Ethan’s POV
When Fiona informed me that Emily was in the studio working, a wave of relief washed over me. I had been anxious all morning, wondering if she’d gotten my messages, worried that Reuben might already be pulling one of his reckless stunts.
Reuben always knew how to press the right buttons. He wasn’t just impulsive—he was calculating, using manipulation as both shield and sword. I knew him too well, and unfortunately, so did Emily.
The moment she walked into my office, my focus sharpened. She greeted me formally, her tone polite but distant. My chest tightened, sensing the walls she had erected between us since the last time we spoke.
I waited for Fiona to close the door behind her before speaking. “Why didn’t you return my calls last night?”
Her brown eyes flicked up to meet
