The city glittered beneath Ethan like a lie he had already stopped believing in. From the top floor of Dominion Tower, everything looked perfect—lights stretching endlessly, power humming through every street, every building. Everything he owned. Everything he built. Everything that meant nothing.
Ethan adjusted his tie out of habit, his expression unreadable as he stared out over the skyline.
Thirty years old. CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the Dominion. Untouchable. Successful. Empty.
The feeling never left. Not during meetings. Not during victories. Not even in silence like this. Especially not in silence. A soft creak broke through the stillness. Ethan didn't turn. He didn't need to.
"Numbers are in," Rowan said, dropping a thick file onto the desk like it carried no weight at all.
Ethan's voice was calm. Controlled.
"Good. Leave it."
Rowan didn't move. Of course he didn't.
Ethan finally glanced over his shoulder.
Rowan stood there, arms crossed, watching him like always—like he was trying to figure something out Ethan had no intention of explaining.
"You've been here since before sunrise," Rowan said.
Not a question.
Ethan turned back to the window.
"I'm fine."
A pause. Rowan exhaled slowly.
"Yeah," he muttered. "That's what worries me." The door opened again before Ethan could respond.
Aria walked in, quiet but impossible to ignore. She set a mug on his desk without a word. Warm. Steady. Familiar.
Ethan's gaze dropped to it, then lifted to her.
For a second—just a second—something in him softened.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," she said gently.
No pressure. No questions. That was Aria.
Behind her, Cass stepped in next, already scrolling through her tablet.
"We're seeing strong growth in the East," she said without preamble. "If projections hold, we're ahead of schedule."
"Good," Ethan replied.
Always efficient. Always moving. Always forward.
And still— Nothing.
Silence settled again, thicker this time.
Aria lingered. Of course she did.
"You're not going to collapse in the middle of a meeting today, right?" she asked lightly.
The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted—barely.
"I'll survive."
Rowan snorted. Cass didn't even look up. Aria smiled. Normal. Everything looked normal. It always did.
Eventually, they left. The door closed.
And just like that—
Silence returned.
Ethan slipped his hands into his pockets and stared out at the city again.
The lights. The power. The life. All of it within his reach.
And yet—
That same hollow feeling crept back in, settling deep in his chest.
Unmoving. Unrelenting. Like something missing…
Something he couldn't name.
Something he had already lost.