a familiar threat

As Elisabeth drove, a chuckle played on her lips. She glanced at Ethan and teased, "Ethan, do you even remember our conversation about the job? Aren't you the least bit concerned about it? Or maybe… you don't actually need a job. After all, you're a cool guy, lying low for some reason." She smirked playfully.

Ethan blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts. "What? No… sorry about that. I can start fresh next month, right? I just have a few things to sort out first, so they won't distract me when I start working with you." His tone was casual, though his mind remained preoccupied with Mr. Caldwell's company situation.

"It's fine," Elisabeth said, waving it off. Then, her eyes flickered with curiosity. "So, who was that girl whose house you just left?"

Ethan frowned slightly. "What girl?" he asked sharply.

"Don't play dumb. I saw her," she said with a grin.

"Oh, you mean Lila? I wasn't there for her. I went to see her father—he invited me over to discuss a few things." His voice remained cool and composed.

"Oh, I see," Elisabeth murmured, shifting her gaze to the stack of files Ethan had brought with him.

"So, what are these files for?" she asked.

"I'm supposed to deliver them to someone," Ethan replied curtly.

Her expression changed slightly as she studied him. "And what's your business with those two men we saw at the restaurant?" she asked, her teasing tone replaced with something more serious.

Ethan remained silent for a moment before finally answering. "They used to be my bosses. I just wanted to know what they were discussing… nothing much."

Elisabeth nodded, sensing his reluctance to elaborate. She decided not to push further, noticing the slight tension in his expression.

When they arrived at the hotel, Ethan stepped out of the car, but Elisabeth quickly stopped him.

She got out and joined him, slipping her hand into his as they walked. The gesture felt awkward to Ethan, but he kept his usual composed demeanor, unwilling to react.

The security guard at the entrance greeted them, and Ethan simply responded with a nod.

Whispers rippled through the hotel staff as they passed.

"Could she actually be in love with this poor guy?" one worker murmured, eyeing them skeptically.

"She's a fool if she thinks that guy actually loves her. He's probably just using her to make money," another added in a hushed tone.

Once they reached Ethan's hotel room, Elisabeth finally let go of his hand. She studied him for a moment before saying, "I won't disturb you. Looks like you'll be busy with those files. Take care—we can catch up for lunch later, okay?" She flashed a grin and walked away before he could respond.

Ethan opened his mouth to protest but sighed when she had already turned her back. "Okay," he muttered, unlocking the door and stepping inside. He shut it behind him with a quiet click, finally alone.

Meanwhile, at Sophia's residence…

Sophia sat at a small desk, carefully recording the income they had made so far. Their shop had been stocked with goods on credit from a supplier, and though the company wouldn't be expecting payment for another two weeks, Sophia had a plan to settle the balance ahead of time.

Elena, on the other hand, was busy attending to customers. Their business had grown significantly, thanks to Sophia's efforts. She had managed to secure a steady supply of goods, and given the town's small size and the market's distance, their store had quickly become the preferred shopping spot. People even came for items they could find elsewhere, drawn in by the wholesale prices Sophia had strategically set.

The shop now bustled with activity, a sign of its growing success.

"So, Sophia, how much have we made so far?" Elena asked with a wide grin as she moved around, assisting customers and collecting payments.

Sophia, still focused on her calculations, didn't look up. Her expression was unreadable as she replied, "Elena, let me be clear—we haven't made any profit yet. So far, all the money we've collected is just what we owe the supplier. I'll take care of that first. Starting tomorrow, we'll officially be free from debt."

Elena's smile faltered slightly, but she nodded in understanding. "That's a relief. At least after that, everything we make will truly be ours."

"Wow, does that mean we'll finally get to enjoy the money we're making?" Elena asked excitedly as she continued working.

Sophia let out a small sigh. "Actually, we're still not keeping any money for ourselves yet. We need to save up until next month before we expand and start taking goods from two companies instead of one. That way, we'll strengthen the business."

Elena groaned. "So when do we actually start making money? We bring in so much in sales every day, but we still don't get any pocket money? You're really strict, Sophia." She grinned playfully.

Sophia remained unfazed. "Once the business reaches a point where it can generate profit without affecting our operations, we'll have more than just pocket money. But for now, we stick to the plan."

A few moments later, a group of their friends arrived.

"Wow, this place is really growing. It's almost the most popular shop in town now," June remarked as he stepped in, glancing around.

Zara nodded. "Sophia really knows how to grow a business. It wasn't like this when Elena ran it alone."

They exchanged greetings before Elena turned to June with a smile. "June, what's up?"

"I'm good," he replied casually, barely glancing at her as he continued scanning the shop.

Elena hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry about what happened today… It must be tough realizing you thought the wrong person was your enemy. Are you okay?"

June simply waved off her words without responding and found himself a seat.

After a brief silence, Jude spoke up. "So, is there anything we can do? Instead of just sitting around?" He looked around, searching for ways to help.

Sophia glanced up from her work. "You can check on the farm and start sorting the crops. It'll make the evening planting easier."

"That's something," June said, standing up. "Alright, guys, let's go to the farm."

Though they all came from wealthy families and weren't required to work, they had farms as part of their family businesses. The only exception was Elena, who had grown up struggling—until Sophia arrived and changed everything.

The group left for the farm, and hours passed.

Later at the Shop

A young man entered the shop, his gaze sweeping across the shelves before approaching Elena. "I'd like to buy a pink teddy bear," he said.

Elena barely looked at him as she replied, "We don't have that in stock, sir."

"Oh, really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elena finally glanced up at him, her expression unimpressed. "Yes, really." Her tone carried a hint of irritation—she hated when people wasted her time.

The man chuckled. "Relax. Actually, I'd like to buy her attention for a minute." He pointed toward Sophia, who was engrossed in a book, seemingly unaware of the conversation.

Hearing this, Sophia instinctively lifted her head, her eyes meeting Elena's. Both women exchanged glances before following the direction the man was pointing.

"What…?" Elena's expression twisted in disgust. "Sir, please leave. We don't sell things like that here. If you're looking for a hookup, go somewhere else." Her voice was sharper now, filled with disdain.

But the man ignored her and called out, "Sophia Caldwell."

At the sound of her full name, Sophia, who had intended to ignore him, stiffened. Slowly, she raised her head again, her sharp eyes locking onto his.

"What?" Elena gasped in shock.

Sophia rose from her seat, her body tense. She stepped closer, her voice turning cold. "Who are you?"

The man flashed a casual smile. "Relax, I'm just here on my own. Name's Paul."

Sophia's expression remained unreadable as she studied him. "I don't think I know you."

Paul let out a small chuckle. "Makes sense. But I used to work at your father's company."

At those words, Sophia's gaze sharpened. A memory flickered in her mind—Ethan had once mentioned a guy named Paul, the so-called friend who had sold him out to James.

Could it really be him?

Her mind raced, suspicion creeping in. Why is he here now? And what does he want? Her thoughts grew louder in her head as she paused for a moment.