The night had fallen gently over the city, blanketing everything in soft snow, the flakes drifting lazily past the windows, each one catching the dim glow from the street lamps outside. Ethan and Sophie stood near the door, bundled in the warmth of a quiet, unspoken closeness. But despite the peace she felt, Sophie knew she couldn’t let him stay any longer.
“Ethan,” she said softly, her hand resting on his arm. “You need to go home and get some real rest. Your butler is already waiting outside, and you shouldn’t be driving in this weather after everything that’s happened.”
Ethan shook his head, his eyes filled with concern. “I don’t want to leave you, Sophie. Not after everything you’ve been going through. What if… what if you need me tonight?”
Sophie offered him a reassuring smile, th
