Images from that night on the Royal Princess Cruise flashed through Ethan Sullivan's mind.
Sophia Sullivan straddling him.
Her voice icy yet commanding.
"I want to be on top."
That night, he'd been completely at her mercy.
His body set ablaze.
Every ounce of pleasure surrendered to her control.
Letting her guide him to ecstasy's peak.
That bone-deep thrill.
Unforgettable even now.
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed.
Yet he restrained himself and pushed Sophia away.
"Nothing particularly special."
He took two steps back.
Composing himself with practiced calm.
"Just joking. Hope you don't mind, Ms. Sullivan."
Sophia slowly withdrew her hand from his waist.
"Don't worry, Mr. Sullivan," she said smoothly. "I know how to keep secrets."
"Though this really isn't a big deal."
"Personal preferences between consenting adults."
"As long as no one gets hurt, who dares gossip?"
The weight on Ethan's shoulders was crushing.
Without proper release.
Anyone would crack under such pressure.
Sophia thought he'd held up remarkably well.
Living in that vipers' nest.
Constantly schemed against.
Yet keeping even his smallest quirks.
Locked away so tightly.
A terrifying level of self-discipline.
Compared to those lecherous CEOs with beer bellies.
Ethan was practically a saint.
"So Mr. Sullivan, just be yourself."
"Stop being so repressed."
Ethan froze at her words.
His pulse suddenly racing.
He couldn't identify this unfamiliar emotion.
No one had ever told him to just be himself before.
Others either flattered.
Or scorned.
Or calculated how to exploit his preferences.
For their own gain.
But Sophia was different.
Simply telling him not to suppress himself.
Such rare consideration.
Yet personal matters aside.
Sophia's presence here remained suspicious.
Ethan collected his thoughts and met her gaze.
"You didn't just happen to pass by, did you, Ms. Sullivan?"
"From agreeing to come to the Sullivan estate."
"Even joining the company."
"Are you searching for something?"
He cut straight to the point.
No beating around the bush.
Sophia's lips quirked.
Of course he wasn't fooled.
Why hadn't her distraction worked?
He'd still circled back to this.
Ethan had always been sharp.
Sophia knew she couldn't hide it forever.
Lying wasn't her style anyway.
"Mr. Sullivan doesn't seem surprised," she countered.
"You knew all along."
"If you realized from the start."
"Why give me the opportunity?"
"Because I trusted you."
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"Believed you meant no harm."
His expression remained cool.
"Besides, as we just agreed."
"We're friends, aren't we?"
The phrasing was familiar indeed.
Ethan clearly valued that word—friends.
Sophia smiled.
"Of course, we're friends."
No more games now.
She stated her purpose plainly.
"I came to A-City to find my mother."
"The trail led to the Sullivans."
"I'm certain now."
"My mother knew both Mrs. Sullivan and the Dowager."
"That woman in white from the photograph outside."
"She's my mother."