The Light I Lost, The Love That Stayed

At the café, Adrian kept trying, subtly but persistently, to close the distance between them, only to be politely avoided by Claire.

"Mr. Cole, you're a bit too close."

A teasing smile spread across Adrian's face. "I heard you're still hung up on your ex, Ms. Sterling. Mind telling me who he is?"

That was blatantly inappropriate.

Claire frowned, about to respond, when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Sophie.

In the photo, she and Adrian appeared to be laughing in a close embrace at the café. The angle was deliberately misleading, making them look like a couple.

Another message popped up. "I heard he's your fiancé, Claire. You two look perfect together. Once Ethan sees this, he probably won't bother you anymore, right?"

She looked up sharply and saw Ethan standing by his car across the street, his gaze locked onto her, his expression dark.

The next second, he turned, got into the car, and sped off.

Ethan had waited for Claire the entire day. After everything he had done for her, she should have come back to thank him in person. He had planned to finally talk about what happened five years ago.

As long as Claire admitted her mistake, he was willing to let the past go.

But instead, he found her laughing with Adrian at a café, as if she had already lined up someone new.

Claire rushed out of the café and chased to the roadside, only to see the taillights vanish around the corner.

He had clearly misunderstood.

Inside the car, Ethan slammed his fist against the steering wheel, the horn blaring loudly.

"So she really found someone else." His voice was hoarse, almost mocking himself. "Five years without a word, and the moment she's back, she's already cozying up to an investor..."

But a voice deep inside him argued back. She had been upset over him just yesterday. How could she move on so quickly?

He took out his phone, intending to call her.

His finger hovered over the call button, but in the end, he didn't press it.

For the next three days, Ethan seemed to deliberately avoid Claire. He even brought a different secretary to business meetings.

Watching Sophie grow more smug by the day, Claire became certain that Ethan was really going to get engaged.

She had told herself countless times not to cry over him again, but her body betrayed her. A sharp, throbbing pain tightened in her chest, making it impossible not to think about him.

At that moment, Adrian's invitation interrupted her thoughts.

"Ms. Sterling, I'd like to discuss the new budget allocation in person. Maple Grove Villa in the suburbs, three in the afternoon."

She hesitated, but knowing this was a critical stage of the project, she agreed.

At three in the afternoon, the moment Claire stepped into the living room, the door was locked behind her.

The smile vanished from Adrian's face. "Ms. Sterling, my apologies."

Claire immediately sensed something was wrong and turned to run, but two men in black stepped forward and forced her into a chair.

Adrian dialed Ethan's number. "Mr. Quinn, if you want your woman to live, hand over the core access key to Quinn Group. Otherwise, she'll be nothing but ashes tonight."

Claire struggled. "Are you insane? He won't—"

Adrian lifted her chin with a faint smile. "He will."

Ethan was about to get engaged to Sophie. He wouldn't risk everything to save her. And she wasn't worth that much. Quinn Group was his life's work.

But just over ten minutes later, the roar of an engine echoed outside, and the front gate was smashed open.

Ethan charged in alone, his suit disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, looking like he was ready to kill.

"Let her go," he said, his voice low. "I'll give you the key."

Claire's breath hitched. "Are you crazy? Leave! It's a trap!"

Adrian laughed. "Do it."

Gunfire exploded.

Ethan lunged forward, shielding Claire beneath him.

Calmly, he drew the gun from behind his waist and returned fire, his other hand covering Claire's ears.

Claire clung to his chest, tears streaming down her face. It felt like the first day they met all over again, when Ethan had protected her with the same reckless abandon.

A bullet grazed Ethan's left shoulder, instantly staining his shirt red.

"Run!" he growled, shoving her toward the side door. "Fire exit!"

"I'm not leaving! We go together!"

"Go!" He shoved her out the door.

The moment she turned back, the gas line inside the villa exploded.

Flames surged into the sky.

She fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the blast wave threw him down at the doorway.

"Ethan!"