Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter Eight

The next day, Carol had just wrapped up a meeting with a client when the receptionist called her over.

Thinking it might be another client, she paused, recalling who she had appointments with. "Is it Mr. Lee?"

The receptionist shook her head. "Said his last name is Morgan. Dude's got a real attitude too. He's downstairs waiting-kinda looks like trouble."

Ryan?

Carol's gaze cooled. "I'm not meeting him."

After work, she deliberately lingered a bit before heading out, but the moment she stepped outside the building, there he was-Ryan, leaning against his attention-seeking sports car, moody as ever.

As soon as he saw her, he stormed up. His words came out like he was doing her a favor, laced with blame. "Carol, haven't you caused enough drama? Yeah, I messed up, did what all guys do! But was a flash marriage really necessary? This whole thing's just to get back at me, right?"

Carol stared at him blankly. He reached out, trying to take her hand, speaking softer this time. "Look, I'm here to make peace, Carol. Let's stop this. Let's get back together and do it right. I swear, no more drama from other women again..."

That made Carol chuckle.

She yanked her hand away like she'd touched something filthy, her eyes practically dripping with disgust. "Ryan, seriously? You don't understand plain English? We're done."

"And don't go projecting your sleazy standards onto every guy out there. Spare me the ego trip. My marriage had nothing to do with you. I just needed to clean house-you were the mess."

Her words and the sheer contempt in her expression hit him hard, his face twitching between rage and embarrassment. The stares from passersby only frustrated him more.

He jabbed a finger in her face and started shouting, his tone vicious. "Carol, quit acting all high and mighty! You think you're some kind of queen now, huh? Landed a rich guy? That sickly loser won't satisfy you forever. One day when he's gone, what then? You'll be back on the streets-"

"Smack!"

Her hand landed across his face, loud and crisp, shutting him right up.

Carol's hand tingled from the hit, her eyes icy. "Watch your mouth."

Ryan stood there stunned, his cheek red, struggling to process what just happened. Then he snapped. "You bitch! You just hit me?"

He swung his hand back, aiming at her face.

Carol flinched instinctively, waiting for impact... but it never came.

Instead, a muffled thud rang out, followed by Ryan's pained grunt.

She opened her eyes to see Ryan sprawled on the ground, clutching his side in pain. A firm arm was wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a faintly medicated, sterile-smelling embrace.

Ethan had shown up out of nowhere-still looking pale and lean, but the chill radiating from him was enough to make anyone freeze. He didn't say a word, just stood there, expression stone-cold, eyes flicking to Ryan like he was something no one wanted to step in.

Right then, sirens approached, getting louder. The police Carol had preemptively called arrived, quickly pinning down the flailing, cursing Ryan.

Ethan didn't spare him another glance. He simply turned to Jack and said coolly, "Take care of it."

Jack nodded, walked over to the officers, and murmured, "Officer, Ms. Bennett has stated she doesn't wish to engage. Please handle it however you see fit."

Ethan had his arm around Carol as they headed toward the Bentley parked nearby. Once they were in the car, with the world shut out, he quietly let go.

Carol turned to look at his sculpted profile, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Mr. Mitchell, fancy seeing you here. Passing by again?"

Ethan didn't bother denying the sarcasm. Eyes locked on the road ahead, he remarked flatly, "Not the smartest way to handle that."

Carol raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "He didn't land a hit, did he? You were there... keeping me safe." She deliberately softened her voice on the word "safe."

Finally, Ethan looked at her, gaze deep and unwavering. His tone was calm, but there was weight behind it. "People like him need to learn that putting hands on you comes with a price they can't afford."

Carol froze for a beat.

Was he schooling her on self-protection? Or... was that him standing up for her?

She quickly smiled again, bright and cheery. "Got it. Thanks for the life lesson, Mr. Mitchell."

Ethan frowned, clearly unimpressed with her breezy attitude, but he didn't argue. Just then, Jack got in after wrapping things up and started the engine.

Back at the villa, as they stepped inside, Carol noticed Ethan's steps halt ever so slightly. Without turning, he said, "Just this once."

Sounded more like a warning, but not quite harsh.

Carol responded easily, "Loud and clear~ I'll get dinner started~"

Only when Ethan went upstairs did her smile fade. She rubbed her cheeks, sore from keeping up appearances too long.

Carol had expected him to use this mess as an excuse to bring up divorce again.

But he didn't.

And it hit her-this man, distant as he might seem, handled things sharply, decisively, and with a power that got real results.

He once said he wouldn't clean up her messes. Yet here he was, throwing the Mitchell family's weight behind silencing Ryan.

Sure, maybe it was more about protecting the family name, not letting it get dragged through tabloid trash. But still, it didn't change the fact that she was shielded by it.

The feeling was unfamiliar.

Back when she was with Ryan, she always faced problems solo. Never once did she think someone out there might stand behind her like this.

Now though... awkward as it was, and despite their whole "arrangement," she couldn't deny the sense of security that clung to her.

It didn't feel half bad.

She went to her room and picked up her digital tablet, ready to sketch. But her thoughts kept drifting, her pen hovering motionless over the screen for a long time.

Again and again, Ethan's voice echoed in her mind-

"People like him need to learn that putting hands on you comes with a price they can't afford."

Her heart skipped. No warning, just stumbled over itself.

When she finally blinked out of her daze, she was startled to see a rough sketch of Ethan's profile taking shape on the screen. Just a few strokes, but it captured that cold elegance behind his frail exterior.

Panic flickered through her. She hit delete in a snap, clearing the screen instantly.

Then she pressed a hand to her chest, face slightly burning, and flung herself onto the bed, burying her head in the soft pillow.

Carol, snap out of it.