Chapter 23

Sophia clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She refused to accept this. Refused to accept how Ethan Roscente had deceived her, how even her mother had been kept in the dark. All those false displays of concern, all that carefully crafted tenderness—every bit of it had been a lie.

That night, she should never have approached the drunken man.

Under the moonlight, his figure leaning against the car had been irresistibly alluring. Like a moth to a flame, she had walked toward him—and sealed her fate.

She had already planned to sell her mother’s house in Seattle to pay off her aunt’s twenty-million-dollar gambling debt. But that one reckless decision had changed everything.

To avoid showing weakness in front of him, she had lied, claiming she had only approached him to settle her debts.

That lie had snowballed into something far bigger.

For two years, she had wanted to ask him—just once—if he had ever felt even a flicker of affection for her. But every time she met those icy eyes, the words died in her throat.

The answer was obvious. All his tenderness belonged to the woman he had embraced so tightly that afternoon.

The look of raw emotion in Ethan’s eyes that day had become her recurring nightmare. The sleepless nights, the days when only medication could bring her rest—all of it was because of him.

It wasn’t until her mother took her to see a therapist that things began to improve.

But on the very night she cut ties with Ethan for good, that haunting gaze invaded her dreams again…

Sophia wiped away her tears, composed herself, and headed to Roscente Group.

Her colleagues in the executive office stared in surprise when she arrived. When they heard she was there to hand over her duties, their expressions turned knowing.

Before she could wonder why, the answer walked in.

Isabella Valentine, dressed in a white dress, entered arm-in-arm with Ethan.

"Hello, everyone. I’m Isabella Valentine, and from now on, I’ll be Mr. Roscente’s secretary," she announced with a sweet, practiced smile.

Sophia’s heart plummeted.

So that was why Ethan had agreed to her resignation so readily. He had already arranged for her replacement.

Why sneak around with her when he could openly flirt with his fiancée in the office? Thrilling, entertaining—why not?

The only thing she didn’t understand was why Isabella, a top-tier celebrity, would give up her career to become a secretary.

"Isabella is preparing for a role as a secretary in her next film. She’s here to shadow the job," Ethan explained coolly, his gaze sliding to Sophia. "Hand over your work to her."

"Understood, Mr. Roscente," Sophia replied, lowering her eyes.

"Miss Lowell, I appreciate your help," Isabella said in a sugary voice. "I’m a quick learner. I won’t delay your job search."

"You’re too kind, Miss Valentine," Sophia responded with a professional smile.

Ethan studied her face, searching for any trace of resentment or jealousy.

But she was as composed as if she were simply transferring a routine document.

The realization made his chest tighten.

"Isabella, you’re coming with me on a business trip," he ordered coldly.

"A trip on my first day?" Isabella pouted playfully. "My father was right—you really are a workaholic."

"No work, no money."

No money, no way to keep you…

As the elevator doors closed, Sophia silently finished the sentence in her mind.

So he was capable of sweet talk after all. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to be tender—he just hadn’t wanted to be tender with her.

Some things aren’t about inability. They’re about unwillingness.

Some people aren’t incapable of love. They just don’t love you.