Chapter 3 3

Sophia's hands trembled as she flipped through the pages of the file. Every piece of paper told a story Elliot hadn't dared to share. There were emails between Ethan and Elliot dated years after their supposed fallout in college, ones where the tone oscillated between fury and something dangerously close to yearning. There were photographs-grainy images taken at various charity events and high-end galas where Ethan lingered at the edges of Elliot's world, never quite stepping out of the shadows.

And then there was the contract.

Her breath hitched as she pulled it out, the legal jargon swimming before her eyes. The header read: Non-Disclosure and Severance Agreement. Ethan Lane's signature was scrawled at the bottom alongside Elliot's. It didn't take a legal expert to deduce what had happened-Elliot had paid Ethan to disappear from his life.

Her stomach churned. Elliot had gone to great lengths to bury this part of himself. But why? Was it simply because of his obsession with control, with curating a life that fit the image he wanted the world to see? Or was there more to the story-something darker, something that might explain the tension she'd felt radiating between him and Ethan at the gala?

The sound of the elevator pinging jolted her out of her thoughts. Her heart leaped into her throat as she scrambled to put the papers back in the folder. She shoved it into a drawer just as Elliot's footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Sophia?" His voice was sharp, and she could hear the edge of suspicion in it.

She wheeled herself away from the desk, her pulse racing. "I'm in here."

He appeared in the doorway a moment later, his expression unreadable. He had changed out of his usual tailored suit into a simple black sweater and jeans, but the casual attire did nothing to soften the intensity of his gaze.

"What are you doing in my study?" he asked, his voice cool.

Sophia forced herself to meet his eyes. "Looking for a pen. I wanted to write something down before I forgot."

His eyes flicked to the desk, and for a moment, she thought he might call her bluff. But then he nodded, his expression relaxing slightly. "Next time, ask me. There are pens in the kitchen drawer."

She nodded, forcing a tight smile. "Of course."

Elliot's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as if he could sense the tension humming beneath her calm facade. But then he turned away, walking to the bar to pour himself a drink.

"You seemed cozy with Ethan last night," he said, his tone deceptively light.

Sophia's hands clenched on the arms of her chair. "We were just talking."

"Talking," he repeated, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "That's what he's good at. Charming people. Making them feel special."

She frowned. "Why do you hate him so much?"

Elliot turned to her, his eyes blazing. "You don't know him like I do. He's manipulative, self-serving, and dangerous."

Sophia's breath caught. "Dangerous? How?"

Elliot looked away, his jaw tightening. "It doesn't matter. I've dealt with it."

She rolled closer to him, her voice softening. "You paid him off, didn't you?"

His head snapped toward her, his expression icy. "What did you just say?"

"You think I don't know, Elliot? I saw the file. The contract. You didn't just walk away from Ethan-you forced him out of your life. Why?"

His hand tightened around the glass, and for a moment, she thought he might throw it. But then he exhaled sharply, setting it down on the bar with a clatter.

"You don't understand," he said, his voice low and filled with something that sounded almost like pain. "Ethan... he had a way of getting under my skin. Of making me question everything I thought I wanted. I couldn't let him derail me."

Sophia's chest tightened. "So you chose your career over him."

"I chose control," Elliot snapped. "Something you should understand. I've seen the way you fight to maintain your independence, Sophia. The way you refuse to let anyone see you as weak. Don't pretend you're any different."

Her cheeks flushed with anger. "I fight because I have to. You? You destroy people just to keep them from getting too close."

His eyes flashed with something she couldn't quite name-guilt, maybe, or regret. But he didn't deny it.

"You should stay away from Ethan," he said after a long pause. "He'll only hurt you."

Sophia stared at him, her heart aching with frustration. "Maybe I should be more worried about you hurting me."

Elliot's face hardened, and he turned away, signaling the end of the conversation.

The next day, Sophia couldn't shake the weight of her discovery. Elliot's words played over and over in her mind, but they only raised more questions. What had Ethan done to make Elliot view him as such a threat? And why did Elliot's anger seem to be masking something deeper-something closer to fear?

Determined to find answers, Sophia reached out to Ethan. She sent a message through his art gallery's website, under the guise of wanting to purchase one of his paintings. It was a flimsy excuse, but it worked. A few hours later, she received a reply inviting her to visit the gallery.

When she arrived, Ethan greeted her warmly, his smile as disarming as ever. "Mrs. Thorne," he said, his voice teasing. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Sophia hesitated, glancing around the gallery. It was quiet, the air filled with the faint scent of paint and varnish. "I wanted to talk," she said finally. "About Elliot."

Ethan's smile faltered, and for a moment, she saw something raw and unguarded in his eyes. "I thought you might," he said softly.

He led her to a small seating area in the back of the gallery, away from prying eyes. As they sat down, Ethan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," Sophia said, her voice steady. "Because Elliot won't tell me, and I'm tired of being in the dark."

Ethan studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Elliot and I... we were in love once," he said finally. "Or at least, I thought we were. But Elliot has always been his own worst enemy. He couldn't handle the idea of being vulnerable, of losing control. So he pushed me away."

Sophia's throat tightened. "He paid you to leave."

Ethan's smile was bitter. "Yes. And I took the money, because I thought it was the only way to save myself from him. But the truth is, I've never stopped loving him. And I don't think he's ever stopped loving me."

Sophia's heart ached at the pain in Ethan's voice, but it was overshadowed by a deeper, sharper pain. Elliot had built their marriage on a foundation of lies, and now she was left to pick up the pieces.

"What do I do?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ethan reached out, his hand covering hers. "That's something only you can decide. But whatever you choose, don't let Elliot control your life the way he controlled mine."

Sophia nodded, her mind racing. She didn't have all the answers yet, but one thing was clear: her marriage to Elliot was at a crossroads, and the next step she took could change everything.