Sophia's finger hovered over her phone screen before finally pressing send.

Ethan's reply remained brief, yet carried an indescribable distance.

She stared at those words, her chest heavy as if weighed by a stone.

Something was wrong.

For three days now, Ethan had become a different person. His voice on calls was terrifyingly calm, his texts never exceeding five words.

Sophia grabbed her coat and rushed out of the office.

Inside the elevator, she dialed Victor Sullivan.

"Dad, where's Ethan?"

Silence stretched for several seconds before the answer came. "Riverbend Villa."

"What happened to him?"

Victor sighed deeply. "See for yourself."

Those words turned Sophia's fingers ice-cold.

Riverbend Villa stood eerily quiet.

The bodyguard hesitated before stepping aside to let her pass.

Cold air greeted her as she pushed open the door.

Ethan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his back straight as a pine tree yet radiating bone-chilling coldness.

"Ethan."

He turned, lips curving into a perfect smile. But his eyes resembled frozen lake surfaces.

Sophia moved forward to embrace him.

His body stiffened, arms mechanically encircling her shoulders.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice trembled.

Ethan lowered his gaze, fingers gently combing through her long hair. Those elegant hands trembled slightly.

Sophia suddenly pushed away, rushing to the water dispenser.

Pill bottles lay scattered in the drawer. The words "Lithium Carbonate" stabbed her vision.

The instruction sheet slipped from her fingers.

"Bipolar disorder..." She whispered the unfamiliar term.

Ethan's calm voice came from behind. "First episode at four years old. It went away."

Sophia spun around, gripping his wrist tightly.

"Because of me?"

"The roots were always there." He wiped the redness at the corner of her eye. "Don't cry."

Tears still fell onto his knuckles.

Sophia rose on tiptoes to kiss him. The touch felt cold as jade.

"I'll stay with you." She pressed her forehead against his. "I'll say 'I love you' a hundred times daily until you're sick of it."

Finally, ripples appeared in Ethan's eyes.

"It might get bad."

"How bad?" Sophia forced a smile. "Worse than when you threw tantrums in your wheelchair?"

Night fell.

Ethan slept deeply under medication's influence.

Sophia traced his peaceful features, fingers lightly outlining his brow.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hallway.

She grabbed the itching powder from the nightstand, moving silently toward the door.

As a shadow appeared, Sophia struck.

Cold steel pressed against her throat.

"Shane?"

The dagger in Shane's hand gleamed under moonlight. "What are you doing here?"