Love In Bloom

Chapter Seven: A Dangerous Game

Sophia barely slept that night.

Ethan’s words replayed in her mind on an endless loop.

"Because I wanted to remember."

What did that even mean?

She had spent years convincing herself that Ethan had left without a second thought, that their relationship had never mattered as much to him as it had to her. But last night, in that fleeting moment, she had seen something real in his eyes.

Regret.

It was dangerous to dwell on it—to let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, there was more to the story than she knew.

But the walls around her heart were already cracking, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

Morning at the Resort

By the time Sophia arrived at the Sinclair Resort, she had forced her emotions into a box. Today was about work, nothing more.

She walked through the grand lobby, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she approached the conference room where the wedding planning team had gathered.

Ethan was already there, looking effortlessly composed in a tailored navy suit. He glanced up as she entered, his expression unreadable.

“Morning,” he said.

Sophia nodded, keeping her tone cool. “Morning.”

If he noticed the stiffness in her voice, he didn’t comment on it.

The meeting began, and for the next hour, they discussed floral arrangements, vendor schedules, and client expectations. Sophia kept her focus on the project, avoiding Ethan’s gaze whenever possible.

But it was impossible to ignore the way his presence filled the room.

Even when she wasn’t looking at him, she could feel him—every shift in his chair, every time he ran a hand through his hair, every quiet breath.

It was infuriating.

When the meeting finally ended, Sophia was the first to stand. “I’ll send over my finalized designs this evening.”

Natalie, the wedding coordinator, smiled. “Looking forward to it.”

As Sophia turned to leave, Ethan’s voice stopped her.

“Sophia. A word?”

Her pulse spiked, but she forced a neutral expression. “Make it quick.”

Ethan nodded toward the hallway. “My office.”

She hesitated. Every instinct told her to walk away, but she couldn’t exactly refuse—not when he was technically her client.

With a sigh, she followed him down the corridor, stepping into his private office.

It was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. A large mahogany desk sat in the center, papers neatly stacked beside a laptop.

Ethan shut the door behind them, his gaze unreadable. “Are we going to talk about last night?”

Sophia crossed her arms. “No.”

Ethan arched a brow. “That easy, huh?”

She exhaled sharply. “You said we needed rules. That the past stays in the past.”

Something flickered in his expression. “And you actually believe that?”

She clenched her jaw. “I need to.”

Ethan stepped closer, his voice lower now. “Then why are you still here?”

Sophia’s breath caught. “Because I signed a contract.”

Ethan’s lips curled into something almost sad. “Right.”

For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.

Sophia hated how easily he could unravel her.

So she did the only thing she could—she turned and walked away.

But as she reached the door, Ethan’s voice stopped her one last time.

“You might not want to remember, Sophia,” he murmured. “But I do.”

And just like that, her carefully built walls crumbled a little more.