Chapter 5: Rules

Emma looked at Ethan.

He had changed out of yesterday's suit, but somehow he still looked too formal for his own house.

Meanwhile, she was standing in borrowed clothes, awkwardly holding a glass of water and wondering why she suddenly felt like she'd been caught doing something wrong.

Mason cleared his throat.

"I was just introducing myself."

Ethan gave him a look.

Mason immediately took two steps back.

Emma noticed.

Interesting.

Someone like Mason looked afraid of Ethan.

Not scared exactly—

Just careful.

Ethan turned toward her.

"Did you sleep?"

Emma blinked.

That was his first question?

She nodded.

"...Yeah."

His eyes briefly scanned her face.

Probably checking if she looked less like she wanted to throw herself off another cliff.

Satisfied, he nodded once.

"Good."

That was it.

No emotional speech.

No dramatic concern.

Just good.

For some reason, she didn't mind.

Mason looked between them.

Then smiled in a way Emma immediately didn't trust.

"So."

Ethan looked at him.

Mason ignored him.

"What are your plans today, Emma?"

Emma opened her mouth—

And realized she had no answer.

Her apartment?

No.

Her parents?

Definitely not.

Friends?

She didn't want pity.

She suddenly understood something she hadn't allowed herself to think about.

She really had nowhere to go.

Her silence lasted too long.

Mason's expression softened.

Ethan noticed too.

After a moment, he said—

"Stay here."

Emma looked at him.

"What?"

His tone remained calm.

"Stay until you decide what you want to do."

Emma stared.

Was he serious?

She barely knew him.

And this wasn't someone's spare room.

This was a mansion.

She shook her head immediately.

"No."

Ethan didn't react.

"I wasn't asking."

Emma blinked.

Excuse her?

She folded her arms.

"You can't just decide things for me."

One eyebrow lifted.

"Okay."

She waited.

Then—

"Then decide."

Emma opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

Nothing came out.

Because she had no plan.

Mason suddenly became very interested in the ceiling.

Traitor.

Ethan looked at her for a second before speaking.

"One week."

Emma frowned.

"What?"

"Stay for one week."

She stared.

He continued—

"You don't look like someone who should make life decisions today."

That annoyed her.

Mostly because it was true.

Emma sighed.

"You're always this direct?"

A small pause.

"Usually worse."

Mason laughed.

Emma almost smiled.

Almost.

She looked around the enormous room.

Everything still felt unreal.

Yesterday she had wanted to disappear.

Today she was standing in a billionaire's mansion discussing temporary living arrangements.

Life was strange.

Finally she sighed.

"One week."

Mason smiled.

Ethan nodded once.

"Good."

She pointed at him.

"I'm paying you back."

His expression didn't change.

"For what?"

"The room. Food. Clothes."

Ethan looked genuinely confused.

Then—

"No."

Emma frowned.

"No?"

His answer came immediately.

"I don't need your money."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Then what do you want?"

The room suddenly became quiet.

Mason slowly turned.

Ethan looked at her for a moment.

Then said—

"Nothing."

Emma didn't know why—

But somehow that answer made her trust him even less.

Nobody helped for nothing.

Nobody.

Not anymore.

And Ethan Black—

Was still a complete stranger.

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