'll wait with you until your friend gets here. Otherwise, I won't feel right leaving you alone."

Sophia didn't refuse. During the wait, she ended up having two more drinks. Lily had been woken from sleep by the call. She didn't ask many questions-she knew Sophia hated troubling others, even her closest friends. For her to call this late, something must have happened.

And Lily quickly guessed-it had to be about Ethan.

By the time Lily arrived, Sophia had clearly had too much to drink. She kicked open the door with one sharp motion, startling James into jumping to his feet.

Lily shot him a sharp look. "You're Ethan's friend, right?"

"Yes," James replied, nodding.

"Where's Ethan?" she demanded.

"Uh." James stammered, clearly unsure how to respond.

"Are you going to tell me or not?" Lily's glare was so fierce it made James instinctively take a step back.

Sophia tugged on her arm weakly. "Lily. take me home. I don't feel well."

"Yeah, yeah." Lily gave James one last pointed look, then wrapped an arm around Sophia and helped her down the stairs. "If you can't hold your liquor, stop drinking so much. Who ends up suffering? You! Honestly, Sophia, could you be any more clueless?"

As they were leaving, Ethan's car pulled up outside the club.

"Ethan, your wife's gone," James reported.

Ethan simply nodded. He knew Lily had taken her.

"You dropped Chloe off?" James asked as they retrieved his jacket.

"Yeah."

This time, his gentle and understanding wife might not be so easy to comfort.

He tried to call Sophia. She didn't answer. He called Lily.

"Mr. Griffin," Lily said coldly, "I'll take good care of Sophia tonight. No need to worry. When she sobers up-and calms down-you can talk."

Then she hung up.

Ethan didn't call again. Instead, he drove home alone to a house that now felt colder than ever.

"If I were you, I wouldn't pretend to be asleep," Lily grumbled. "You should've shown that woman who's boss!"

"What's the point of winning someone that way?" Sophia said quietly.

-

The next morning, Sophia kept checking her phone, willing it to ring. When it finally did, she hesitated.

But she picked up.

"I'm coming to get you," Ethan said gently.

She wanted to say no, say she needed space. But what came out was a simple, "Okay."

When she opened the door for him , she was so distracted that accidentally bumped her arm against the frame, letting out a dull thud. The pain made her brows knit together instantly.

Ethan didn't look great either. There were faint dark circles under his eyes. For a split second, Sophia felt a twinge of concern-but then she remembered: maybe he was just "tired" from taking care of Chloe last night. That flicker of sympathy was immediately swallowed by a deeper bitterness, and her expression grew cold.

Ethan noticed her awkward demeanor but merely gave a small, gentle smile. He reached out, trying to touch her cheek, but she turned away from his hand. His fingers froze midair for a second before he smoothly withdrew them. His voice held a trace of helpless teasing.

"Couldn't sleep alone."

Sophia finally looked up at him, meeting his eyes. Alone? Was that his way of explaining himself-telling her that he hadn't spent the night with Chloe?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ethan asked with a quiet laugh, amused by her intense stare. This time, he didn't ask for permission-he reached out and pulled her head gently against his chest, holding her tightly for a few moments before releasing her and taking her hand.

"Come on-let's go home."

Home did feel more comforting. The moment she stepped inside, the warm, familiar scent of food filled the air, wrapping around her like a soft blanket.

A subtle warmth stirred in her chest. She turned to glance at Ethan, who was changing his shoes at the entryway.

"I called my mom first thing this morning," Ethan said with a refined smile. "She said something light is best after a night of drinking."

After dinner, Ethan went to wash the dishes while Sophia lay on the couch watching TV. For a while, she allowed herself to forget the unpleasantness-but the fracture in her heart hadn't truly healed.

By late afternoon, she noticed a dull ache in her arm. She looked down and saw a large bruise forming. It must've been from when she bumped it that morning. She grabbed some ice from the freezer, wrapped it in a cloth, and started upstairs to apply a cold compress.

As she approached Ethan's study, she heard his voice through the door. He was on the phone.

"Hospital? I'm on my way."

He ended the call.

Sophia instinctively backed up, but it was too late-Ethan opened the door, and the two of them nearly collided.

She forced a small smile. "Who's in the hospital?"

Ethan paused for a couple of seconds before answering, "Just going to check on someone."

He took two steps, then turned back and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I'll be back soon."

She suddenly called after him. "Do you have to go?"

"Be good," he said with a soft smile, then turned and walked out the door without hesitation.

He didn't return until well past midnight.

Sophia hadn't been able to fall asleep. She felt the weight of the mattress shift as he got into bed. A few seconds later, his arm slipped around her, cool from the night air, pulling her slowly against him.

And she. simply lay there silently, pretending to be fast asleep, as if she hadn't felt a thing.

The next morning, as soon as Sophia arrived at the office, she was immediately summoned to Henry's office. She had barely set down her bag when she was pulled inside.

"Sophia, you've got to help me this time!" Henry exclaimed, grabbing her wrist in a near panic.

