Chapter 3: Ethan Black

The drive was quiet.

Emma sat in the passenger seat, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

The city lights flashed past the window, but she barely noticed them.

Her mind was still stuck in the apartment.

Stuck on the image she desperately wanted to forget.

Her fiancé.

Her sister.

Together.

The pain hit her all over again.

Emma quickly looked out the window before the tears could return.

She was tired of crying.

Tonight, she had cried enough for a lifetime.

Beside her, Ethan focused on the road.

He hadn't asked her a single personal question since they left the cliff.

No "What happened?"

No "Why did you do it?"

No "Are you okay?"

And honestly, she appreciated it.

Most people would have been curious.

Most people would have wanted details.

Ethan didn't seem interested in digging through her wounds.

A soft vibration broke the silence.

His phone lit up on the dashboard.

The caller ID simply read: Mason.

Ethan answered using the car's speaker.

"Talk."

Emma nearly laughed.

Who answered a phone call with one word?

A male voice immediately replied.

"Boss, the meeting has been moved to tomorrow morning."

Boss?

Emma glanced at Ethan.

"Fine."

"And your grandfather called again."

A visible frown appeared on Ethan's face.

"I'll deal with it later."

The call ended.

Emma looked away before he noticed her curiosity.

Boss.

Grandfather.

Expensive suit.

Luxury car.

The pieces were starting to fit together.

This man was rich.

Very rich.

Twenty minutes later, the car slowed.

Emma expected a hotel.

Instead, they stopped in front of a massive gate.

Her eyes widened.

The gate slowly opened.

Beyond it stood the largest house she had ever seen.

No.

Not a house.

A mansion.

The driveway alone was bigger than her apartment building.

"You live here?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Ethan parked the car.

"Unfortunately."

Emma stared.

Who described a mansion as unfortunately?

Before she could ask another question, the front door opened.

A middle-aged woman hurried outside.

Relief instantly appeared on her face when she saw Ethan.

"Mr. Black."

Ethan gave a brief nod.

"Mrs. Wilson."

The woman then noticed Emma.

Her expression softened.

"Oh, dear."

Emma suddenly became aware of how awful she looked.

Her makeup was ruined.

Her eyes were swollen.

Her hair was a mess.

She probably looked like she'd been dragged through a storm.

Mrs. Wilson stepped forward.

"You must be exhausted."

Emma offered a small smile.

"A little."

The older woman turned toward Ethan.

"I've prepared the guest room."

"Thank you."

Emma followed them inside.

The mansion was beautiful.

Elegant.

Modern.

And somehow strangely empty.

For a place this large, it felt lonely.

Mrs. Wilson led Emma upstairs.

The guest room was bigger than Emma's entire apartment.

Fresh clothes had already been placed on the bed.

Emma stopped in the doorway.

"Wait... these are for me?"

Mrs. Wilson smiled.

"Of course."

Emma couldn't remember the last time someone had taken care of her.

The realization made her chest ache.

"Thank you."

"Get some rest, dear."

After Mrs. Wilson left, Emma sat on the edge of the bed.

The room was quiet.

Safe.

Warm.

For the first time all day, she wasn't thinking about the cliff.

She wasn't thinking about ending everything.

She was simply exhausted.

Emma lay back against the soft mattress.

Within minutes, her eyes began to close.

Downstairs, Ethan stood by the large window in his office.

His phone rang again.

This time, his expression darkened.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Boss," Mason said urgently. "We've got a problem."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"What happened?"

"The Carter family has reported Emma Carter missing."

Ethan's gaze shifted toward the second floor.

Toward the room where Emma was sleeping.

Something told him this was only the beginning.

And for the first time in years, Ethan Black found himself concerned about someone other than himself.

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