unseen threats

After several hours of locking himself in, cross-checking files and reviewing reports, Ethan finally leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. His muscles ached from sitting too long, but his mind was restless.

Suddenly, a familiar face surfaced in his thoughts.

Sophia.

"She must really be going through a lot wherever she is now," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "I just wish she had tried to talk to me before making the decision to leave her family and run away. I would have helped her… Though, she probably didn't think I could." He scoffed bitterly. "Everyone still sees me as that poor Ethan Fallow."

His gaze drifted toward the sleek, customized black card resting on his desk—the one issued to him as the son of Harrington. A small smirk formed at the corner of his lips.

"But now, there's nothing I can't handle. Even if it costs billions… I have the means to fix things."

He reached for a water bottle, taking a long sip before setting it down with a decisive thud.

"I should be doing something instead of just sitting here."

Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialed Mr. Caldwell.

The call connected almost instantly. "Hello, Ethan," Mr. Caldwell greeted.

"Sir, I think it's time for you to transfer the funds we discussed. That way, I can move forward with the plans to stabilize the company."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Sensing hesitation, Ethan quickly added, "Or if you're more comfortable, you can send it to Jerry instead. If he's trustworthy, I'll give him instructions on how to allocate the money for company improvements." He chose his words carefully, ensuring Mr. Caldwell didn't suspect any personal motives.

Mr. Caldwell exhaled. "Sending the money isn't the issue, Ethan. The real problem is that I already used a portion of the funds to purchase critical equipment. Even with that, I'm still short on the full amount. I have less than two weeks to secure the rest, and if I fail… I don't know if my friend will ever forgive me. He might take it personally, and that's what worries me the most."

"Don't worry, sir," Ethan reassured him. "I promise, everything will work out. If we handle this together, we'll make it through." He hesitated for a second before continuing, "Sir, I need to see you about something."

"What is it, Ethan?" Mr. Caldwell's voice carried a hint of concern.

"It's something I can't discuss over the phone. But I have some questions, and the answers will help me figure out the best way forward for the company."

There was a short pause. Then, Mr. Caldwell spoke. "Alright. Come to my house tomorrow morning. We'll talk then."

"Thank you, sir."

As soon as the call ended, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Ethan called out, his tone calm.

Jerry stepped inside with a polite smile. "Boss, do you need anything?"

Ethan studied him for a moment in silence.

Jerry cleared his throat. "Uh… I was just—"

"I need your help with something," Ethan interrupted.

Jerry's eyebrows raised slightly. "Oh? What is it, sir?" His tone carried a hint of playful curiosity.

Ethan leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "I want you to gather all the information you can about Sophia. Find out everything—her close friends from school, anyone she had a strong bond with before she left."

Jerry hesitated, rubbing the back of his head. "To be honest, Sophia wasn't the type to have many close friends. Everyone liked her, but she never really had deep personal connections with most of them."

Ethan's gaze remained steady. "I wasn't asking if you already knew. I told you to find out."

Jerry straightened. "Understood, sir. I'll get to work on it."

As he turned to leave, Ethan added, "And don't mention this to Mr. Caldwell. Not yet."

Jerry paused briefly before nodding. "Got it." Then, he stepped out, shutting the door behind him.

Jerry nodded. "Okay, sir," he said, noticing the small smile on Ethan's face.

After a moment of silence, Jerry smirked. "Sir, you've been going through files for hours. Aren't you bored?"

Ethan looked up at him but said nothing.

Jerry chuckled. "Alright, I'll leave you to your business then, boss." With a grin, he turned and walked out.

Back at Elena's house, where Sophia now stays…

Things had been running smoothly since morning, with the shop bustling as usual.

Lately, the shop had become increasingly popular, attracting more customers each day. Elena had been busy attending to them non-stop, and it was beginning to show—her exhaustion was evident in her face.

Sophia, who had been managing the accounts and handling errands, finally settled down to review the finances. She was calculating how much to repay the suppliers and determining the funds needed to sign a new contract with another company. Expanding their business connections would strengthen their position and give them more leverage.

Near the counter, an elderly woman stood, hesitating over what to buy. Elena, though visibly drained, remained patient, trying not to appear frustrated.

Sophia noticed and immediately stepped in. "Elena, go take a break. I'll handle things from here."

Elena let out a deep sigh of relief. "Thanks," she murmured before sinking into a chair, finally allowing herself a moment to rest.

After a short silence, Elena glanced at Sophia. "So… with all the work we've been putting in, and how popular the shop is getting, shouldn't we be making more money by now?" she asked with her usual playful grin.

Sophia, ignoring the joke, said, "I think we need help. Maybe one or two extra workers."

Elena's expression shifted from amusement to seriousness. "Oh, that actually sounds great. I've been exhausting myself lately. Having more hands would make things easier—for us and the customers. They wouldn't have to wait in long queues anymore."

Sophia shook her head slightly. "Elena, you need to think more like a businesswoman. sometime you ask the silliest questions.. What do you mean we should already be making more money?" Though her words sounded teasing, her tone was light, showing she didn't mean it harshly.

Their friendship was built on understanding—neither of them took offense to the other's bluntness.

Elena laughed. "Haha! I'm just saying, we should be rich by now! The shop's booming, yet we haven't spent a dime from the earnings. You're too disciplined, Sophia. You keep saving every cent to grow the business. If I were in charge, I definitely wouldn't be able to do that."

Sophia smiled but didn't respond.

Just then, Tom appeared.

"Tom! How are you? Where are the others?" Elena asked, surprised to see him alone.

"I'm fine," Tom replied in his usual cool tone. "The others went somewhere with Graham, and Zara went out with her parents today."

"Where did they go?" Elena asked curiously.

Sophia was still attending to customers, but she was listening intently.

Tom hesitated before answering. "It's about that potbellied man we ran into at the riverside—the one who showed up with his gang. Apparently, they were sent by someone to find Sophia. The others went to see him."

Sophia's hands froze mid-motion. She turned to Tom, her expression unreadable. "Wait… who sent them?"

"I don't know," Tom admitted. "They're still trying to find out. They'll tell us when they return."

Sophia's heartbeat quickened. Her mind raced.

It's James. It has to be.

If Paul, who used to be one of James's lackeys, was lurking around, then it meant James knew she was here.

Her fingers tightened around the counter as she forced herself to remain calm.

I need to act fast… I don't know what he's planning.

Despite the turmoil swirling inside her, she took a deep breath and continued attending to customers, masking her unease.