It was not a question.
“Yes.”
Sophia nodded.
“Good.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You keep saying things I don’t expect.”
“I had ten years to improve.”
“Debatable.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“Ethan.”
“Yeah?”
“I still love you.”
His breathing changed.
Sophia continued before he could answer.
“I know I have no right to drop that here and expect anything.”
“I’m not asking you to say it back.”
“I just…”
She looked suddenly vulnerable.
“I lied to you by disappearing.”
“I lied to myself afterward.”
“I’m done doing both.”
Ethan stared at her.
He had once imagined hearing those words.
Dreamed about them.
Hated himself for wanting them.
Now they arrived inside a garage smelling like oil and rubber while fluorescent lights hummed overhead.
Not romantic.
Perfect somehow.
“I don’t know what I feel,” he said honestly.
Sophia nodded.
“That’s fair.”
“I’m angry.”
“I know.”
“I understand why you did it.”
“But understanding doesn’t erase it.”
“I know.”
“I loved Hannah.”
“I know.”
“I still miss her.”
“I know.”
“And part of me…”
His voice broke slightly.
“…still remembers exactly how it felt when you left.”
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
He looked at their joined hands.
“But another part of me saw you yesterday and…”
He stopped.
Sophia waited.
Ethan laughed weakly.
“Damn it.”
“What?”
“I was happy.”
A tear escaped her.
She smiled.
“So was I.”
He looked at her.
Neither moved.
Then the office door opened.
Lily walked in carrying two pizza boxes.
“Aunt Melissa said—”
She stopped.
Looked at their hands.
Then their faces.
Her eyes widened dramatically.
Ethan released Sophia immediately.
Lily stared.
“Interesting.”
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“Definitely.”
Sophia laughed.
Lily placed the pizzas down.
“You staying?”
She asked Sophia directly.
Sophia glanced toward Ethan.
“I don’t know.”
Lily looked at her father.
“Dad?”
Ethan sighed.
“For pizza.”
Lily nodded.
“Good.”
She opened the first box.
“Pepperoni.”
Sophia removed her expensive coat.
Rolled up her sleeves.
Sat on the battered office couch.
Lily handed her a paper plate.
No ceremony.
No class difference.
No ten-year history.
Just pizza.
For the first time in a decade, Sophia Laurent ate dinner beside Ethan Cole without someone deciding for them what tomorrow had to be.
The next morning, federal investigators entered Laurent Industries.
By afternoon, financial regulators froze several accounts.
By evening, news stations reported that Chairman Charles Laurent had stepped aside pending investigation into historic overseas contracting practices.
Sophia’s face appeared everywhere.
Reporters surrounded company headquarters.