CHAPTER 16

Ethan's POV

The day had started on a lighter note, something rare in Ethan's world. Lunch with Emily had been... nice. He couldn't help but notice how different she seemed, how grown-up. Her teasing comments about dating and being controlled by him had stirred something in him—something he didn't quite understand and wasn't prepared to face yet. But he had brushed it off, masking it with his usual cold demeanor.

Now, hours later, he sat in his office, his mind wandering back to their conversation. She's going to date someone someday, he thought. The idea made his chest tighten in a way that frustrated him. He hated the thought of someone else in her life, someone who might not care for her the way he did. But she deserves freedom, he reminded himself, knowing he couldn't keep her under his watch forever. He had to loosen the reins.

Ethan sighed and decided to distract himself by attending the evening party one of his associates had invited him to. A social event to keep up appearances. It would be good for business, he thought. But deep down, he knew he wanted to get out of his own head, even if just for a few hours.

When he arrived at the party, it was as expected—lavish, loud, filled with people trying to catch his attention. His bodyguards stayed close as always, keeping the crowds at bay, but even surrounded by so many, he felt detached. As he took a seat on a couch, his eyes scanned the room, observing the people mingling, dancing, laughing. All of it felt meaningless.

Suddenly, one of the women—someone clearly desperate for his attention—sidled up to him, invading his space. She touched his arm, trailed her fingers along his ear, her movements far too intimate for his liking. Annoyed, Ethan didn't even bother to look at her.

"Stay away," he said sharply, his voice cold enough to freeze the air between them. But she persisted, trying to lean in and kiss his cheek, crossing the line of what little patience he had left. His anger flared. This is exactly why I avoid these things.

"Get her out of here," he instructed his bodyguards, not sparing her another glance as they pulled her away.

 But just as the woman was being escorted out, something else caught his eye. A figure in the crowd—someone wearing a striking red gown, her back turned toward him. Ethan's heart skipped a beat, his eyes narrowing in recognition. No. It can't be.

He stood up slowly, the realization hitting him hard. It was Emily. He would know that silhouette anywhere. What the hell is she doing here? His chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't from confusion—it was from a mixture of anger and concern. She hadn't told him she was coming to this party, and now, of all places, she was here, in the middle of a crowd filled with people he didn't trust.

Without thinking, Ethan moved through the crowd, his eyes never leaving her. His long strides were deliberate, his mind racing. She came here without telling me, he thought, his jaw clenched. What was she thinking?

He saw her standing with Cynthia, trying to hide herself. She knows I'm here, he realized, feeling the heat of his frustration build. She's trying to avoid me.

"Cynthia," he called out, his voice firm but calm as he approached. Emily didn't turn around, but he could feel her tense up. His eyes flicked to Cynthia, who was now staring at him, wide-eyed, like she had been caught doing something wrong.

"Move aside, Cynthia," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. Cynthia hesitated, clearly torn between protecting Emily and obeying him. But Ethan wasn't in the mood for games. His gaze darkened. "Cynthia," he repeated, his voice colder, more authoritative.

Finally, Cynthia stepped aside, revealing Emily in full view. She was facing away from him, but he could see the way her shoulders stiffened, the way she avoided looking at him. His frustration bubbled to the surface. She knows I'll be angry, he thought, but it wasn't just anger anymore. It was something deeper, something he wasn't ready to confront.

Ethan took a step closer, his eyes drawn to her like a magnet. The red gown she wore made her look so different—so grown-up, so... stunning. His breath caught in his throat for a brief second. She looks incredible, he thought, his anger momentarily fading into something else, something that made him uneasy. But he pushed it aside.

"Emily," he said softly, his voice cutting through the noise of the party. He watched as she froze, clearly too scared to turn around. He took another step closer, his heart beating harder in his chest.

What am I going to say to her? He hadn't thought that far. All he knew was that she had gone behind his back, and that made him furious. But the longer he stood there, watching her avoid his gaze, the more the anger turned into something else—something that terrified him.