Chapter 39: Changing Roles

Chapter 39: Changing Roles

The moment the words "role change" left Ethan's mouth, the color drained from Sophia's face. Ethan's commanding presence left her too intimidated to even muster an excuse. The love note she had intended to give him remained clutched in her hand as she silently turned and walked away, her face as pale as a sheet.

Ethan's expression remained indifferent as he watched her retreat. He didn't spare her another glance as he pulled out his phone and held it to his ear. Just as the line connected with a single "beep," a familiar ringtone echoed from behind him.

Ethan turned around in surprise, spotting Emily standing a short distance away, arms crossed and an amused look on her face.

Despite having done nothing wrong, Ethan couldn't help but feel a strange pang of guilt as he met her gaze. Her narrowed eyes and the teasing smirk playing on her lips suggested she had seen more than enough.

He walked over to her, trying to suppress his unease. "How long have you been standing there?"

"For a while," Emily replied, her tone laced with a knowing sarcasm that made Ethan's stomach twist. "Chairman Harrison, gracing the set with your presence…here to help Sophia with her lines?"

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle at her words, noting the slight pout on her lips and the hint of jealousy in her voice. Every time she showed even a hint of jealousy, it amused him to no end. He didn't mind being misunderstood if it meant he could see this side of her.

"It wasn't to run lines," he said, looking directly at her, the warmth in his voice unmistakable. "I was changing her role."

"Changing her role?" Emily blinked, taken aback. "Why would you do that?"

Ethan took a moment to consider his response, then answered with characteristic bluntness, "She overestimated herself."

Emily blinked again, momentarily speechless. She knew Ethan's tendency toward a rather arrogant self-confidence, and she couldn't help but recall the dejected look on Sophia's face as she had walked away.

A soft snort escaped her. "Chairman Harrison, you're really something."

She tried to sound reprimanding, but there was an undeniable hint of satisfaction in her tone.

Ethan chuckled softly, his gaze softening as it lingered on her. "That depends on who you're asking."

Emily quickly averted her eyes, refusing to meet his intense gaze.

Ethan wasn't ready to drop the subject. "Does that explanation satisfy you?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Still jealous?"

Emily's lashes fluttered rapidly, betraying her discomfort. "Don't flatter yourself," she huffed, looking anywhere but at him. "You don't need to explain anything to me. We don't have that kind of relationship anymore."

"Really?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "Then why are you here? Out for a stroll? Taking in the scenery?"

As he glanced around the set, which was far from picturesque at this stage of production, Emily felt a flush of irritation. She shot him an exasperated look and muttered, "You're impossible," before turning to leave.

But just as she did, Ethan reached out and grabbed her hand. His hand was large and warm, his grip firm but gentle.

"What are you doing?" Emily tried to shake him off, her voice rising in frustration. "Let go of me!"

Instead of letting go, Ethan pulled her closer, his other hand moving to rest on her shoulder. "Why didn't you message me?"

Emily froze, taken aback by his sudden change in topic. She looked up into his dark eyes and was surprised to find a trace of…was that hurt?

She blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Why would I message you?"

Ethan's gaze darkened. "You didn't want to reach out to me?"

Emily huffed softly, her annoyance returning. "I tried calling you…but your phone was off."

Ethan's expression softened, a glint of understanding in his eyes. "I was on a plane, heading to the States to find the original photographer."

Emily's irritation eased a little. "You went all the way to the U.S. to track down the original photographer?"

Ethan nodded. "I didn't expect things to escalate the way they did."

"Were you worried?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Emily shook her head. It wasn't fear she had felt; it was something far less pleasant.

Ethan's lips curled into a playful smirk. "Did you cry?"

Emily's eyes widened indignantly. "No!"

His smirk widened. "Liar."

Emily's face heated, the memory of those brief tears stinging her pride. She had cried, but only for a moment…

"Sorry," Ethan suddenly murmured, his deep voice laced with an unexpected tenderness.

Emily blinked in confusion. "Why are you apologizing?"

Ethan didn't immediately respond, his long lashes casting shadows over his eyes as he wrestled with the emotions churning inside him.

When the news had first broken, he had been furious. But that anger had quickly turned into a tangled mess of emotions that he hadn't been prepared for. Seeing the cruel comments about her skills, her background, her very identity—each word felt like a dagger to his chest, leaving him raw and aching.

He had found himself imagining how she must have felt reading those words, picturing her sitting alone, her eyes red-rimmed and full of hurt.

For a brief moment, he had regretted ever pushing her into this spotlight, regretted signing her to Creston Media and helping her set up the studio. He had wanted to shield her, keep her safe in a life of luxury and comfort, far away from the ugliness of public scrutiny.

But now, standing here, seeing her vibrant, determined, and full of life, he realized how wrong he had been. She was thriving, even through the challenges, and that was something the old, comfortable life couldn't have given her.

Finally, Ethan met her gaze, his eyes soft and full of emotion. "Because I didn't protect you like I should have."

He reached out, his fingers brushing gently against her delicate jawline before trailing upward, as if she were something fragile and precious. His touch was tender, reverent, as he traced the outline of her face, brushing lightly over the corner of her eye and lingering on her lips.

His voice was firm, resolute. "But that won't happen again. I promise."

Emily wasn't sure how to react. His touch was so gentle, so unexpectedly intimate, that it left her momentarily stunned. She wanted to push him away, but when her eyes fell on the scarred bite mark on his wrist—a mark she had left—her resolve faltered.

So, she let him touch her, his warmth seeping into her skin as his tall frame leaned in closer. Just as he was about to pull her into his arms, Emily quickly sidestepped, creating a bit of distance between them.

"It's over now," she said, her voice slightly shaky as she nervously adjusted her hair. "Everything turned out fine in the end."

She hesitated, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "And…thank you for everything you did."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He had waited all day for that simple "thank you," but now that it had finally come, he realized he wanted more.

He raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "That's it? Just a 'thank you'?"

Emily frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "What else do you want? I already thanked you, didn't I?"

Her voice grew a little sharper. "Besides, you used me to boost your own image, too! A verbal thank you is more than enough!"

"I never said a verbal thank you wasn't enough," Ethan replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But maybe there's another way you could express your gratitude?"

"What?" Emily asked, confused.

Ethan leaned in closer, reducing the space between them once again. His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "How about…a kiss?"