In one swift motion, Ethan Yu flipped Hailey Tang onto her back, pinning her beneath him.
She froze, eyes wide with shock. Her dark, crystal-clear eyes shimmered like those of a frightened little bunny caught in the headlights. Her soft pink lips parted slightly, her face etched with startled innocence.
For a split second, Ethan just stared. The vulnerability in her eyes, the gentle curve of her lips, the flush spreading across her cheeks—it was a combination so disarmingly delicate that it awakened a primal urge in him.
A dangerous one.
He leaned down, his voice rough and low, brushing her ear like a whisper of thunder. "Repeat what you just said."
Hailey's lips trembled, but no words came out. Her instincts were screaming at her—if she said anything, she wouldn't be able to stop what was coming next.
But Ethan didn't let up. A wicked grin curled across his lips. "So? I'm not a 'normal man,' huh?"
Hailey shook her head furiously. "That's not what I meant!"
"Oh? Because it sounded like that's exactly what you meant," he said, voice laced with mockery. "But hey—I don't mind proving just how normal I am. Right here. Right now."
She stiffened, a bolt of panic shooting through her chest. "I told you, it was a slip of the tongue! I didn't mean it like that!"
Ethan wasn't buying it.
He narrowed his eyes. "Nah. I think that was the truth slipping out from deep inside you."
"What are you even talking about?!" she snapped, flustered and trying to squirm free.
He leaned in, their foreheads touching, his breath hot against her skin. "Am I not satisfying enough for you, Hailey? Is that why you think there's something wrong with me?"
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Did he just say what she thought he said?
He locked his gaze on her lips, the heat in his eyes deepening. "How about I fix that tonight? Give you everything you've clearly been missing?"
"Ethan Yu, what is wrong with you?!" she gasped.
This wasn't like the Ethan she remembered. The Ethan from her past never talked like this, never teased or flirted. Back then, he was all cold silence and indifference when they were intimate—never words, never games. Just action.
So this side of him? It caught her completely off guard. She didn't even know how to react.
Before she could gather her wits, he grabbed her chin and tilted her face upward. His eyes darkened, and his lips came crashing down onto hers.
The kiss was firm, consuming.
Hailey's eyes flew open.
"Stop it!" she cried out, struggling to push him off.
Then, in a burst of panic, she shoved him hard—so hard that he actually stumbled backward, caught off-guard.
Ethan's expression twisted into one of surprise. He hadn't expected that level of resistance. Not from her.
Hailey scrambled out of bed like a cat fleeing a fire. She nearly tripped over herself as she grabbed her blanket and bolted to the sofa.
"I'll sleep on the couch!" she blurted, wrapping herself up like a human burrito. "Okay? You win! Happy now?!"
Then she turned her back on him completely, facing the wall and hiding under the covers as if that could somehow erase the last five minutes from existence.
Ethan stood there, stunned. Then his eyes darkened.
Did she just react like he was some kind of predator?
His jaw tightened.
Wow.
That was the energy she was giving off? Like he was a monster?
He let out a cold, humorless laugh and climbed back into bed, throwing the blanket over himself with visible annoyance.
Fine. If she thought he was some out-of-control beast, so be it.
If she wanted to ignore him? He could ignore her even harder.
Childish? Maybe. But two could play this game.
The silence in the room was deafening. Neither of them said a word for the rest of the night. The tension in the air was so thick it could've suffocated a rhino.
It was going to be a long night.
The Next Morning
They woke up to the same frigid atmosphere. No words. No eye contact. Not even a passive-aggressive grunt.
Ethan got dressed and left first. Hailey lingered behind, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell had just happened the night before.
Had she overreacted?
…Or was he seriously losing it?
Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Because come noon, she still had a role to play.
As the "loving wife," she had to deliver lunch to her dear husband. Even if they were in a silent standoff.
With the lunchbox in hand, she made her way to the top floor of the company. The moment she stepped out of the elevator, one of Ethan's assistants spotted her.
"Mrs. Yu! Good afternoon," the secretary greeted with a bright smile. "The CEO mentioned you might come by. He's on the 70th floor today—he asked me to direct you there."
Hailey blinked. "Why the 70th?"
"He's in back-to-back meetings. Said he'll probably be working there all day."
"I see. Thanks," she replied, nodding politely before heading to the elevator again.
Once she arrived on the 70th floor, she glanced through the glass wall of the massive conference room and spotted Ethan instantly.
He sat at the head of a long mahogany table, leaned back in his chair with that usual lazy elegance—but his expression was deadly serious.
Everyone else in the room looked borderline terrified, nodding at every word he said like their lives depended on it.
Even Hailey had to admit—he looked good like that. In charge. Commanding. Sharp.
Too bad he was also annoying as hell.
She waited outside the conference room, watching him with narrowed eyes.
She knew she'd have to face him sooner or later.
But she wasn't ready for "sooner."