Ethan's POV.
I looked away, exhaling slowly. "He is a good man."
"He is," she said softly. Then, after a pause, "Why do you sound like you hate that?"
I looked back at her, and for a moment, we just stared at each other — like there were a hundred things hanging in the air between us, too fragile to touch.
Finally, I said, "Because he gets to sit across from you and make you smile."
The words hung there, raw and heavy.
Her lips parted slightly, eyes widening just a bit. " Mr Ethan…"
The way she said my name — hesitant, gentle — did something to me.
But before she could say anything else, the phone rang, cutting through the moment like a blade.
She looked down quickly, breaking eye contact. "I should… get back to work."
I nodded once, forcing myself to look away. "Of course."
She stood, her hands trembling slightly as she gathered her things.
Before leaving, she paused at the door. "Thank you… for checking on me."
And then she was gone.
