When Ethan walked into the gala, every conversation around him faded into noise.
Across the hall, Sophia froze—because she recognized the man she thought she had left behind forever.
The years had changed him. The hesitation was gone. The warmth in his eyes had hardened into something unreadable. He stood tall, confident, dressed in a black suit that screamed power. Ethan Reed was no longer the man who waited for her calls at midnight.
Sophia's grip tightened around her wine glass.
"Is that… Ethan?" someone beside her whispered.
She forced a smile. "You must be mistaken."
But her heart knew the truth.
Ethan scanned the room calmly, pretending not to notice her. That hurt more than any confrontation ever could. Once, she had been his entire world. Now, she was just another face in the crowd.
Or so she thought.
He moved closer, step by calculated step. Memories tried to surface, but he pushed them down. Tonight wasn't about emotions. It was about control.
Sophia finally turned to face him.
"Ethan?" she said softly, as if saying his name would bring back the past.
He stopped in front of her. For a brief moment, their eyes met.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "It's been a long time."
No anger. No bitterness. Just silence.
That silence terrified her.
"You look… different," she said.
"So do you," he answered, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. "Congratulations on Blackwood Corporation. I heard they only hire the best."
Her eyes widened. "You know about that?"
"I know many things," Ethan replied. "Success suits you."
Before she could respond, he stepped back, giving her a polite nod.
"Enjoy the evening," he said. "We'll talk again. Soon."
And with that, he walked away—leaving Sophia standing there, shaken, confused, and suddenly unsure of every decision she had ever made.
As Ethan disappeared into the crowd, one thought echoed in his mind:
This was only the beginning.
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Do you think Ethan should forgive her… or destroy her?