Chapter 1 A Spark in the Room

Lily Bennett was used to being in control, always the center of attention when she walked into a room. Her tall frame, dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, and the sharpness in her eyes made sure of it. She wasn't just another pretty face in the crowd-she was a force to be reckoned with.

Tonight, at the Stone family gala, it was no different. The glimmering chandeliers above her cast a soft glow on the gold-embellished walls, and the scent of expensive perfume mixed with the crisp chill of freshly poured champagne. Lily smiled, accepting a glass from a passing waiter. This was her scene-elite, powerful, and utterly predictable.

Then, she saw him.

Ethan Stone stood at the far end of the grand hall, a glass of scotch in his hand, his back turned toward her. He was different from the other men in the room. Where they were brimming with confidence, his shoulders were slightly hunched, as though carrying a burden invisible to the world.

She couldn't help but watch him.

Something about his presence piqued her curiosity. He didn't look like the usual billionaire heir. His tousled hair gave him a disheveled charm, and the sharpness in his eyes spoke of a man who had lived through more than his fair share of pain.

Lily moved towards him, almost as if pulled by some magnetic force. As she approached, Ethan turned around, his gaze locking with hers. There was a flicker of recognition, but neither of them spoke for a moment.

"Lily Bennett," she said, her voice smooth and confident as she offered him a smile. "I don't think we've met."

Ethan's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Ethan Stone," he replied, his voice low, almost guarded. "I've heard a lot about you."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's all good."

He chuckled softly. "Not sure about that."

A playful spark ignited in her eyes. She took a step closer, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Well, I can assure you, I'm more than just what they say."

Ethan's gaze softened for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure. "I don't doubt that."

They stood in silence for a while, a strange tension hanging between them. Ethan's discomfort was palpable, yet there was something magnetic about his energy that pulled Lily in. She studied him, noticing the faint lines of stress on his face, the way his hand gripped his glass a little too tightly.

"You don't seem like you belong here," Lily remarked, taking a casual sip of her champagne.

He glanced at her, then back to the crowd. "I guess you could say I'm here because I have to be, not because I want to."

Lily tilted her head. "Sounds like you're not a fan of these kinds of events."

"You could say that," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But I've learned to tolerate them."

There was something in his tone that made Lily pause, a flicker of something deeper hiding beneath the surface. She didn't want to press him further-yet something about him drew her in, something that begged to be understood.

Before she could speak again, a voice interrupted their conversation.

"Ethan!" a woman's voice purred. Ava Carter, the woman who had been circling Ethan all evening, appeared at his side. She was dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her smile dazzling and predatory.

Lily felt an odd twist of something in her stomach as she watched Ava slide her arm around Ethan's, her fingers lingering just a bit too long.

Ethan seemed to tense, his posture stiffening, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he looked at Lily with an apologetic glance.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with regret. "I... didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Lily blinked, taken aback by his sudden shift in demeanor. She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine," she said, though there was a faint bitterness in her tone. "I'll leave you two to it."

As she turned to walk away, she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder. Ethan was already lost in conversation with Ava, the chemistry between them almost palpable. But something didn't sit right with Lily.

She had a feeling that this wasn't the last time she'd cross paths with Ethan Stone.

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