Bound by fortune.

clouded in the soft warmth of sleep, feeling the weight of Ethan's arm draped over her waist. For a moment, she allowed herself the luxury of

adn't just crossed a line; she'd leaped over it with eyes wide open, knowing full well that Ethan Sterling was the last man she should be wit

but didn't wake. His face was peaceful, a stark contrast to the powerful, commanding demeanor he wore awak

ptoed to the door. She needed to clear her head, to put distance between herself and the whirlwind of emotions Ethan had awoken

e what had been a fleeting moment, a single night of forgetting. She pressed the elevator button, drawing in a deep breath as the doors slid open. The weight of her reality san

ing on Ethan's touch, the way his gaze had felt like it could see straight into her soul. She hadn't expected to find someone who understood her pain,

to get her father out of prison. That had been the goal, the driving force behind everything she'd done since Ju

one buzzed, breaking the silence, and she glanced at the screen, her stomach tightening when she saw Julian's name flashing. She

ment, she answered, her

ped, formal, and it grated aga

"There's nothing l

ied, a faint edge in his voic

He's doing this to manipulate you again. But the slight tremor in her hand

ey used to go together, back when she'd thought his intentions

erous game, but her father's freedom was at stake. She couldn't afford to let her emotions cloud her judg

e approached. He looked as polished as ever, his expensive suit perfectly tailored, his expression

said, a smile that didn't rea

Her tone was sharp, her pa

"Your father is facing serious charges, Lila. Embezzlement, fr

as well as I do that he's innocen

ether he's guilty or not doesn't matter. What

ers curling into fists under th

about you, Lila. If you're willing to consider...

audacity, the cold manipulation behind

"This is business, Lila. Emotions have no place he

y the weight of her own helplessness. But then, Ethan's words echoed in

per. She straightened, her gaze hardening as she met Juli

lipping for the first time. "And h

nger than anything she'd felt in a lon

er her, his expression twisted in frustration. She didn't need him. She would figure this out on her own, and

her breath catching when she saw Ethan's name on the screen. Her fingers hovered over the screen, uncertainty tightening in her chest. B

her voice st

eassuring. "I just wanted to

elting the last of her lingeri

resence through the phone, solid and unshakable. "

bustling streets, a renewed sense of determination filli

he first time in a long time, she felt in control of her own fate. And as she took a deep breath, feeling the weight