Sophia tried to focus on her work, but the silence Ethan had left behind was louder than any argument.
His words echoed in her mind.
The woman who broke me… still cares.
She hated that sentence.
Not because it was false—but because it was dangerous.
The office slowly filled with people. Laughter, phones ringing, footsteps. Life moved on, as if nothing between her and Ethan had ever existed.
Her assistant knocked again.
"Ms. Blackwood, Mr. Carter is here to see you."
Sophia froze.
"Daniel?" she asked.
"Yes. He says it's urgent."
She took a deep breath. "Send him in."
Daniel Carter walked in with his usual confident smile. Well-dressed, calm, successful—the kind of man people trusted easily.
"Sophia," he said warmly. "It's been too long."
She stood. "You should have called."
"I did," he replied. "You didn't answer."
She looked away. "It's been a complicated week."
Daniel studied her face carefully. "I heard Ethan Reed is back."
Her jaw tightened. "News travels fast."
"He always does," Daniel said. "Especially when power is involved."
There was a pause.
"You look tense," he added. "Is he causing trouble?"
Sophia hesitated. "It's… complicated."
Daniel nodded slowly. "It always is when he's involved."
That made her look at him sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
Daniel sighed. "Sophia, I was there five years ago. I saw what his disappearance did to you."
"You saw what I became," she replied. "Not what he went through."
Daniel didn't argue. "That's fair."
He stepped closer. "But I need to warn you. Ethan doesn't do things halfway. If he's here, it's not just business."
As if summoned by his name, the door opened.
Ethan walked in.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
His eyes moved from Sophia… to Daniel.
Then he smiled.
"Carter," Ethan said. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Daniel straightened. "Likewise."
The air between them was tight, unspoken history hanging heavy.
"I see you've found your way back into her office," Ethan added casually.
Sophia frowned. "This is my office."
"Of course," Ethan replied. "Old habits. Forgetting boundaries."
Daniel glanced at Sophia. "Is this a bad time?"
"No," she said quickly. "We were just talking."
Ethan's eyes flicked back to Daniel. "About what?"
Daniel met his gaze. "About the past."
Silence.
Ethan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Funny. I was just telling Sophia we should leave the past where it belongs."
Daniel nodded. "Some pasts don't stay buried."
Sophia stepped between them. "Enough."
Both men looked at her.
"This isn't a competition," she said firmly.
Ethan tilted his head. "Isn't it?"
Daniel exhaled slowly. "Sophia, I'll call you later."
As he turned to leave, Ethan spoke.
"Careful, Carter," he said quietly. "Not everything you remember is the truth."
Daniel paused but didn't respond.
The door closed.
Sophia turned to Ethan, anger flashing in her eyes. "What was that?"
"A reminder," Ethan said calmly. "That people like to rewrite history."
"And you?" she asked. "What are you doing?"
Ethan stepped closer.
"I'm watching," he said. "To see who stands where when things get uncomfortable."
She looked up at him. "And what have you seen?"
He held her gaze.
"That you're not as alone as you pretend to be."
For reasons she couldn't explain, that didn't comfort her at all.
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