Why?
1887 Words
Ethan POV
I woke up with memories of yesterday.
Which I was certain about what really happened.
I stylishly looked everywhere for Sophia but couldn’t find her anywhere around so I went to my study room to work.
I haven’t even had my breakfast yet .
I was reviewing reports in my study when movement outside the window caught my attention.
My eyes followed it and landed on Sophia Reed.
She stood near the estate gates.
Smiling.
They were talking casually.
Like they had known each other for years.
I should have kept walking.
Instead, I stopped.
Sophia looked happier than usual.
Relaxed.
Comfortable.
The sight irritated me more than it should have.
The man handed her a small box.
She smiled.
Then thanked him.
I waited patiently to see the guy she was talking to but unfortunately I couldn’t.
So I made up my mind to go out of the estate to see the guy.
I was really agitated even I had no reason to.
Sophia noticed me first.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
“Mr. Kingsley.”
The man turned.
His expression showed immediate recognition.
Most people recognized me.
“What is going on here?” I asked calmly.
Too calmly.
Sophia glanced between us.
“Oh, this is Ryan. He’s an old friend. He was nearby and wanted to check on me.”
Friend.
The word did nothing to improve my mood.
Ryan extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kingsley.”
I looked at the offered hand for a second before shaking it.
Firmly.
Perhaps a little too firmly.
His smile faltered.
Good.
“How long have you known Sophia?” I asked.
Both of them looked surprised by the question.
“A few years,” Ryan answered.
I nodded slowly.
Then looked at Sophia.
“Your break ended ten minutes ago.”
Her eyes widened.
“Oh. I’m sorry, sir.”
The guilt on her face annoyed me immediately.
She had done nothing wrong.
Yet I couldn’t stop myself.
“Return to your duties.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sophia quickly excused herself and walked back toward the mansion.
Leaving Ryan and me alone.
For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Ryan smiled slightly.
He said someone that really got me annoyed.
“Sophia looks very beautiful as always “he said.
My face got darkened but I kept it within me.
I should have ignored him but then I found myself walking towards the front gate just as Ryan was preparing to leave.
“Mr Ryan”,I called him.
He turned around.
His expression remained annoyingly relaxed.
“Mr. Kingsley.”
I stopped a few feet away.
Close enough to make my point.
Far enough to remain civil.
For now.
“You seem quite familiar with Sophia.”
Ryan smiled.
“I’ve known her for years.”
Years.
The word immediately irritated me.
Years meant memories.
Inside jokes.
Trust.
Things I didn’t have.
Things he did.
“I see.”
Ryan folded his arms.
“And you seem very interested in my friendship with her.”
The comment landed harder than it should have.
My jaw tightened.
“I’m interested in who enters my property.”
I lied.
A poor one at that.
Judging from his expression, Ryan knew it too.
He chuckled.
Actually chuckled.
“I think it’s more than that.”
The arrogance in his tone pushed something sharp inside my chest.
Dangerously sharp.
“Be careful,” I said quietly.
His smile faded.
The air between us instantly changed.
No laughter.
No friendliness.
Just tension.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Ryan asked.
I took a step forward.
“So you’re not as stupid as you look.”
His eyes narrowed.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
The distance between us suddenly felt very small.
A voice cut through the tension.
“Mr Ethan “.
She was hurrying across the driveway, concern written all over her face.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Neither of us answered.
Because neither of us had a good answer.
Sophia looked between us.
Then realization slowly appeared on her face.
I feel really embarrassed.
The silence that followed was almost embarrassing.
Finally Ryan sighed.
“I should leave.”
A wise decision.
He glanced at Sophia.
“I’ll call you later.”
Then he looked at me.
The meaning behind his expression was clear.
She’s not yours.
The thought alone was enough to make my temper rise again.
Fortunately, he turned and walked away before I could respond.
Sophia waited until he was gone before looking at me.
“Mr Ethan…”
I looked away.
Suddenly finding the driveway very interesting.
“You should be working, Miss Reed.”
Her eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
That same afternoon my nephew called in to check on me.
Though I hated that but I had choice.
He said he’s coming over to stay for two days.
Two days.
Why.
He said he’s coming over only want to make use am fine.
He said he was really concerned since I neglected everyone close to me.
After five minutes of talking and begging.
I allowed it on a conditions.
***************************************
Some minutes later he was already at the gate.
After the morning scene with Ryan,my afternoon had been peaceful.
Until my nephew arrived.
That peace lasted exactly three minutes.
“Uncle Ethan!”
I looked up from my desk as Jason Kingsley, my twenty-four-year-old nephew, walked into my office without knocking.
As usual.
“You’re supposed to knock.”
“And you’re supposed to smile occasionally.”
I stared at him.
He grinned.
Unfortunately.
An hour later, we were walking through the estate when Jason suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened.
“Oh.”
