Chapter 292
It seemed Ethan’s assessment of Charlotte had been wrong from the start.
He studied her quietly from the corner of his eye.
Charlotte, however, kept her gaze lowered. After a brief pause, she gave a small, almost indifferent nod—composed, controlled, nothing like the timid impression she usually gave others.
“So what is it then?” Ethan asked at last, his voice drifting through the dim light. “How long are you thinking? Don’t tell me you actually want to be my wife.”
His fingers slid lightly along her arm as he spoke, the touch casual, testing.
Charlotte didn’t recoil. Not immediately.
Instead, she forced down the discomfort rising in her chest and answered evenly, “I’m just an ordinary person, Ethan. I can’t keep up with your games.”
Her lashes lowered slightly.
“I’m afraid I’d end up like your last… lover. Broken beyond repair.”
The air shifted.
Ethan’s expression cooled in an instant.
“Don’t drag other people into this,” he said flatly.
The looseness in his tone disappeared, replaced by something sharper, more controlled. He studied her for a long moment—long enough that most people would have broken under it.
But Charlotte didn’t.
In the end, Ethan leaned back and let go of her hand as if nothing had happened. He drained the remaining tea in one go.
“Let’s go,” he said, standing. His steps were slightly unsteady. “Walk me back.”
Charlotte followed without protest.
But behind her calm expression, her mind was already turning.
Every word. Every hesitation. Every shift in his gaze.
Nothing had been useful.
Ethan was careful—too careful when he was not fully drunk, and too unpredictable when he was.
By the time they stepped out, Charlotte had already made a decision.
Patience.
That was the only way forward.
One day, he would lose control.
And when he did, everything would come out.
Two days later
Southwest border of Felanche. Mountain region. Evening.
Nick had spent the entire day moving between sites and meetings. The final stretch of work had taken longer than expected, and only at noon had he managed a brief video call with Khloe.
Now, as he returned from the mountains toward the hotel, he stopped in a quiet area to check in again.
They were supposed to have three video calls today, but lately, their communication had become fragmented—short calls, quick messages, always squeezed between work.
Still, every time Nick had a spare moment, he reached for his phone.
And every time, it was Khloe.
Even Lenny had noticed it by now.
The once strictly business-driven man had become almost habitual about it—like something in his day wasn’t complete until he heard her voice.
Today, Nick looked… lighter.
For once, there was genuine ease in his expression.
The final phase of work was nearly complete. After tomorrow morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, the entire assignment would be wrapped up. He would be ready to return.
When he told Khloe this, her reaction was immediate.
She brightened.
And insisted she would come pick him up herself.
Nick frowned slightly. The timing was uncertain. If filming went smoothly in the morning, he could return by the afternoon. If not, it would be much later.
He didn’t want her waiting around.
But Khloe’s voice on the screen was firm.
“No matter how late it is,” she said, “I want to see you as soon as you come back.”
Something softened in Nick’s eyes.
He didn’t argue further.
Before he could respond, Lenny stepped into frame, clearly needing to report something urgent.
Khloe noticed immediately.
“It’s late, and the mountain roads aren’t safe,” she said gently. “Go back to the hotel first.”
Nick paused. “Alright.”
Then, after a brief silence, he added her name again.
“Mm?” Khloe looked at him.
“Nothing,” he said after a beat, his voice lower now. “Sleep early. I’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
The call ended.
Nick stood there for a moment longer than necessary, staring at the darkened screen before finally lowering his phone.
He shot Lenny a faintly irritated look.
Lenny said nothing.
In the distance, the filming crew was already preparing for a night shoot. The schedule was tight, and the next few hours would be demanding.
Nick turned away, expression returning to professional calm.
But his thoughts didn’t.
Tomorrow, he will be done here.
And he would be going back.