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.

James chuckled and suddenly switched the topic, "Hey, Sophia, what brought you to the hotel? And how did you hurt your foot?"

Sophia touched her bangs awkwardly, "Just had something to do here, then accidentally tumbled down the spiral stairs."

James raised his thumb, amused. "Sophia, you really are something else."

"Let's go to the hospital." Ethan said.

The doctor later said it was nothing serious-some meds would do, though the swelling might last a few days.

As they reached the first floor, Sophia said she needed the restroom. Ethan helped her down, half holding,stopping at the door. Watching her limp inside, Ethan's brows tightened with worry.

"Ethan."

Someone called his name. He turned instinctively-it was Chloe.

They stared at each other a moment. Chloe held her poised air, clearly waiting for Ethan to start the conversation. But he always played it cool, and she eventually caved.

When Sophia came out, she caught the scene and instinctively stepped back to stay hidden.

"I knew you wouldn't just ignore me," Chloe said with an edge to her voice.

Ethan kept his tone steady, "How's your arm?"

She lifted the injured arm slightly, smiling faintly. "It got hurt because of you. But if your concern is the payoff, I'd say it was worth it."

Ethan let out a dry smile. "Don't be so reckless next time. It's not worth it."

"Funny, I'd say you should know better. A little injury's a cheap price to see you again. I'd say that's very worth it." Her words, though sweet, felt more like a well-calculated trade.

Ethan gave a tired smile. "I'm married, Chloe. Don't do this to yourself."

She stepped closer, her flawless face just inches away. Ethan didn't move, calm as ever.

"Then what about the night you took me home.?" Chloe hesitated, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Ethan sensed something off. He turned and caught the reflection of Sophia's sorrowful face in a tilted mirror nearby. So she'd been standing there all along?

Sophia didn't want to dwell on it. Sure, running into an ex and exchanging a few caring words was pretty normal. But what she couldn't stop thinking about-what exactly happened the night he took her home?

"Babe?" Ethan's voice brought her back. He was suddenly right next to her.

She forced a smile. "I was just heading out. And hey, what are you doing in the ladies' room?"

She quickly tried to push him out the door but lost her footing. Ethan reacted fast and caught her in his arms in one smooth motion.Sophia quickly pulled herself together. Seeing Chloe was still there, her expression turned a bit stiff. "Miss Patterson, what brings you here?"

"Well, what else? I'm here for a check-up," Chloe replied with a polite smile, her sharp eyes giving nothing away.

Sophia caught the condescension in her voice, and the awkwardness she felt just now disappeared without a trace. That's the kind of person Chloe was-strong when facing the strong. Sophia responded with a light grin, "Then did the doctor cure you?"

Her words had a clear double meaning, and there was no way someone as sharp as Chloe would miss it. Chloe just smiled faintly. "Well, some things take time. But I'm confident I'll get better eventually."

Sophia smiled right back. "Hope so. But not all illnesses can be cured, you know. Some turn into cancer. and when that happens, there's nothing to do but sit and wait."

Her words came out softly but hit hard.

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you knew so much about these things, Miss Marshall. I guess you're a regular here?"

"Not really. Ethan takes really good care of me, so I don't get sick that often," Sophia replied casually while glancing around. She added with a sweet smile, "You should try and stay away from hospitals too. Lots of germs floating around-might not be good for your health."

She hadn't forgotten those times Ethan got 'urgent calls'. Her meaning now couldn't be more obvious.

Finally done exchanging less-than-friendly pleasantries, Sophia noticed James had already been waiting in the car for a while. She looked at Chloe. "Need a ride?"

Chloe didn't look too happy. She stole a glance at Ethan and said, "No need. I drove myself here."

"Alright then," Sophia said before getting into the car. She noticed Ethan was still standing there. With a cool tone, she added, "It's a bit late, not so safe out there. Why don't you walk Miss Patterson to her car?"

Ethan gave a tiny smirk. Tonight, this sweet and soft-spoken woman. was clearly packing fire.

He gently closed the door for her, then turned to Chloe. "You should get going. Drive safe."

Chloe called after him, "If you're so worried about me, why not walk me back?"

Ethan replied plainly, "And who's supposed to look out for my wife?"

"Isn't James with her?" In moments like this, being unreasonable didn't seem unreasonable at all.

