Ethan:
The night didn't last long for Ethan.
Sleep came late—but when it did, it was light, controlled, almost mechanical. No dreams. No distractions. Just enough rest to keep his mind sharp.
Because mornings like this—
Didn't allow weakness.
---
6:00 AM.
His eyes opened the exact moment the clock shifted.
No hesitation.
No delay.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair before standing. The room still carried the faint scent of her—soft, lingering—but he ignored it.
Like he ignored everything else that didn't belong to his purpose today.
---
The shower was quick.
Cold.
Precise.
Every movement efficient.
Every second accounted for.
---
When he stepped out—
He was no longer the man from last night.
He was something else entirely.
---
He dressed in black.
Not just any black—
But the kind that carried authority.
A perfectly fitted black shirt, the fabric sharp against his frame, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal strength without effort. A tailored black suit layered over it, clean lines, no excess. The jacket sat perfectly on his shoulders, structured, commanding.
The collar slightly open.
No tie.
No unnecessary formality.
Because he didn't need it.
His presence alone—
Was enough.
---
His watch clicked into place.
Cold metal against his wrist.
A final detail.
---
When he walked out of the room—
The air shifted.
Not visibly.
Not loudly.
But it did.
---
Each step down the stairs echoed softly through the house.
Measured.
Heavy.
Controlled.
The sound of his shoes against the floor wasn't loud—
But it carried something.
Something dangerous.
Something final.
---
In the dining area—
Luca was already there.
Calm.
Dressed similarly.
Prepared.
And Yuna—
Sitting across.
---
The chefs immediately straightened.
"Good morning, sir."
Ethan didn't respond.
Not verbally.
Just a slight nod.
That was enough.
---
His plate was placed in front of him.
Perfectly arranged.
Exactly the way he preferred.
He sat down silently.
Picked up his fork.
And began eating.
---
No words.
No glances.
Nothing.
---
But he felt it.
Her gaze.
On him.
Constant.
Unmoving.
Heavy.
---
Yuna was watching him.
Not casually.
Not lightly.
But like she was trying to understand something.
Or maybe—
Trying to find something.
---
Ethan didn't look up.
Didn't acknowledge it.
Didn't react.
Because reacting—
Would open something he didn't have time for.
---
"So…" Yuna's voice broke the silence.
Soft.
But careful.
"…Are you both going somewhere?"
No response from Ethan.
So she turned to Luca.
"…A party? Or a meeting?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light. "You both look… different."
There was a slight pause.
Then she added—
"…You too," her eyes flickered toward Ethan briefly.
Still—
No reaction.
---
Luca set his glass down.
"It's important," he said.
"How important?" she asked.
"A few days."
Yuna blinked.
"…A few days?"
"Three. Maybe four."
The words settled heavily in the air.
"…Three to four days?" she repeated softly.
Luca nodded.
"It's a serious meeting."
Yuna leaned back slightly.
"I see…"
Her voice quiet now.
Not questioning.
But not convinced either.
"…It must be very important then."
---
Ethan finished his meal.
Placed the fork down.
Clean.
Precise.
Controlled.
---
He stood up.
Without looking at her.
Without saying a word.
Then turned slightly toward Luca.
"If you're done—come."
Luca nodded.
"Give me a minute."
Ethan didn't wait for more.
"…Outside," he said simply.
"I'll bring the files."
---
Luca stood up.
Walking past Yuna.
Then out.
Leaving them—
Alone.
---
Ethan turned.
Walking toward the stairs again.
Same steps.
Same sound.
Same presence.
---
He reached the study room.
Opened the door.
Stepped inside.
---
The room was exactly as he left it.
Files arranged.
Maps marked.
Everything ready.
Everything in place.
---
He walked toward the shelf.
Pulled out a specific file.
Then another.
Stacking them together.
Reviewing quickly.
Confirming.
---
And then—
Arms wrapped around him from behind.
Soft.
Sudden.
Unexpected.
---
He froze.
For a second.
Only a second.
---
Yuna.
---
Her head rested lightly against his back.
Her arms holding him tightly.
Like she didn't want him to move.
Didn't want him to leave.
---
The room went still.
---
Ethan's fingers tightened slightly around the file.
His jaw clenched.
"…Yuna."
Her name came out low.
Controlled.
But not gentle.
---
She didn't let go.
"…Don't go like this," she whispered.
Her voice soft.
But filled with something heavy.
Something real.
---
That was enough.
---
His hand moved.
Grabbing her wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
---
And in one motion—
He pulled her arms away.
