A faint noise upstairs made Ethan's head snap up.
"Stay here," he ordered. His voice was calm, but firm enough to make both Aria and Sophia freeze in place.
Aria's chest tightened. "I'm not a child—"
"You are under my protection," Ethan interrupted, voice low and commanding. His dark eyes flicked to each of them in turn. "And if anything happens, I will not forgive myself. Stay."
Sophia's eyes sparkled with something dangerous—excitement, awe, and something deeper she wasn't ready to admit. "He's… so bossy," she whispered.
Aria ignored her, though she noticed every small glance Sophia kept stealing toward Ethan. A flash of irritation sparked inside her—jealousy, though she would never admit it.
Ethan moved silently, each step precise, every muscle tense as if he could anticipate the slightest threat. The mansion, which had once felt safe and pristine, suddenly seemed like a cage. Shadows loomed in every corner, and the faintest creak of a floorboard made him pivot instantly.
Then, a figure stepped from the hallway.
It was Dahlia Laurent—Aria's estranged cousin. Tall, poised, and with a smug look that immediately set Aria's nerves on edge. Her designer dress clung perfectly to her figure, and her eyes sparkled with a mischievous, dangerous gleam.
"I wondered how long it would take before I found you, cousin," Dahlia said, her voice smooth, almost teasing.
Aria froze, every muscle tense. "What are you doing here?"
Dahlia's eyes flicked toward Ethan, and a faint smirk played on her lips. "Oh, don't mind me. I just wanted to see your little new bodyguard in action."
Ethan's jaw tightened. His protective aura radiated through the room, coiling around the two women like steel.
"Leave," he said quietly, but every word carried the weight of threat.
Dahlia's smirk widened. "Or what?" she challenged.
Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved forward slowly, every step measured, every motion exuding lethal calm. Aria noticed how even the shadows seemed to bend away from him, how the air in the hallway thickened with tension.
Sophia, standing just behind Aria, whispered under her breath: "Wow… he's amazing."
Aria's chest tightened. Watching Sophia stare at him with wide, admiring eyes made her feel… uneasy. Possessive. She didn't like how that small spark of jealousy twisted inside her.
"Dahlia," Ethan said finally, his voice colder now. "You're not welcome here. Step aside."
Dahlia laughed softly, almost a purr. "I think I'm exactly where I need to be. Besides…" Her gaze lingered on Ethan in a way that made Aria clench her jaw. "I want to see how far your loyalty goes."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. He didn't speak. He simply shifted slightly, subtly placing himself between Aria, Sophia, and Dahlia. Every movement was a silent warning: Don't come closer.
Dahlia tilted her head and stepped forward, knife glinting faintly in the dim light.
Before Aria could react, Ethan lunged with impossible speed.
He caught Dahlia's wrist mid-air, twisting with controlled force. The knife clattered to the floor.
"You're reckless," he said quietly, his gaze flicking to Aria. "And dangerous—for yourself."
"I can take care of myself!" Dahlia snapped, trying to wrench free.
"I don't care about you," Ethan replied evenly. "I care about them." He gestured to Aria and Sophia, his voice dropping low, almost a growl.
Sophia's heart was hammering in her chest. She couldn't look away. Every motion, every word, every protective glance he gave Aria made her stomach twist with desire—and something more dangerous: admiration she hadn't felt before.
Aria, meanwhile, felt her chest tighten. Anger. Jealousy. Something else she didn't want to admit. She tried to focus, to remind herself she didn't need protecting.
Dahlia struggled again, and Ethan's patience snapped just slightly.
"You leave now," he said, voice low, dangerous, every syllable like a promise of pain if she didn't obey.
Dahlia's smirk faltered for the first time. "You're just a bodyguard."
Ethan's eyes were steel. Calm, controlled, deadly. "And you're about to learn why you don't mess with one."
The tension in the hallway was almost unbearable.
Sophia whispered again, breathless: "I… think I love him."
Aria's green eyes narrowed. Her chest ached in a way she hated—because she didn't want to feel this way.
Dahlia made one last attempt to lunge, but Ethan moved like a shadow, disarming her with fluid precision and pinning her against the wall.
He didn't hurt her, not physically, but the force of his presence, the intensity of his gaze, made it clear who controlled the room.
Sophia's whisper was barely audible now. "He's… incredible."
Aria's chest tightened even further. Watching Sophia gush over Ethan, knowing she should feel annoyed—but also… feeling something she couldn't name—made her stomach twist.
Then, from the main hall, a new sound echoed:
Footsteps. Slow. Heavy. And deliberate.
Ethan stiffened. His dark eyes narrowed.
The mansion was not done with them.
And he knew, instinctively… the real danger hadn't even arrived yet.