"What exactly did you expect from him?" Ethan asked calmly while his gaze remained fixed on the television screen where Charlie continued speaking with carefully controlled emotion before the reporters. "If he wasn’t capable of acting like this, how do you think he managed to win everyone’s attention all these years?" Scarlett crossed her arms tightly while leaning back against the sofa, her sharp eyes still fixed at the ongoing press conference."Even so," she admitted quietly, "I didn’t expect him to manipulate the situation this smoothly as if he was prepared from the beginning for this situation."Ethan let out a faint breath that almost resembled amusement, though there was no real humor behind it."That’s how Charlie has always been," he replied evenly. "From the moment he stepped into the Carvendish mansion, he understood exactly what people wanted to see... He survived all these years with this level of perfection in manipulations, his only goal is to manipulate any situation

"Is there anything I can hide from you?" Ethan exhaled softly. "You notice everything." "I notice you." That answer alone made his chest tighten faintly, before Scarlett could say anything else, Ethan suddenly reached forward quietly.Scarlett blinked in surprise.Because this time, he was the one pulling her closer first, her breath caught slightly while Ethan’s hand rested gently against her waist.For a moment, neither moved nor spoke.Then slowly, Ethan leaned closer.Scarlett’s heartbeat instantly lost rhythm."Ethan…"His eyes remained fixed on hers quietly, and then, for the very first time... He kissed her first.Softly, carefully.... Almost hesitantly.Like someone touching something precious for the first time without knowing how much pressure might break it or when to stop it.Scarlett froze completely for nearly two seconds.Not because she disliked it but because she genuinely never expected him to initiate first.For so long, she tried to break the cold walls he built

"Why does it smell surprisingly good in here?"Scarlett’s sleepy voice echoed softly through the quiet penthouse early in the morning while sunlight passed faintly through the enormous glass windows overlooking the city.The storm from the previous night had finally disappeared, leaving the skyline washed clean beneath pale morning light.Inside the kitchen, Ethan stood calmly near the stove preparing breakfast while soft instrumental music played quietly in the background.For once, the atmosphere felt peaceful.No reporters or scandals, not even Black Oracle meetings to disturb their domestic space after a passionate night.Only the sound of coffee brewing and food sizzling softly inside the pan.At Scarlett’s voice, Ethan finally turned slightly.And the moment he saw her, his movements paused briefly.Scarlett stood near the hallway entrance wearing one of his oversized black shirts that nearly reached her thighs while her long hair remained completely messy from sleep.She looked

"What nonsense are these people spreading now?! How dare they twist our family matters like this?!" Hailey’s furious voice resounded sharply across the hospital corridor while several nurses and hospital staff instinctively lowered their heads awkwardly after hearing her outburst."Are they going to spread things without checking facts? When did we mistreat that bastard? It's him who is ungrateful to choose an outsider over family... Why the hell they're supporting him?" Sally is completely enraged. "This public is also too stupid, rather than looking into truth, they're believing those maids and servants of our house and being ridiculous in front of us." The atmosphere surrounding the Carvendish family had become increasingly unbearable after the mansion footage spread publicly across every platform.Whispers followed them everywhere.Judgmental stares lingered constantly.Even the reporters outside the emergency floor had doubled within less than an hour.Jerome stood near the em

“So what now?” Jenny asked bitterly while tightening her grip around the phone. “You’re really going to let Charlie die?”Inside the penthouse, silence settled briefly after her question.Scarlett lowered her gaze quietly toward Ethan who was sleeping peacefully, while sunlight continued spilling softly across the enormous living room.Even while asleep, exhaustion still lingered visibly across his face.For several long seconds, Scarlett said nothing.Then finally, she answered softly.“No, Jenny.”The hospital corridor instinctively quieted again.Scarlett’s voice remained calm.“That family is simply facing the consequences of treating Ethan like he only existed to save Charlie.”The sentence landed heavily, painfully and before Jenny could speak again, Scarlett calmly disconnected the call.The sharp silence afterward felt suffocating inside the hospital corridor.Jenny slowly lowered the phone from her ear while her breathing remained visibly uneven.No one spoke immediately.Not