As the doorbell rang, Felix's expression turned grave. "I'll get it," he said, his voice low. "You stay here, Lira."
But Lira's curiosity got the better of her. She followed Felix to the entrance hall, where Ethan stood, his eyes fixed intently on Felix.
"Ethan," Felix said, his voice neutral. "What brings you here?"
Ethan's gaze flicked to Lira, and his expression softened. "I wanted to talk to you about Lira," he said, his voice measured. "I think we need to discuss her connection to Emma."
Felix's jaw clenched, and he stepped forward, his body language protective. "There's nothing to discuss, Ethan. Lira's under my care, and that's all that matters."
Ethan's eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a harder tone. "You know as well as I do that Lira's connection to Emma is more than just coincidence. I want to know what you're hiding, Felix."
Lira felt a shiver run down her spine as the tension between Felix and Ethan escalated. She didn't know what to make of Ethan's words, but she knew she needed to be careful.
As Felix and Ethan locked eyes, Lira felt like she was caught in the middle of something much bigger than herself. She didn't know what secrets Felix was hiding, but she knew she needed to uncover the truth.
"Ethan, stop," Felix said, his voice firm. "You're not going to bully me into telling you something I'm not ready to share."
Ethan's expression turned cold, and he took a step closer to Felix. "Fine," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "But this isn't over, Felix. I'll find out what you're hiding, and when I do, you'll regret not telling me the truth."
Lira felt a surge of fear as Ethan turned and walked away, leaving her and Felix standing in the entrance hall. She looked up at Felix, and saw the worry etched on his face.
"Felix, what's going on?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What secrets are you hiding?"
Felix's expression softened, and he looked down at her. "I'll tell you everything, Lira. I promise. But for now, let's just get through this, okay?"
Lira nodded, feeling a sense of uncertainty wash over her. She knew she needed to trust Felix, but a part of her wondered if she was making a mistake...