Ethan’s POV
I swallowed hard, my throat dry and tight. “Is there… something you need to tell me?”
Her smile wavered at the edges, like a mask that was just a little too heavy to hold in place.
“Okay. So…” She shifted slightly in her seat, smoothing her skirt in a nervous gesture that made my stomach twist. “I think it’s best if you take a break from work. You know, just until the whole thing dies down.”
The words landed with a dull, heavy thud in my chest, like someone had dropped a stone straight through me.
“Oh,” I said softly, because I couldn’t think of anything else. My voice sounded strange in my own ears, thin and fragile.
Her eyes darted away for a moment before coming back to me, bright with forced cheer.
“You’ve been under so much pressure lately,” she continued, her tone
