Love In Bloom

Chapter Six: A Glimpse of the Past

Sophia sat frozen in her seat, her fingers tightening around the coffee cup as she watched Ethan step outside to take his call.

This wasn’t how she expected the day to go.

First, the contract. Then, a long day at the resort. And now, this—Ethan hinting at something from their past but pulling away before he could say anything real.

She hated how easily he could still get under her skin.

With a sigh, she leaned back against her chair, letting the gentle hum of the café settle around her. The scent of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries should have been comforting, but her mind was too tangled in the past to enjoy it.

A part of her didn’t want to care anymore. She had spent years rebuilding herself after Ethan walked away. She had promised herself she wouldn’t let him hurt her again.

So why did it still feel like he had the power to break her?

The bell above the café door jingled, and she glanced up just as Ethan walked back inside, his jaw tense. Whatever that phone call had been about, it had put him in a bad mood.

He slid back into his seat without a word.

Sophia studied him carefully. “Everything okay?”

Ethan exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “Business.”

She arched a brow. “Since when does business make you look like you want to throw something?”

He gave her a tight smirk. “Since it involves people who don’t know how to listen.”

Sophia tilted her head. “Maybe they just don’t like taking orders.”

Ethan chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “You would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

She shrugged. “What can I say? I don’t like being controlled.”

Ethan leaned forward, his blue eyes piercing. “And yet, you signed my contract.”

Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. “I signed it for Bennett’s Blooms—not for you.”

Something flickered in his expression. “Is that what you tell yourself?”

Sophia swallowed hard, refusing to answer.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Ethan leaned back, running a hand through his hair. “We need to set some rules.”

Sophia frowned. “Rules?”

“If we’re going to work together for the next year, we can’t keep doing this.” He gestured between them. “The past—whatever happened between us—it stays in the past.”

Her chest tightened. “You think that’s possible?”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. “It has to be.”

Sophia wanted to argue. She wanted to demand answers—why did you leave? Why now? Why act like you still care if you don’t?

But instead, she forced a nod. “Fine.”

Ethan studied her for a long moment, as if trying to figure out whether she was lying. Then he exhaled and stood. “I’ll have the driver take you home.”

She nodded again, suddenly too tired to argue.

As they stepped outside, the warm evening air wrapped around them. The car was already waiting, and Ethan reached for the door handle—but before he could open it, Sophia turned to him.

“One question.”

Ethan paused, his hand hovering over the door. “What?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “If the past stays in the past… why did you bring me here?”

For a second, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then, in a voice so quiet she almost didn’t hear it, he said, “Because I wanted to remember.”

Her breath hitched.

Before she could say another word, he pulled the door open.

“Goodnight, Sophia.”

She climbed in without another word, her heart pounding as the car pulled away.

And for the first time in years, she realized she wasn’t sure she’d ever stopped loving him.