I immediately knew that tone.
And I already hated it.
“What?”
He wasn’t listening.
His attention was fixed somewhere ahead.
I followed his gaze.
And immediately regretted it.
Sophia Reed.
She was arranging flowers in the main foyer.
Focused on her work.
Completely unaware of the disaster approaching.
Jason whistled softly.
“Wow.”
My jaw tightened.
“Jason.”
“She’s gorgeous.”
“Damn she has a good figure “
“Look at those curves “
I closed my eyes briefly.
This was going exactly where I feared.
He looked at me.
“Who is she?”
“A staff member.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I ignored him.
Unfortunately, Jason wasn’t the type to let things go.
He looked back at Sophia.
Then smiled.
The kind of smile that always meant trouble.
“I think I need an introduction.”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Too sharply.
Jason blinked.
Then grinned.
“Oh?”
I immediately regretted speaking.
⸻
For the next several minutes, Jason became increasingly annoying.
“She’s beautiful.”
Silence.
“Seriously, Uncle.”
Silence.
“I’d definitely ask her out.”
I looked at him with a serious expression and he kept quiet.
Jason if you don’t keep quiet I will make sure I keep it up for you .
My grip tightened.
Jason noticed.
Of course he did.
His grin widened.
“You don’t like that idea.”
“I don’t care.”
Then he made things worse.
Much worse.
“You know, I think she’d be fun to date.”
I stared at him.
Warningly.
Jason continued anyway.
Completely fearless.
Or completely stupid.
Possibly both.
“She’s cute . Pretty. Good shapes .”
He counted each point on his fingers.
Then added:
“And honestly, she’s exactly my type.”
I was beginning to understand why some animals ate their young.
“Should I ask for her number?”
“No.”
Again.
Too fast.
Too firm.
His eyebrows shot up.
“Wow.”
I remained silent.
The less I said, the safer everyone would be.
Especially him.
Jason laughed.
“You know what? I can already imagine taking her out for dinner.”
I looked at him.
Coldly.
He ignored the warning.
“I think we’d have a great time together.”
Something dark and irrational stirred inside me.
An emotion I didn’t particularly enjoy.
Jason, I called.
You have no right to talk or mingle with my maids here.
He looked at me like “WTF” am I saying.
I replied with a nonchalant smile.
Sophia POV
I set the coffee tray down carefully on the table, making sure not to spill a single drop.
Everything in this house had to be perfect.
Even the way you poured coffee.
“Good afternoon, sir,” I said politely.
Ethan Kingsley barely looked up from his desk, but I could feel his presence in the room like always—heavy, controlled, unreadable.
Then I noticed the other man.
Jason Kingsley.
He smiled at me instantly.
“Hi, Sophia.”
I gave a small professional smile back.
“Good afternoon.”
He leaned forward slightly like he was trying to get a better look at me.
Which made me uncomfortable… but I ignored it.
“You’ve been working here long?” he asked.
“A few weeks,” I answered softly.
“And you already look like you’ve been here forever,” he said with a grin.
I gave a short laugh before I could stop myself.
It wasn’t planned.
It just happened.
A normal reaction.
But somehow—
I felt it immediately.
A shift in the room.
I didn’t understand it.
But I felt it.
So I stopped laughing.
⸻
Jason kept talking.
He was friendly.
Too friendly.
But not in a bad way.
Just… casual.
Comfortable.
The kind of comfort I didn’t really get in this house.
I didn’t even notice I was relaxing slightly while speaking to him.
Until—
“Miss Reed.”
My head turned instantly.
Ethan’s voice.
Calm.
Firm.
My posture straightened automatically.
“Yes, sir?”
He didn’t look at me right away.
“Dinner preparations need attention.”
I blinked.
Dinner?
It wasn’t even close to time.
“I—” I started.
Then stopped.
Because something in his expression told me not to question it.
So I nodded quickly.
“Yes, sir.”
⸻
Jason frowned slightly.
“She was talking,” he said casually.
“And what did you tell you about mingling with the staffs”,Ethan said.
Silence dropped instantly.
Heavy.
Strange.
I looked between them, suddenly unsure of what just happened.
Then I gathered the tray.
“Excuse me,” I said politely.
And left the room quickly.
⸻
The moment I stepped out, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
That room had felt… different.
Tense.
But I didn’t understand why.
As I walked down the hallway, I replayed Jason’s smile.
He seemed nice.
Easy to talk to.
Normal.
Nothing like this house.
Nothing like Ethan Kingsley.
And yet—
For some reason, the way Ethan called my name earlier…
felt heavier than it should have.
I shook my head quickly.
No.
I was overthinking.
I always did that when I was tired.
I needed to focus.
Work.
Bills.
My brother.
Before I stepped out I heard Ethan saying “
What an annoying day”.
I looked at his direction.
Why would he say that.
Why?
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