Ethan let out a helpless chuckle. "Letting another guy take my wife home so I can escort my ex? Really think that sounds okay?"

Chloe froze for a second, then pushed back. "You don't even love her. Is this boring life really what you want?"

Ethan didn't say another word. Even as their car disappeared down the road, Chloe stood there, refusing to move.

Back at home, Sophia collapsed onto the couch, flipping through a comic book, though she wasn't actually reading it. She snuck a glance-Ethan had been in the bathroom for ages. What was he even doing in there?

The ride home had been dead silent. James had started off chatting excitedly about how he got tonight's client dead drunk, but when he noticed the weird tension between them, he quietly shut up.

If she'd only had suspicions before-that lipstick smudge, that perfume-she might've brushed it off. But now? It was happening too often. She remembered the first time she saw Chloe and felt uneasy. Even when Ethan offered to walk her home, she'd told herself maybe it was just him being polite. As long as he showed he cared afterwards, she'd been willing to quietly protect what they had.

But if he really cheated... Sophia, can you honestly say you'd still be by his side?

Chloe's words echoed in her head, making her feel like she couldn't breathe. Turns out, she was just like every other woman out there-when it came to betrayal, forgiveness wasn't so easy.But Ethan never really cared to explain things, so... was there even a point in asking?

She was still mulling it over when Ethan walked out from the bathroom.

"Come here," he said and pulled her into his arms without a word.

"W-what are you doing?" Her face went bright red. Her leg was messed up, surely he didn't want to... do that now, right?

"What's going through that head of yours?" Ethan gave her a light tap on the forehead, pulling her away from her wild thoughts.

The bathtub was already filled with warm water. Of course-that's what he'd been doing just now, adjusting the temperature.

Ethan was always quick when it came to taking off her clothes. In no time, she was stripped down and lowered into the tub.

"The water's perfect," she mumbled. "I twisted my ankle, not broke it. I'm not helpless, you know."

Even though she grumbled, there was a warmth in her chest-Ethan had this weird ability to make her forget she was mad at him, just like that.

"Want me to wash your hair?" He gave her a half-smile while asking.

Might as well enjoy this rare pampering. Lying back in the bath, she sighed, "Yeah."

As Ethan ran his fingers through her hair, massaging gently, a shiver went down her spine. The whole bathroom was foggy with steam, and she could just feel her cheeks flushing.

Maybe it was how gentle he was, but somehow, she dozed off. Half-asleep, she vaguely felt herself being lifted and laid onto the soft bed. She curled up against his chest-it was warm and safe.

Would this warmth always be hers?

Lingering in her heart was a twinge of worry.

The next morning, even though Ethan told her not to, she still dragged herself to work-she had to deliver the contract. But no sooner had she stepped out of the manager's office than Isabella stopped her.

"Sophia, babe, what happened to your foot?"

"Just fell, no biggie."

Isabella gave her a sly grin. "Why is it you always come back looking beat up after seeing Mr. Marshall? Man, what's that guy doing to you?"

She giggled behind her hand, voice full of innuendo.

Sophia froze, cleared her throat, and shuffled past awkwardly.

Lately, the rumors floating around her weren't pretty, but she chose to ignore them, pretending she heard nothing. But now, the star of this gossip just appeared at the office.

"Lucas from Brighten!" someone gasped, and the whole place buzzed.

Lucas stood at the doorway, hands in his pockets, the cool distance in his expression making him seem untouchable. But his eyes eventually settled on Sophia.

"Mr. Marshall! We weren't expecting you until ten!" Henry rushed over, flustered. "So sorry for the poor welcome."

Lucas finally shifted his stare away from her. "Apologies for the mix-up. Seems my team dropped the ball."

Apologies? Sophia rolled her eyes. What the hell was he playing at now?

"Oh no, not at all. It's really my fault for not staying on top of things," Henry said, leading him into the office.

Just before the door closed behind him, Lucas muttered, "Had to apologize, or someone might get mad."

Every single pair of eyes turned to Sophia again.

Her face was full of confusion. Wait-was that "someone"... supposed to be her?

Isabella leaned in, eyes sparkling. "So, Sophia, how'd you manage to win over Lucas, huh?"

Sophia ignored her. Whatever game Lucas was playing, she seriously had no clue.