Chapter 325

Sophia Lowell felt her eyelids grow heavy as if weighted with lead. She blinked hard, wondering if she was hallucinating.

The man who always carried himself with unshakable arrogance now stood at her doorstep, his eyes shimmering with something inexplicably wounded.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, rubbing her temples.

She hadn't slept since her exhausting journey from Hong Kong back to Seattle. First, a five-hour flight to New York, then being driven overnight by that workaholic Sebastian Valdemar. She'd only stumbled into this dust-choked old house at 3 AM, her last ounce of energy spent scrubbing it clean.

And today—visiting the cemetery, collapsing in tears before her mother's and grandparents' graves—had drained her completely.

All she wanted now was to sink into bed and sleep for eternity.

"Move," she rasped, reaching to shut the door.

Ethan Roscente's palm slammed against the doorframe, veins bulging. "Sophia, you owe me an explanation."

"For what?" She leaned wearily against the frame. "My phone got crushed by a car. Didn’t have time to replace it. Happy now?"

The man scoffed. "Convenient."

"Believe what you want." She was too tired to argue. Last night, when that out-of-control sedan had grazed her, her phone had slipped from her grip. The memory still sent chills down her spine.

Ethan stepped closer abruptly. "Why did you suddenly come back to Seattle?"

The familiar scent of his woody cologne hit her, stealing her breath. It was achingly familiar—enough to make her heart tremble.

"I missed home," she said, turning her face away.

"Liar." His voice sharpened. "You promised to attend tomorrow’s board meeting!"

Sophia's head snapped up. She had forgotten about that.

A flicker of hurt crossed his eyes. "Am I really someone you’d go this far to avoid?"

Her lips parted, but no words came. The motion-sensor light in the hallway chose that moment to die, plunging them into darkness where only their breaths intertwined.

"Let me in," he said suddenly, his voice softening. "I drove ten hours."

Her heart clenched. From New York to Seattle—that was indeed the distance.

When the light flickered back on, she saw the dark circles under his eyes. Against her better judgment, she stepped aside.

"Ten minutes," she warned. "Then you leave."

The corner of Ethan's mouth lifted. As he crossed the threshold, his fingers brushed her wrist—so lightly it might have been accidental.

In that instant, Sophia realized with a sinking heart—

She might have just fallen into this man’s trap again.