Turned.
Pushed her back.
Not enough to hurt.
But enough to create distance.
Enough to break the moment.
---
"Don't do that," he said.
His voice cold.
Sharp.
Final.
---
She stumbled back slightly.
Surprised.
Her eyes wide.
"…Ethan—"
"Not now."
The words cut through her instantly.
---
Silence filled the room again.
Heavy.
Tense.
---
He looked at her.
Finally.
Directly.
But there was no softness in his gaze.
No hesitation.
No warmth.
Just control.
Just distance.
---
"…We're leaving," he said.
Simple.
Clear.
---
She shook her head slightly.
"…For days?"
"Yes."
"…Without telling me anything?"
He didn't respond.
Because there was nothing to say.
---
Her chest rose and fell slowly.
"…Is this about… what you do?"
Still—
Silence.
---
That was answer enough.
---
Her eyes softened.
But not in a good way.
"…You're going to kill someone."
The words weren't loud.
But they echoed.
---
Ethan's expression didn't change.
---
"…Stay out of it," he said.
---
She stepped closer.
Despite everything.
"…I can't."
His gaze hardened instantly.
"Yes, you can."
"No, I can't," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Not when you're like this."
---
A pause.
A dangerous one.
---
"…Move," he said.
---
But she didn't.
---
And for a second—
It felt like something would break.
---
But then—
He stepped past her.
Not touching her.
Not looking back.
---
The door opened.
Then closed.
---
Leaving her alone in the study.
---
And Ethan—
Walking back into a world—
Where nothing mattered—
Except the mission.
The sound of the door closing didn't just echo in the room—
It echoed inside her.
For a moment, I didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't think.
I just stood there… staring at the door he had just walked through, like if I looked long enough, he might come back.
But he didn't.
---
My hands slowly dropped to my sides.
The warmth of his back—gone.
The feel of his presence—gone.
Replaced by something colder.
Something heavier.
---
"…Stay out of it."
His words repeated in my head.
Again.
And again.
And again.
---
I clenched my fists slightly.
"…How can I?" I whispered to myself.
How could I stay out of something that was pulling him further away from me?
How could I ignore the fact that every time he walked out like this—
He came back… a little more distant?
A little more untouchable?
---
I turned slowly.
My eyes falling on the desk.
The files.
Still slightly open.
Still there.
Like he hadn't had time to put everything back perfectly.
For someone like him—
That meant something.
---
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Because I knew—
Crossing that line…
Would change things.
But then—
I stepped forward.
---
My fingers hovered over the file.
Heart beating faster.
"…Just one look," I whispered.
As if saying it softly would make it less wrong.
---
I opened it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
---
A face stared back at me.
A man.
Cold eyes.
Sharp features.
The kind of face that didn't look kind.
Didn't look safe.
---
My breath caught slightly.
"…This is the person…"
I flipped the page.
Information.
Details.
Things I didn't fully understand—
But understood enough.
Illegal activities.
Names.
Places.
Proof.
---
"…So it's true," I whispered.
"They're really going to…"
I couldn't finish the sentence.
---
My chest tightened.
Because suddenly—
This wasn't just a fear.
It was real.
---
I closed the file quickly.
Like it burned.
Like touching it too long would make me part of it.
---
"No…" I shook my head.
"I can't just let this happen."
But what could I do?
Stop him?
Convince him?
He didn't listen.
He never listened—
When it came to this.
---
My thoughts raced.
Fast.
Messy.
Confused.
---
And then—
A memory.
Elena's voice.
"He doesn't leave things behind."
---
My eyes widened slightly.
"…Then why does it feel like he's leaving me behind?"
---
The question hurt more than I expected.
---
I turned toward the door again.
My chest rising and falling.
"…Ethan…"
---
Downstairs—
I could faintly hear movement.
Luca's voice.
Footsteps.
The sound of the main door opening.
---
They were leaving.
---
Without thinking—
I moved.
Fast.
Out of the study.
Down the stairs.
---
But by the time I reached the bottom—
The door was already closing.
---
I stopped.
Right there.
Watching it.
---
And then—
Silence.
---
They were gone.
---
The house felt empty.
Too empty.
---
I stood there for a long moment.
My heart still racing.
My thoughts still spinning.
---
"…Three days," I whispered.
"…Maybe four."
---
Too long.
Far too long.
---
I slowly walked back inside.
But nothing felt the same anymore.
Not the walls.
Not the air.
Not even the silence.
---
Because now—
I knew.
---
And knowing—
Changed everything.