C6 Chapter 6

Ethan’s POV

After the funeral, I thought I was done with Scarlett. At least for now.

Seeing her again after ten years had stirred something in me, something I had long buried. I had convinced myself that this would be our final interaction, that once the funeral was over, we would return to being strangers.

But I was wrong.

Barely an hour had passed since I returned to the office when my phone rang. Scarlett’s name flashed across the screen.

I hesitated.

I should ignore it. I should let it go.

But I didn’t.

I picked up. “Scarlett?”

Her voice was weak, barely above a whisper. “Ethan… I—I slipped in the bathroom.”

I sat up straighter, a sudden wave of concern washing over me. “What? Are you hurt?”

“I… I don’t know. My ankle… I think I twisted it,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I was alone, and you were the first person I thought of.”

Something in my chest tightened. The way she said it, so small, so fragile—it awakened something in me. Something old, something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in years.

“I’m coming,” I said, not even thinking.

I grabbed my keys and headed out, ignoring the nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me this was a mistake.

The hotel suite was pristine, elegant, expensive—everything about it screamed luxury. But I barely noticed any of it.

My eyes were fixed on Scarlett, sitting on the floor near the bathroom doorway, her long hair falling over her shoulders, her face contorted in pain.

I was at her side in seconds. “Scarlett, let me see.”

She tried to smile, though it was weak. “You didn’t have to come so fast.”

But I had.

I crouched beside her, carefully lifting her ankle. It wasn’t swollen. “It doesn’t look broken, but I’m not taking chances. You need to get checked.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to trouble you—”

“Come on,” I interrupted, scooping her into my arms.

Her hands clung to my shoulders, and for a moment, it was like nothing had changed. The way she fit against me, the way she trusted me to carry her—it was too familiar. Too easy.

Too much like the past I had lost.

I carried her to the car in silence, pushing aside the thoughts clawing at the back of my mind.

I had missed her once. I couldn’t afford to lose her again.

The hospital room was sterile, bright, and smelled faintly of antiseptic.

The doctor confirmed what I had suspected—a mild sprain. Nothing serious. She’d be fine with rest.

Relief flooded me, but so did something else.

I had rushed here like it was life or death. Like I hadn’t had a single doubt about dropping everything for her.

Back in her hospital room, Scarlett leaned back against the pillows, watching me with careful eyes.

“I’m sorry for calling you like that,” she murmured. “I didn’t want to get you in trouble. You were just… the only person I thought of in an emergency.”

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

I exhaled. “It’s fine, Scarlett.”

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Katelyn. I didn’t pick it up in the first time. But soon after a few seconds, she called again. Same old questions, “Where was I?”

I couldn’t focus on her right now. I lied to her that I was at the office. For now, I had to focus on Scarlett.

Scarlett noticed my behavior and asked hesitantly, “That was Katelyn on the phone earlier, wasn’t it?”

I stiffened.

Scarlett smiled, though there was a knowing sadness in her eyes. “It’s okay. I know she’s upset that I’m back. She’s nervous about where you are, about me.”

I didn’t say anything.

“She was really cruel at the funeral,” Scarlett continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I understand that she feels threatened, but I didn’t come back to hurt her.”

I frowned. Katelyn had been cold earlier as well. But why was she so pissed all the time, it went over my head.

Scarlett sighed, looking down at her hands. “I would never try to break up your family, Ethan. I never meant for things to turn out this way.”

I studied her. She sounded so sincere, so regretful.

So different from the way Katelyn had spoken to me lately—always distant, always defensive.

Scarlett reached for my hand, her fingers barely brushing against mine. “Do you… regret how things turned out?”

I swallowed.

Before I could reply, a sharp vibration broke through the tension. My phone.

I expected Katelyn’s name.

But it wasn’t.

It was Beta Allen.

I frowned and unlocked my phone, reading the message.

Katelyn and Lucas were in a car accident. Lucas is in surgery. She’s been trying to reach you.

My stomach dropped.

The air in the room suddenly felt too thick.

Scarlett noticed my shift in expression. “Ethan? What is it?”

I shoved my phone into my pocket, trying to steady my breathing.

Nothing. It’s nothing.

But it wasn’t nothing.

My wife and son had been in an accident. And I had been here.

With Scarlett.

The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth. This might not be because of love， something more like instinctive, but I suddenly felt a pull towards to my kid, and wife, too. My legs worked on their own, and the news sent shiver through me. I had to leave.

Scarlett’s gaze searched mine. “You’re leaving?”

I forced myself to nod. “I have to.”

Her grip tightened around my wrist. “Ethan, wait—”

I pulled back.

Her lips parted, confusion flashing across her face. “What could be more important than—”

I cut her off. “It’s a company emergency.”

The lie came easily. Too easily.

Scarlett looked hurt, but I couldn’t help it. My body worked on its own after learning about the accident.

It was the first time I had put Scarlett second to Katelyn.

And, I didn’t have time to dwell on that.

I had to go.