Ethan's mood, already sour from Mason's earlier interruption, darkened further at his senseless rambling. Sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, Mason turned slowly toward him—only to find his best friend radiating a deadly aura. That look was all too familiar. He had seen it many times before.
Anyone foolish enough to disturb Ethan while he was deeply focused was bound to face the consequences—and today, that unlucky soul was Mason.
Suddenly, the earlier expressions from David and Carter made perfect sense. They hadn't looked surprised when he walked in—they had looked sorry. Now he understood why.
Panic rising, Mason glanced around the villa, desperately searching for Sirius—Ethan's other secretary. The man was fiercely loyal and wouldn't hesitate to break someone's bones for his boss, regardless of who it was. Thankfully, Sirius wasn't around. A small relief.
But that didn't mean Ethan would let him off the hook.
Before Mason could even brace himself, Ethan, who had been seated moments ago, was suddenly in front of him—cold gaze locked, fists clenched. Mason hadn't even registered the movement. Then, without warning, Ethan grabbed him by the collar and lifted him effortlessly from his seat.
Wide-eyed and stunned, Mason froze as Ethan's cold fury left him breathless. He couldn't even summon the courage to speak. With unrelenting force, Ethan began dragging him toward the garden at the far end of the villa—directly opposite Zara's room.
Desperate, Mason looked toward David and Carter, silently pleading for help. But the two men only shook their heads, eyes filled with helpless understanding. They knew better than to interfere.
Realizing no help was coming, Mason began to shout and struggle, his voice cracking with panic.
"Ethan! This is no way to welcome a guest! You should take your anger out on the person who made you mad, not me!"
His cries echoed through the halls, drawing attention.
Upstairs, Zara, who had been in the living room on the first floor, heard the commotion. Curious—and a little startled by the sudden shouting—she descended the stairs to see what was going on.
As she neared the garden, she noticed the butler standing by the open doorway, staring outside. Calm and unhurried, she approached and followed his gaze.
Outside, Ethan stood silently, facing a man restrained by Carter and David. The man—clearly agitated—was shouting at Ethan, his face a mess of conflicting emotions: anger, confusion, even desperation. But Ethan, as composed as ever, didn't flinch. His expression was unreadable—cold and distant.
Noticing Zara's presence, the butler turned and bowed respectfully. Zara returned a small nod but remained silent. The butler quietly retreated, leaving her at the threshold, watching.
Ethan, always keenly aware of his surroundings, noticed her immediately. The icy armor he wore softened ever so slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Still and composed, Zara didn't move forward. Understanding her hesitance, Ethan walked toward her, leaving Mason behind—still shouting in protest.
Mason, bewildered, fell silent when he saw Ethan's expression shift. Following his gaze, he spotted the girl standing at the steps—her hair tied back in a neat ponytail, her posture regal and serene. He'd seen countless beautiful women, many chasing wealth and status. But this girl… there was something different. An effortless elegance. A quiet command. And something else—something oddly familiar.
Ethan stopped at the foot of the steps and extended his hand. But Zara, understanding the gesture, merely stepped down on her own, ignoring his hand entirely.
Mason's eyes widened in disbelief.
To him, Ethan—stoic and untouchable—offering his hand to anyone, let alone a woman, was unheard of. But what shocked him more was the fact that the girl didn't accept the gesture. And even more baffling—Ethan wasn't upset. No irritation, no bruised pride. Just that small, rare smile as he followed her.
Stunned, Mason turned to Carter and David—but their expressions remained neutral, betraying no surprise.
Convinced he was imagining things, Mason tore himself free from their grip and called out, his voice loud and incredulous, "Ethan, what is going on here?"
Ethan didn't even glance back. It was as if Mason no longer existed.
He and Zara continued walking until they reached a bench in the garden and sat down together. Still dazed, Mason rushed over and dropped into a nearby single-seated chair, facing them.
"Who is she?" he demanded breathlessly, confusion etched across his face. Then, as if remembering something, his voice dipped. "And… what about the girl at my hotel yesterday?"
Only then did Ethan look at him—briefly. His expression remained unreadable. No anger. No explanation. Just the look of a man watching a fool speak. Without saying a word, he turned back to the small plate of oranges on the table and began peeling one.
Zara, silently nibbling on grapes, caught Mason's question—despite his attempt to lower his voice. She turned to him, her calm gaze scanning him from head to toe. Something about his face stirred her memory. A faint thread of recognition… but elusive.
Ethan, always observant, caught the flicker in her expression. Setting the orange back onto the plate, he looked at her and spoke gently.
"Lia, this is Mason," he said. Then, with subtle emphasis, "Mason Edward."
And just like that, the pieces clicked.
Zara's gaze lingered on the still-bewildered Mason. Her lips curled into a slow, teasing smile as she leaned forward and said, with a spark of mischief,"Oh… so this must be Mr. Poodle Prince."
Mason froze. His entire body went stiff, his expression locked in disbelief. His cheeks flushed crimson. The nickname hit him like a bolt from the past.
Still smiling, Zara met his stunned gaze with quiet amusement. Ethan, hearing the words escape her lips, let out a low, graceful laugh—the kind that always carried weight, despite its softness. Without saying a word, he resumed peeling the orange.
Mason whipped his head toward him, horrified."Ethan!!! How could you?!" he cried in sheer panic. "That was supposed to be my secret!!"
Zara, utterly unbothered, popped another grape into her mouth and replied coolly,"The secret your whole friend group already knows?"
Mason opened his mouth… but no words came out. He stared blankly at the two of them—Zara with her poised smirk, Ethan with his quiet amusement—and realized, with dawning horror, that he had been completely outplayed.