"Manager Collins, what's going on?" Sophia asked, startled. It was rare to see her usually composed supervisor in such a state. His face was pale, his forehead slightly shiny with sweat-something was seriously wrong.

Henry let out a long, defeated sigh. "There's a problem with the Brighten contract."

"What?" Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief. "But. but we signed everything, didn't we?"

She had worked so hard for that deal. The countless late nights, the tense negotiations, the emotional balancing act between professionalism and pressure-it had all led to that signed contract. Or so she thought.

"When Lucas's assistant dropped it off," Henry explained, "I was too excited to double-check everything. I didn't even notice."

He ran a hand down his face.

"Brighten forgot to stamp it."

"What?" Sophia gasped. "No stamp? Then it's not even legally binding-it's just a piece of paper!"

"I know. I know." Henry looked like he'd aged five years overnight. "I only realized when I tried to confirm the timeline for campaign execution. I called them, and the assistant told me Lucas wants to 'reconsider' the deal."

Sophia's heart sank. "But that's ridiculous. We agreed-he agreed."

"I don't care what you have to do," Henry interrupted, his tone growing desperate. "If we lose this, forget your commission-kiss your raise goodbye. Honestly, the whole company might not survive the quarter if this falls apart. You need to fix this."

Sophia felt the pressure crash down on her like a collapsing ceiling. Her chest tightened. The walls of the office felt like they were closing in.

She needed this commission-not just for her own career, but to cover her father's medical bills, to keep herself afloat, to survive. She clenched her fists. There was no time for panic.

And she had no one to turn to.

Ethan? At this hour, he was probably still at Chloe's bedside.

She would have to solve this alone.

Without another word, she grabbed the flawed contract and rushed out of the office. She didn't even take her coat.

At Brighten Group, the receptionist tried to stop her, but Sophia, fueled by anxiety and adrenaline, pushed through and stormed into Lucas's office.

And then she froze.

Sitting on the sofa opposite Lucas was Ethan.

He looked completely at ease, lounging like he was in a casual meeting. He glanced up at Sophia, a flicker of surprise crossing his face-but it was gone almost instantly, replaced by his usual calm. He gave her a polite nod, as if they were just acquaintances running into each other at a café.

Lucas, seated behind his massive desk, raised an eyebrow in amusement. He didn't seem even remotely surprised to see her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were with a client," Sophia said, suddenly feeling like she'd walked into a trap.

She could feel the heat rising to her face, not from embarrassment, but from frustration-at the situation, at herself, at Ethan's maddening indifference.

She looked at Ethan again. What was he doing here?

Then she remembered-he worked for SUN. This could be business between SUN and Brighten. It made sense. She was the one who had barged in unannounced.

"Come in," Lucas said coolly.

Sophia stepped forward and placed the contract on his desk. "Mr. Marshall, this contract. it's missing your company's stamp."

Lucas barely glanced at it. "Oh? No stamp?"

Sophia frowned. He obviously knew that already. What game was he playing?

"Apologies, Mr. Griffin," Lucas said with a knowing glance at Ethan. "Give us a moment."

Ethan nodded and picked up a magazine from the table, casually flipping through it like nothing in the room interested him.

Still, his presence made Sophia nervous. He had never seen her in this state-flustered, anxious, professionally vulnerable.

Taking a breath, she addressed Lucas again. "Mr. Marshall, I don't understand. We had a verbal agreement."

"Did we?" Lucas lifted a brow. "Remind me, Miss Marshall?"

Sophia's breath caught. "You agreed to this deal. I trust you're not the kind of man who goes back on his word."

Lucas gave a cold chuckle. "You're quite naive, aren't you? In business, only one thing matters-interest. What makes you think your little agency can meet our expectations?"

"Then why agree in the first place?" she snapped.

Lucas leaned back in his chair. "Shouldn't you be the one answering that?"

Sophia's eyes flicked to Ethan, worried he might misinterpret something. But Ethan didn't even look up. His gaze was fixed on the magazine, his expression unreadable.

Not wanting to argue in front of Ethan, Sophia pushed the contract forward. "We're sincere about this partnership. Please don't make things harder than they already are."

Lucas smiled thinly. "I'm sincere too. How about tonight-we find a quiet place to talk it over?"

Sophia's breath hitched. His tone was casual, but the implication was clear.

Her heart pounded as she felt Ethan's gaze finally lift from the magazine.

She could feel it-the heat of his stare on her skin, though she didn't dare look at him. Something wild and reckless twisted inside her. Her pride, her desperation, Ethan's silence-they all pushed her toward the edge.

She turned her eyes on Lucas, meeting his cold, calculating gaze.

"Fine," she said, her voice low but firm. "Tonight it is."

Sophia stormed out of Lucas's office without looking back. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, echoing through the silent hallway like gunshots.

Behind her, Ethan finally set down the financial magazine he had been pretending to read. His eyes, usually calm and reserved, darkened with a storm of emotion.

