As the car moved steadily along the winding road, Zara's phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the screen, a smile tugging at her lips when she saw Jack's name. Without a second thought, she answered.
"Hey, Lia! I heard you made those people shut their mouths. I knew it—no one can compare to my sister!" Jack's voice came through with a mixture of pride and amusement, the tension in his tone from earlier completely forgotten.
Zara let out a small, soft laugh, pressing a hand to her forehead as she leaned back against the seat. "Brother, you're way too good at flattering me. No one can compare to you either."
Jack chuckled in return, his warmth coming through even over the phone. "I'm not flattering you! I just tell it like it is. What you did takes guts."
Zara shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Still, you're making it sound like I did something heroic."
"You did!" Jack protested, his tone turning playful again. "If I were there, I would've given them a piece of my mind, but you? You handled it like a pro. Honestly, Lia, you're wasted in that field of yours. You should be taking over the family business."
Zara rolled her eyes, a familiar warmth spreading through her chest at his praise. "Not happening. You can take care of it. I'm perfectly content with where I am."
Jack sighed dramatically. "Such a waste of talent! If you had taken over, I'd be on a permanent vacation by now."
Zara couldn't help but laugh. "You already take too many vacations!"
They shared a moment of laughter before Zara's tone shifted, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "By the way, Brother… Mr. Richard mentioned something earlier."
Jack's voice softened, his playful energy slipping away. "Hmm? What is it?"
Zara leaned back against the seat, the cityscape outside blurring as her mind focused. "He said those people didn't just cause trouble for our people—they also attacked our men. Apparently, headquarters was informed, but I haven't heard anything from you about it."
For a long moment, Jack was silent, the change in his demeanor noticeable. Zara frowned, sensing the sudden shift. "Brother?" she asked, her voice quiet, probing.
"Wait… headquarters was informed?" Jack's voice became sharp, his confusion clear. "No one told me anything about this."
Zara's brows furrowed as she pressed on. "Mr. Richard seemed pretty sure. And from the way he said it, I don't think he was lying."
A sharp exhale came from Jack's end. "If that's the case, then someone's keeping things from me."
Zara sat calmly, her mind still relaxed, knowing about her brother's strength. "Jack, this isn't just some small matter. If someone's blocking information, you need to find out why."
"Relax, Lia," Jack said, his voice turning steely, yet trying to calm her. "I'll handle it. If someone's messing around, they'll regret it." He paused, sensing her tension. "But you? You don't have to worry about it. Just enjoy the rest of your time there. I'll take care of things here."
Zara didn't press further as she knew he would take care of that, "Fine. But keep me updated."
Jack's tone lightened again, the familiar playfulness returning. "You really should've taken over the business. You're getting bossier by the day."
Zara rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a smile. "Zip it."
They shared a few more words before Zara ended the call, her thoughts swirling. As the car continued to wind its way along the road, she leaned back, her mind focused on the conversation. Something wasn't adding up. And though Jack's reassurances had calmed her for the moment, the feeling of unease lingered.
As Zara's thoughts wandered, her phone rang again. Without glancing at the screen, she answered, her voice carrying a hint of tension. "Hello? Who's this?"
A low chuckle came from the other end, deep and familiar. She raised her eyebrow slightly, then looked at the caller ID. The moment she saw the name, her face softened, a small smile tugging at her lips without her knowing. Bringing the phone back to her ear, she heard his voice again—warm and teasing.
"What do you want for lunch?" Ethan asked, his tone casual yet laced with a quiet affection.
Zara sighed, leaning back against the seat. "I don't know… Surprise me."
There was a short pause before he spoke again, his voice thoughtful. "Alright. How much longer until you get here?"
Zara turned her gaze forward. "Carter, how long will it take?" Her voice was calmer now, more at ease.
"With the way we're going, about twenty minutes. We're almost there, Miss Luna," Carter replied respectfully.
She relayed the information to Ethan.
"Good," he murmured. "I'll wait for you at the villa."
A soft hum escaped her, a quiet acknowledgment. She finally ended the call, she placed the phone beside her and turned to the window, watching the hills roll by. The city stretched below, bathed in the golden light of day.
As Carter had said, they arrived at the villa shortly. Stepping into the living room, Zara's gaze fell on Ethan, who was already making his way toward her. His steps seemed a little hurried—or at least that's how it felt to her—but the warmth in his smile softened any tension she felt.
She instinctively slowed down, her heart settling as Ethan stopped in front of her. Without a word, he gently took her hand, his touch steady yet careful, and led her toward the tea table. He poured her a glass of water, his movements smooth and deliberate, before glancing at her.
"Do you want to freshen up first?" he asked, his voice soft yet firm as he handed her the glass.
Zara accepted it with a small nod. "Thank you," she murmured before taking a sip.
Ethan nodded slightly, watching her in silence, as if studying every little detail—her posture, the way she held the glass, the quiet rise and fall of her breath. He didn't say anything, but his presence alone felt grounding.
As she lowered the glass, Ethan reached out and took it from her before she could set it down, placing it on the table himself. The simple gesture sent an unexpected warmth through her, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met.
"I'll freshen up," Zara said, her voice softer than she intended.
Ethan held his gaze for a second before nodding. Without looking away, he called a servant over. "Prepare the bath."
The servant bowed and hurried off, and Zara took a small step back. "Thanks," she said quietly before turning toward the stairs.
Ethan didn't respond immediately. He just watched her—his eyes following her every step, as if memorizing the way she moved. He only looked away when her silhouette disappeared behind the upper landing. The warmth in his expression faded almost instantly, replaced by his usual unreadable calm.
He turned to the butler. "Speed up the lunch."
Without another word, he settled on the couch, his fingers effortlessly flipping through the documents in front of him. Carter and David stood behind him, silent.