One thing was certain—when Ethan said it was urgent, it carried more weight than a siren.
Christian had left his apartment before the sun even dared to rise, still buttoning his shirt on the way out. He hadn't even had coffee. Not because he was scared of Ethan—though he had his moments—but because Ethan didn't use the word urgent lightly.
By the time Christian arrived at the estate, Ethan was just dragging himself out of bed, thanks to another late night buried in files.
Lena met him at the door.
"He's upstairs. Just woke up," she said with a soft smile before disappearing down the hallway.
Christian gave a small nod, confused but intrigued. Ethan wasn't a morning person, so whatever had dragged him out of bed before noon had to be serious.
He knocked, didn't wait for a reply, and stepped into Ethan's room. The man was half-dressed, flipping through folders spread like a storm across his desk.
"You said it was urgent," Christian said, raising an eyebrow. "Doesn't feel like a fire."
Ethan glanced up, jaw tight. "Let's talk in my office."
Christian followed him without a word.
Inside the sleek glass-walled office, Ethan moved straight to his desk, flipping open another file as Christian sank into a chair. The morning light streamed across the room, illuminating the chaos of documents on every surface.
"Did you sleep here?" Christian asked, eyeing the still-warm laptop.
Ethan ignored the question.
"I need everything you can get me on Lena's parents' death," he said, voice low and clipped. "Date of the accident. Where the car was disposed. Any surveillance footage from the route they took. Everything."
Christian blinked, stunned. "What?"
Ethan didn't look up. "You heard me."
Christian paused. "That's… personal. Even for you."
"And I want it fast," Ethan said without missing a beat. Then he added, almost as an afterthought, "Also, I think it's time Lena visits her brother."
Christian was still trying to process the first bomb when the second dropped.
"He's doing better. I think she can handle the rest of it now."
"Does she know?" Christian asked.
"Tell her today. She can leave if she's ready. Stay as long as she wants."
Christian remained silent, a strange weight settling in his chest. Ethan finally looked up, catching the hesitation in his friend's eyes.
"What?" he asked, clearly annoyed.
"Nothing," Christian said quickly. "Just… surprised."
Ethan's gaze narrowed. "How fast can you get the report?"
"I'll move it to the top of my list."
"Good."
Christian nodded, but his mind was already spinning. Ethan O'Martin didn't cross emotional lines. He built walls and patrolled them with sniper precision. But lately? He was slipping.
And Christian wasn't the only one who noticed.
—
Lena's eyes lit up when she heard the news about visiting Audrey.
"Seriously?" she asked Clara, barely hiding her excitement. "Ethan said that?"
Clara smiled. "He did. I think he wants you to have this time."
"He's... changing," Lena whispered, almost to herself.
She insisted on seeing Ethan before leaving, but he was conveniently "in a meeting." So instead, she packed quickly, and with Clara by her side and a few discreet bodyguards as per Ethan's orders, she set off.
In the car, Clara studied Lena carefully.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" she asked.
"Up for what?"
Clara raised a brow. "Ethan."
"What about him?"
"The last time we talked, you said you cared. Now it looks a little deeper than that."
Lena glanced out the window. "Think what you want."
"You're not denying it," Clara teased, grinning.
"I can't," Lena admitted softly. "I don't know when it happened, but... I think I'm falling for him."
"I'm happy for you," Clara said, "but be careful. Ethan doesn't always know what to do with affection."
"What do you mean?"
"When he lost his mom, Aunt Sharon tried to fill that void. She only ended up pushing him away."
"Aunt Sharon?"
"She was his nanny. Got me this job too. She cared... but Ethan isn't like everyone else. When people try to love him too hard, he shuts down."
Lena went quiet, heart weighing down with a mix of doubt and hope.
"Maybe he thinks he doesn't deserve love," she murmured. "Maybe it's trauma."
Clara didn't answer, but her silence said plenty.
—
When they arrived at the cardiology hospital, Ethan's guards hung back as instructed—present but invisible. Lena rushed inside and burst into her brother's room, where he was grinning and playing with a new PS5.
"Lena!" Audrey yelled, arms open.
She hugged him tight, refusing to let go. "You look so good," she said, tears in her eyes.
"I feel great! Look—Sir Ethan got me this game console. And all these clothes? Designer, Lena. Real designer."
Lena blinked. "He… he did?"
Clara nodded silently.
No calls. No texts. But Ethan had made sure Audrey was taken care of.
Three days passed with no word from him. Lena wondered if he was giving her space… or pulling away again.
Then, without warning, Ethan showed up.
He walked in carrying a fresh bouquet of flowers, his expression unreadable. Lena's face lit up the moment she saw him.
"Ethan! You're here!"
She rushed over, taking the flowers. Ethan's eyes, however, were fixed on the man beside her.
Young. Handsome. Charismatic. Laughing with Lena as if he belonged there.
A flicker of jealousy cracked Ethan's cool composure. He clenched his jaw and forced a smile.
"Ethan, this is Dr. Charles," Lena said, oblivious. "He's my professor. He helped me a lot after I lost my parents."
"Significant role indeed," Ethan thought grimly, noting the way Charles looked at her.
He extended a hand. "Pleasure."
Charles shook it reluctantly. "Likewise."
There was an awkward silence.
"So… babe," Lena said casually, the word slipping out like honey.
Ethan froze. Charles blinked. Lena didn't notice.
"Charles was just about to leave," she continued. "I asked him to stop by and see Audrey."
"I see," Ethan said, jaw tight.
Charles excused himself with a weak smile and left.
Lena turned back to Ethan. "You okay?"
He didn't answer right away.
Was he really going to let her fall for someone else? Someone who could probably give her the emotional support he couldn't?
His phone buzzed. Christian.
Text message: Ethan. I found something. About Lena's parents. You're going to want to see this.
The weight in Ethan's chest tightened.
This wasn't just about curiosity anymore.
It was about truth. And whatever it was, Christian's tone sounded like it would change everything.