Lucas, still seated behind his desk, caught the subtle shift in Ethan's expression. He leaned back in his chair, a cold smile tugging at his lips.

"This game," he said slowly, "just keeps getting more interesting."

Ethan stood, his voice low and steady but laced with warning. "Be careful, Lucas. Playing with fire doesn't end well."

Lucas looked up at him, unbothered. "If it's for you, Ethan, I don't mind getting burned."

Ethan paused, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed like he might say something-but in the end, he simply turned and walked out.

Only after the door closed did Lucas's smirk fade. He stood in silence, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. The city lights gleamed below, but his gaze was distant. His back, so straight and proud, carried a kind of loneliness that made him look like a statue-flawless, cold, and hollow inside.

"Don't involve others in what's between us."

Ethan's words echoed in his mind.

Lucas let out a bitter laugh. Why was it that Ethan got to live a clean, untroubled life-while he, Lucas, had to wade through the mud and blood of the past?

Back at Elyra's office, Isabella practically ran to Sophia's desk, breathless with gossip.

"Breaking news-SUN's acquisition of Elyra is being fast-tracked!"

Sophia's brows drew together in a frown. Elyra was working to partner with Brighten, and now SUN, Ethan's company, was accelerating its acquisition of Elyra. Lucas and Ethan. everything was starting to feel like an intricate net tightening around her.

The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence. The moment Ethan met with Lucas, the acquisition plan sped up. And now Lucas was suddenly hesitating to seal the deal with Brighten? It all pointed to something bigger-something calculated.

Was Brighten backing away because they didn't want to work with SUN?

That didn't make sense. SUN had the reputation, the resources, the reach. They were the logical choice.

She couldn't let Elyra, her team, or the lives depending on that contract fall apart because of this. Not without a fight.

That night, she arrived at the hotel suite Lucas had texted her. It was on the top floor-lavishly furnished, quiet, and far too intimate for a business meeting.

She sat on the edge of the sofa, back ramrod straight, like a small animal braced for either flight or attack.

Lucas stepped out of the bathroom wearing a light gray sweater, his hair still damp. The soft fabric contrasted with the usual sharpness of his suits, making him look less like a CEO and more like. a man. A very dangerous man.

He said nothing. Just walked over and sat across from her, eyes cold and unreadable.

She couldn't show weakness.

"Mr. Marshall, about the contract." she finally said, forcing her voice not to shake.

Lucas slowly reached to the side table and picked up the contract. He held it between two fingers and twirled it slowly.

"It's all stamped. You can have it," he said.

Sophia's eyes lit up. "Really?"

He leaned forward slightly, voice smooth. "On one condition."

Her stomach dropped. "What condition?"

"Spend the night," he said evenly.

Her face went pale. But before she could react, he added with a smirk, "Just to talk."

Sophia stared at the contract, then at Lucas.

She clenched her fists in her lap, forcing herself to breathe, to think. She couldn't afford to break down-not now. Not when they were so close.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "Let's talk."

Lucas smiled but said nothing.

He made no move toward the contract. No gesture of goodwill. He just sat there, watching her, like a predator studying its prey.

Sophia tried to engage him in polite conversation-about the campaign, the brand vision, the timeline-but he barely responded. He just kept looking at her, like he was waiting for her to crack.

Then, his phone rang.

He turned to answer it.

That was her moment.

Without hesitation, she lunged forward, grabbed the contract, and bolted for the door.

She didn't stop running until she was in the hotel lobby.

The night air hit her like a slap. She stood there, trembling, clutching the stamped contract in her hands. Her heart pounded. Her cheeks were flushed.

She texted Ethan: I'm outside the hotel.

She didn't expect him to come. Not really.

But not five minutes later, a black Audi came screeching to a halt in front of the hotel, tires smoking from the sudden stop.

The passenger window rolled down.

James looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Sophia! Thank God you got out!" he said, clutching his chest. "Another minute and Ethan would've shattered my transmission!"

Sophia blinked, stunned. She turned toward the driver's seat.

Ethan sat there, cold and silent, hands gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.

She climbed into the backseat without a word.

The car was dead silent. The tension was suffocating.

"You know how many red lights he ran to get here?" James said, still shaken. "He was in the middle of a dinner with a client worth over ten million. One text from you, and he stood up and walked out. Didn't even say goodbye."

Sophia's heart clenched.

He'd left a multimillion-dollar deal. for her?

She stared at the back of Ethan's head-at that familiar, composed profile.

This was Ethan, the man who never raised his voice, never lost control, never made impulsive decisions. And yet tonight, he had thrown all of that away-just to come find her.

It was the first time she had seen him lose control.

And though it was subtle, fleeting-it was real.

And in that moment, it was like a single spark of light had pierced through the dark, heavy fog that had clouded her heart for so long.

"Your big boss isn't going to give Ethan a hard time, is he?" Sophia asked, starting to feel that things were more serious than she thought.