Sophia Sullivan lifted her gaze to meet Ethan Sullivan's eyes.
His expression remained composed.
She had just handed him poison.
Yet he showed neither rage nor threats.
The aristocratic composure never wavered.
A rare flicker of curiosity stirred within her.
"We're both intelligent people," she stated plainly.
"Let's pretend tonight never happened."
Rain pattered against leaves outside the cave.
The rhythmic sound lulled the senses.
Bitter cold seeped through the damp air.
Sophia pulled her jacket tighter and moved closer to the fire.
Ethan noticed her still-drenched blouse clinging to her skin.
Memories of their entangled night surfaced unbidden.
An inexplicable irritation prickled his chest.
"...Of course. As if it never happened."
He'd expected at least some mention of that evening.
Yet she dismissed it entirely.
The stack of bills on his bedside table flashed through his mind.
This woman's audacity knew no bounds.
His eyes darkened as he opened his mouth to speak.
But Sophia had already slumped against the cave wall, asleep.
Her rest seemed troubled.
Perhaps the lingering adrenaline from life-or-death combat.
Perhaps the bone-deep chill.
Her dreams dragged her back to that night of fleeing assassins.
Of barely escaping death alongside that young man.
A nightmare gripped her.
She curled inward unconsciously.
Then warmth enveloped her.
Gentle fingers smoothed her furrowed brow.
The familiar, steady presence soothed her.
Half-asleep, she nuzzled toward the heat source.
Her tension melted as she sank into deeper slumber.
Dawn light filtered into the cave.
Sophia blinked awake, disoriented.
Her movement sent Ethan's jacket sliding to the ground.
The man himself leaned against the cave entrance.
His broad shoulders blocked the morning wind.
Complex emotions tangled in her chest.
The rain had stopped outside.
She rose quietly, intending to make a call.
Then noticed the unnatural flush on Ethan's face.
"You're burning up." She nudged his shoulder.
Injured and exposed to the cold all night.
Infection would complicate things.
"Perhaps." Ethan's bloodshot eyes opened.
His voice came out hoarse, skin radiating heat.
Sophia frowned, turning to fetch water when—
"There! The cave! The girl's there!" Benjamin York's booming voice echoed.
The spry old man nearly tripped over brambles in his haste.
Seeing them unharmed, his eyes grew suspiciously bright.
"Thank heavens! When you didn't return last night, I gathered search parties."
"The mountains were covered in blood!" His voice cracked with emotion.
Anger quickly overtook relief.
"The police caught an armed suspect unconscious."
"That bastard escaped custody! Absolute lunatic targeting random victims!"
Sophia didn't want to prolong his distress.
Especially when she spotted him discreetly wiping his eyes.
"Sorry about the bamboo shoots you dried. We lost them all."
Ethan shouldered responsibility as well.
"This was my fault. Ms. Sullivan got caught in the crossfire."
"I'll compensate—"
"Compensate nothing!" Benjamin pulled them into a tearful embrace.
His throat tightened seeing their injuries.
"Who cares about bamboo shoots? Your safety is what matters!"