Chapter 3 Ethan Cole

Elena stepped into the grand ballroom, her eyes wide with awe as the light from the massive crystal chandelier above cascaded down, shimmering like a sky full of stars. She walked slowly, absorbing the lavish space that surrounded her, overwhelmed by its opulence. But all of it quickly faded into the background when she looked up, her gaze settling on a point above on the second-floor balcony.

Standing at the railing was a tall man, his hand resting casually on the banister, his sharp gaze locked on her. Elena froze, breath catching as his cold, gray eyes met hers. It was Ethan Cole.

He didn't need any other expression beyond that deep, unreadable look, yet his eyes alone were enough to make her feel as if she'd been swept into an unescapable storm. His lips curved into a faint, mysterious smile, as if he'd uncovered a secret known only to him.

Elena swallowed, her heart pounding, unable to tear her gaze away from him. The man exuded a commanding, almost unreachable presence that was somehow impossibly captivating, making her feel like a mere spark under his intense stare. And yet, in that moment, she couldn't deny the strange and powerful pull he had over her.

Almost as if sensing her unwavering attention, Ethan turned away, retreating into the shadows inside, leaving Elena with a strange sense of loss she couldn't quite place. The moment was fleeting, but the feeling lingered, etching itself into her mind in an inexplicable way.

"Elena..." Lily's voice rang beside her, pulling her abruptly back to reality.

Startled, Elena looked over to find her friend grinning, her expression playful. Lily handed her a soft pink cocktail, raising an eyebrow with a look of mischievous curiosity.

"What were you staring at so intently?"

"Nothing," Elena replied quickly, trying to mask her fluster, as she took the cocktail from Lily's hand. She forced a smile, but she couldn't completely hide the dazed look still lingering in her eyes.

Lily squinted, giving her a knowing look. She took a slow sip from her own drink, her eyes twinkling as if she had a pretty good idea whom Elena had been looking at.

"Are you sure about that?"

Elena sighed, not ready to admit to the flutter she'd just felt. She lowered her head, pretending to focus on her drink, taking a small sip. The sweet, cool taste touched her tongue, but it wasn't enough to calm the wild beating of her heart.

"Oh, come on." Lily laughed, shaking her head.

"You can't fool me. You looked like you'd just seen a prince or something."

Elena laughed, shaking her head, determined to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Lily, tonight is your night. Look around; how could I not be dazzled by all this?"

The evening had unfolded into a dazzling, almost surreal scene, the ballroom now alive with soft music and a radiant anticipation as guests began gathering on the dance floor. The air shimmered with excitement, and when the orchestra struck the first note of the evening's dance, Elena felt herself caught in the magic of it all. But just as she took it all in, an inexplicable hush fell over the room, followed by soft, admiring murmurs.

Ethan Cole had entered.

The effect was immediate, like a ripple through the crowd, as every head turned to watch him stride in with that calm, self-assured grace. He carried himself as though he were royalty, a prince stepping into his own court, his gaze unfazed by the stares of admiration and envy around him.

Elena felt the pull-an unsettling but undeniable attraction that she could hardly ignore. She watched him as he moved through the sea of guests, every step confident, each movement magnetic.

Lily, who had been beside Elena, nudged her lightly, her voice low and amused.

"That's my brother, Ethan Cole," she murmured, her tone tinged with a mixture of fondness and exasperation.

"He may look the part, but trust me, he's far from a prince in reality. He's as blunt as they come, so do yourself a favor and avoid getting too close."

Elena nodded, attempting to steady herself, yet her heartbeat betrayed her. She wanted to look away, to follow Lily's warning, but her heart seemed to have a mind of its own, fluttering with each glance she stole in Ethan's direction.

But her silent hope to remain unnoticed was dashed when Ethan's gaze swept over to where she stood. His eyes lit with mild curiosity, and he approached them, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips as he stopped beside them.

"Lily," he greeted his sister with a nod, then his eyes shifted to Elena, his gaze sharpening with a glint of interest. "And who might this be?"

Lily rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a grin.

"This is Elena Hart, my newest friend." She gave him a warning look. "Be nice."

Elena managed a polite smile, her palms damp with nerves as Ethan's intense gaze stayed on her.

"Nice to meet you, Ethan," she said, forcing herself to sound composed.

Ethan inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he observed her.

"Elena," he repeated, the way her name rolled off his tongue sending an inexplicable thrill through her.

Then, as if the decision was made, he extended a hand towards her, his voice smooth and steady. "Would you care to dance?"

The invitation took her off guard, and she hesitated, noticing the envious glances from women nearby who looked on, some whispering behind gloved hands, clearly dismayed that he'd chosen a newcomer over them.

Feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation, Elena looked to Lily, who shrugged and mouthed, "Go on!"

Elena took his hand, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor, her heart pounding as the orchestra resumed, playing a gentle waltz. Ethan's hand was warm, steady as he placed it on the small of her back, his touch both electrifying and reassuring. As they moved in sync with the music, Elena felt herself sink into the rhythm of the dance, yet her nerves betrayed her as her foot accidentally caught his.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she stammered, flustered and feeling entirely out of her depth.

Ethan merely chuckled, his voice rich and low. "You're doing just fine," he assured her, guiding her with ease. "It's all about trusting your partner."

Elena tried to focus, but with each step, she found herself tripping, apologizing each time, her cheeks growing warmer with embarrassment. Yet Ethan remained patient, his hand firm on her back, steadying her.

"Does it get tiring, being friends with Lily?" he asked suddenly, a playful glint in his eyes.

Elena's lips curled into a small smile, the tension easing a little.

"Not at all," she replied, meeting his gaze.

"Lily's... well, she's wonderful. Always knows how to make me laugh, even when I don't feel like it."

He raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Is that so?" he murmured, his tone soft, almost thoughtful.His gaze lingered on her, and Elena felt as if he were trying to see beneath the surface, to catch a glimpse of whatever it was that had made Lily bring her into their world.

They danced in silence for a moment, the ballroom around them fading as they moved in their own quiet rhythm. She felt herself drawn into his presence, as though he were the only other person in the room, an anchor amidst the sea of glamour and whispers.

Elena mustered her courage and spoke up, her voice tentative.

"It must be... interesting, having all this," she gestured faintly, encompassing the grandness of the room, the wealth that surrounded them, and the weight of expectation it carried.

"I mean, this life."

Ethan's smile turned wry, as if he saw right through her polite words.

"Interesting, yes," he replied.

"But there's more to it than meets the eye."

His tone carried an edge, and she sensed something beneath his words-a hint of resignation, perhaps even disdain for the very world in which he moved with such ease. It left her curious, intrigued by the contradiction she saw in him.

The music slowed, and as the final notes faded, they stopped in the center of the dance floor. Ethan didn't let go of her hand immediately, his gaze holding hers a moment longer, and Elena felt a surge of warmth under the intensity of his eyes.

"Thank you for the dance," he said, releasing her hand with a polite nod, yet his eyes lingered, as though he had more to say but chose instead to hold back.

Elena barely managed a response, still reeling from the unexpected depth of the encounter. He turned and left, leaving her alone on the dance floor, the lingering heat of his touch still vivid against her back. She returned to the sidelines, where Lily was waiting, her grin knowing and bright.

"So? Lily asked, nudging her teasingly. "Did he behave?"

Elena flustered, her cheeks still flushed."I think so."

Lily chuckled and said: "Ethan's not exactly the smoothest talker. If he was polite, that's a miracle."