Sophia's slender fingers lightly rested on Ethan's wrist, carefully avoiding his injured knuckles.

Detective Kevin North stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

The man who had been seething with rage moments ago now stood with his hostility melting away like snow in spring at Sophia's arrival.

The assistant glanced at the barely conscious Salvatore and nodded apologetically to Kevin. "Our apologies for the trouble, Detective."

"Scum like him deserves it." Kevin waved it off.

"Mrs. Sullivan is remarkable," Kevin couldn't help but remark. "Nothing we said made a difference."

The assistant gave a wry smile. "Gentleness overcomes strength."

Kevin nodded in agreement. "Some things only a woman can handle."

Hand in hand, Sophia led Ethan out the main doors.

After signaling to her mother, she stepped directly into Ethan's car.

"To the nearest pharmacy," she instructed the assistant.

Ethan immediately interjected, "We'll tend to it at home."

Sophia eyed his bleeding knuckles. "Stop being stubborn."

"It really doesn't hurt." He flexed his fingers slightly, though his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Seeing through him, Sophia said, "I'll go home with you."

Ethan's eyes lit up. "Promise?"

When she nodded, he instinctively moved to take her hand, then hesitated, remembering he'd touched Salvatore.

But Sophia reached for it anyway. "These are hands of justice."

Ethan's throat worked as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

The partition slowly descended.

He buried his face in her hair. "Am I dreaming?"

Sophia pressed a soft kiss to his jaw. "No."

"Lately, I keep dreaming of you," he murmured hoarsely.

Sophia silently echoed the sentiment in her heart.

Ten minutes later, the assistant returned with medical supplies.

With practiced ease, Sophia disinfected and bandaged his wounds, finishing with a neat bow.

"You promised to stay with me," Ethan verified again.

She traced his jawline gently. "I won't go back on my word."

The springlike smile that curved his lips left Sophia momentarily spellbound.

Back at Moon Bay, Ethan kept her hand firmly in his grasp.

Sophia felt both exasperated and tender—she'd never seen him so uncertain before.

When it came time to bathe, she helped wash him without hesitation.

Neither mentioned the divorce papers still between them.

In the quiet of night, Ethan held her close, trailing fiery kisses from her forehead to her neck.

Sophia burned with desire.

But he stopped abruptly. "Not until you're healed. Not until we're remarried."

Her heart trembled.

This restraint moved her more than passion ever could.

Nestled in his arms, she finally slept soundly.

At dawn, Sophia insisted on returning to the Laurent residence.

Ethan canceled his meetings to escort her personally.

Passing a patisserie, he stopped to buy her favorite pastry.

Sophia met him with a smile, linking her arm with his affectionately.

Just as she bent to enter the car, a familiar black Rolls-Royce sped past.

Her heart lurched violently.

The moment they arrived home, her phone buzzed.

Victor Sullivan's text glared up at her: "Miss Laurent, did ten billion buy your change of heart?"