Elizabeth stirred awake slowly the next morning.

She turned over groggily, reaching out for the space beside her.

Her hand found only cold, empty sheets.

A bitter smile touched her lips. She had expected this.

Forcing herself upright, the covers slipped from her body.

Her eyes dropped to her skin, taking in the scattered bruises and marks.

Without this physical evidence, she might have believed last night was a dream.

That Ethan, so different from his usual self, had been nothing but her imagination.

She lifted the duvet and gathered the discarded clothes from the floor.

Placing them neatly aside, she headed straight for the shower.

Every muscle in her body ached with a deep soreness.

She had always thought post-intimacy soreness was just fictional exaggeration.

The warm water cascaded over her, washing away the night's traces.

After her shower, she towel-dried her hair and changed into fresh pajamas.

Returning to make the bed, her eyes caught on the sheets.

Small spots of blood stained the fabric.

It was gone now.

Perhaps that was for the best.

It would save her from endless overthinking.

She quickly stripped the bed and replaced the linens.

As she turned to leave, a note on the nightstand caught her eye.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up.

"Wait for me. - Ethan"

The words stirred conflicting emotions in her heart.

Why had he left so early?

Was he giving her space before delivering his final decision?

She crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash.

Then she calmly continued with her morning routine.

Ethan had departed at seven that morning.

His assistant had collected him for the remote mountain shoot.

Yesterday's abrupt departure from the set had disrupted the filming schedule.

He was supposed to leave before six, but found himself unable to pull away.

Watching Elizabeth sleep peacefully in his arms made leaving unbearable.

He had lowered his head to brush his lips against her forehead.

She slept so soundly, so trustingly.

Emboldened by her deep slumber, he stole a kiss from her lips.

Just like he had throughout the night.

He still couldn't believe how far he had let himself go.

Elizabeth had even asked, "Isn't this compensation getting excessive?"

Remembering her expression from the night before, he smiled involuntarily.

His phone rang insistently, pulling him from his thoughts.

Reluctantly, he slipped from the warm bed.

Before leaving, he scribbled the note.

He also pocketed a small piece of rope from her bedside table.

Outside the building, his assistant paced anxiously beside the car.

Spotting Ethan, the man rushed forward immediately.

"Sir, the entire crew has already left for location. The leads are en route too."

"Understood," Ethan replied calmly.

He showed no urgency, his mood noticeably lighter than usual.

His assistant watched him, thoroughly baffled.

Ethan was normally more punctual than anyone.

Something was definitely different about him today.