"What? She's your woman?" Zane Riveron's face instantly drained of color.

He wished he could dig a hole and disappear on the spot.

Hitting on someone's wife right in front of the husband—this was beyond humiliating.

No wonder Ethan Sullivan's gaze had been as sharp as an ice blade earlier.

That he hadn't been beaten to a pulp already was a mercy.

"My bad, Ethan. I had no idea she was your wife." Zane recovered quickly, forcing an apologetic smile. "You two look perfect together. A match made in heaven."

Ethan gave a faint acknowledgment.

But his eyes remained fixed on Sophia Laurent.

He couldn't bear to look away for even a second.

Sophia finished signing the contract swiftly.

Clutching the check, she stood. "I'll leave you to talk."

Zane immediately rose. "No rush, Mrs. Sullivan. Catch up with Ethan first. I'll wait next door."

He grabbed his assistant and hurried out.

Iris Evans stayed seated.

Zane shot her a pointed look. "Iris the Hawk, out."

Grudgingly, she stood. "It's Iris!"

"Iris the Hawk sounds badass."

She rolled her eyes.

The door clicked shut.

Silence fell over the private room, so thick you could hear breathing.

Sophia kept her gaze lowered.

She'd missed him desperately, yet now that they were face-to-face, all she wanted was to flee.

"How have you been?" Ethan's voice was tender.

Sophia forced a smile. "Good."

But her eyes betrayed her, reddening against her will.

Only she knew the truth—nothing was good.

It felt like a piece of her heart had been carved out.

This agony of loving yet being kept apart was worse than any breakup.

"You've lost weight," Ethan said softly.

She finally met his gaze. "So have you."

The weight loss had sharpened his features further.

Dressed in that tailored suit today, he looked like he'd stepped straight off the cover of a business magazine.

"Just finished an interview," he explained. "Didn't expect to run into you here."

Sophia smiled.

Good.

His career was thriving.

The divorce had been the right choice.

He deserved his place as the Sullivan heir.

"I should go." She reached for her bag.

As she brushed past him, his hand closed around her wrist.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Those long, strong fingers—

Once they'd traced every curve of her waist with possessive familiarity.

"I miss you." His voice was rough.

Her throat tightened. "It'll pass."

She wanted to say, "Let's remarry."

But after so many rejections, the words died on her lips.

"Let me walk you out."

"No need. I came with Iris."

"Alright."

Truth was, he'd had people shadowing her for protection.

Even divorced, the Valentines' vendetta remained.

Sophia pulled her hand free. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

She left without looking back.

In the car, Sophia transferred 100,000 to Iris.

"Sophia, what's this for?"

"For your trouble."

Iris sighed. "You keep locking yourself away. No one gets through to you except Ethan, do they?"

Sophia stayed silent.

At ten years old, when Kyle Grant died saving her, her heart had sealed shut.

Until Ethan came along.

Now, that door was closing again.

Meanwhile—

Ethan received a call from Detective Kevin North.

"Salvatore Lombardi admits to bribery but denies any involvement in the car accident."

"How long for bribery?"

"Three to ten years."

Ethan's knuckles whitened.

Murder would've meant life.

Salvatore was gambling—

Betting the police wouldn't find evidence.

"I'm on my way."

Thirty minutes later—

In the interrogation room—

Salvatore sat unshaven, hollow-eyed.

Gone was his former arrogance.

Ethan glanced at the surveillance camera.

Kevin understood, signaling to cut the feed.

Then—

CRACK!

A tooth went flying, trailing blood.