Chapter 9: A Battle of Willpower

Rebecca woke up to the soft sounds of waves crashing against the shore. The morning sun streamed through the sheer curtains of her luxurious bedroom, casting golden hues across the white linen sheets. For a brief moment, she forgot where she was—forgot the circumstances that had led her here.

Then, reality hit.

She was in a private villa. With Ethan Carter.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she pushed herself out of bed, rubbing her temples. This was a mistake. She never should have come.

Last night, Ethan had gotten too close—too perceptive. The way he looked at her, as if he could see straight through her defenses, unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

I'm not him, Rebecca.

The words echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her. But she wasn't ready to confront it.

She wasn't ready to confront him.

Rebecca took her time getting ready, opting for a casual but modest sundress. She was determined to keep things strictly professional, no matter how much Ethan tried to blur the lines.

When she finally stepped into the open-concept living space, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Ethan was already there, sitting at the dining table with a newspaper in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He looked as effortless as ever—his crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of his toned chest.

She ignored the way her pulse quickened.

"Morning," he said without looking up.

"Morning," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.

She made a beeline for the coffee machine, desperately needing the caffeine to steel herself for whatever game he was playing.

"You slept well?" he asked.

"Yes," she lied, pouring herself a cup.

Ethan finally looked at her, his piercing gaze assessing her carefully. "Good. Because today, we're going out."

Rebecca froze mid-sip. "Excuse me?"

He leaned back in his chair, watching her with amusement. "We're at one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. It would be a waste to stay locked inside all day, don't you think?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I didn't come here for a vacation, Ethan."

"Then why did you come?" he challenged, his smirk infuriatingly smug.

Her jaw tightened. "I don't know. But I do know I'm not going sightseeing with you."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself. But I'm not spending the day locked in this villa. If you change your mind, I'll be outside."

With that, he stood, grabbed his sunglasses, and walked toward the patio.

Rebecca let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

She wasn't going to change her mind.

She was going to stay right here.

An hour passed. Then two.

Rebecca tried to focus on work emails, scrolling through her phone with an intensity that bordered on obsessive. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the restless energy buzzing inside her.

Finally, she stood and walked toward the glass doors leading to the patio. She told herself she was only checking to see if Ethan had really left.

But the sight before her made her stomach flip.

Ethan was lounging by the infinity pool, shirtless, his toned body glistening under the sun. A book rested in his hands, but his attention wasn't on the pages—it was on the ocean before him, a peaceful, almost unreadable expression on his face.

Rebecca swallowed hard and forced herself to look away.

She wasn't here for this.

She turned on her heel and headed back inside, heart hammering in her chest.

By the time Ethan returned later in the afternoon, Rebecca had fully convinced herself that she didn't care where he had been or what he had done.

But the moment he stepped inside, a small, smug smile on his lips, she regretted not locking herself in her room.

"Regretting staying in?" he asked.

She scoffed. "Not even a little."

Ethan walked past her, the scent of salt and his cologne lingering in the air. "Liar."

Her fingers curled into fists. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Enjoying what?"

She turned to face him. "This little game you're playing. Trying to get me to loosen up, to trust you. Newsflash, Ethan—I'm not interested."

He studied her for a long moment, and for once, there was no amusement in his gaze. "You say that, but you're still here."

She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came.

Because he was right.

And that scared her more than anything.