86| New Beginnings

Ethan had never experienced so much joy as he had these past few weeks.

Well... he had never really allowed himself to.

But even if he had tried back then, he wouldn't have known what to be happy about.

Now, everything was different.

Sophie and Lily were working tirelessly on their flower association campaign, and somehow, Ethan had ended up helping in unexpected ways.

One day, he was the designated driver.

The next, he was ferrying flower arrangements and supplies to different locations when Sophie was caught up with other tasks.

How did she do it all?

He had no idea how she managed to juggle so many things at once, and yet, she made it look effortless.

And then—because he was clearly out of his mind—

He had stupidly taken on the task of teaching Lily to drive.

At first, he figured it would be easy.

He had handled boardrooms full of intimidating businessmen. High-stakes negotiations. He had been through a childhood of cold discipline and impossible expectations.

But none of that prepared him for Lily behind the wheel.

Her wild turns and near-misses had him gripping the dashboard for dear life, barely hanging on as she somehow made the simplest drive feel like a high-speed chase.

At this point, he wasn't even sure how driving examiners survived in a car with her.

And if—by some miracle—she ever passed that test?

He was still never getting into a car she was driving.

Outside of his near-death experiences with Lily, Ethan had also been spending more time with David.

David was... well, David. Adventurous. Wild. Recklessly wealthy.

His energy was something Ethan couldn't fully understand.

What he really didn't understand was how he kept letting David drag him into things he never would have pursued on his own.

One weekend, they were off on a private jet to Monaco for a night of high-stakes poker—because, according to David, it was a "one-of-a-kind experience."

The next? A helicopter ride over the Swiss Alps.

There were exotic car races, exclusive vineyard tours, and impulsive weekend trips to tropical islands.

Ethan had to admit—it was fun.

For the first time in his life, he was actually doing something for himself.

But still, even in the midst of all the luxury and adrenaline, he realized something:

His happiest moments weren't found in private jets or high-stakes games.

They were with Sophie.

Whenever he could join David, he genuinely laughed and unwound.

But thrill-seeking? That wasn't what he needed.

What he kept doing, however, was attending his regular therapy sessions.

He wanted to be better.

For himself.

For Sophie.

It wasn't easy, getting out of that self-deprecating mindset.

But he was fighting it head-on, instead of running away.

And now—

Now, he could finally be himself.

A version of himself he hadn't even realized had been missing.

Ethan unlocked the door to the house, stepping inside with a quiet sigh.

It was late—later than usual.

He had spent the evening with David, discussing a new business venture. David had asked for his professional advice, and after everything his friend had done for him, Ethan had been happy to help.

But why did it excite him?

That familiar rush, the sharp focus, the problem-solving—it had been a long time since he felt that.

Shrugging off the thought, he toed off his shoes and set down his keys.

"Ethan?"

Sophie's voice drifted from upstairs.

He turned toward the staircase and found her leaning over the banister, smiling down at him.

"You're home!" she said, warmth and welcome woven into every syllable.

And just like that, the exhaustion of the day faded.

Because that was something he would never take for granted—

Coming home to someone waiting for him.

Someone happy to see him.

He exhaled softly, smiling up at her. "I'm home."

And as he moved toward the stairs, she met him at the top, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace.

Ethan leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

Sophie chuckled, pulling back slightly. "Scotch?" she teased, catching the familiar scent on his breath.

"David again, huh? Let me guess—he made you drink?"

Ethan grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Just one drink... to celebrate his latest idea."

Then he smirked. "But you know David—'one drink' never actually means one drink."

Once they were in their bedroom, Ethan changed out of his clothes, still lost in thought.

His meeting with David ran through his mind.

It was supposed to be confidential, but somehow, he found himself telling Sophie everything.

Oh, how he loved talking to her.

Maybe only to her.

People always assumed he was quiet, reserved, unreadable. But with Sophie? He couldn't shut up.

As he spoke, there was a light in his eyes, a natural excitement that he didn't even seem to notice.

But Sophie did.

Maybe Ethan already knew what his passion was.

Maybe he just needed time to let it sink in.

As they lay in bed, Sophie felt a gentle tug at her heart.

She didn't want to press him.

But she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Ethan," she began softly.

He turned to her, intrigued, but sensing something serious. "What is it?"

Sophie hesitated, then gathered her courage.

"Your mom called. Evelyn."

His expression didn't change, but she could feel the way his body stilled beside her.

"She didn't say it outright, but... Ethan, I think she wants to see you."

A long silence stretched between them.

Ethan stared at the ceiling, his jaw tight, processing.

Sophie watched him carefully, her heart heavy.

She reached for his hand, gently lacing her fingers through his.

"If you're not ready, that's okay. You don't have to go."

For a moment, he didn't respond.

Then, he turned to her, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.

"Let's meet her."

His voice was calm. Resolute.

Sophie blinked, surprised. "Are you sure?"

Ethan nodded, a small but confident smile tugging at his lips.

"I am." His thumb brushed over the back of her hand. "But... let's meet her together."

Sophie's heart swelled.

Her worry melted away as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

********

The next day, Sophie and Ethan met Evelyn at a quiet café on the outskirts of town.

She was already seated when they arrived, dressed elegantly in a deep purple gown, adorned with her usual jewelry.

But something was different.

Even Ethan could see it.

She wore dark glasses, shielding her eyes.

She never wore glasses unless absolutely necessary.

And now?

She was wearing them when there was no sunlight.

As they approached, Evelyn slowly removed her glasses, revealing faint shadows beneath her eyes—and the telltale redness around them.

Like she had been crying.

She looked tired. Worn down in a way Ethan had never seen before.

And even though he had told himself he was cutting ties—that he was done—

That stupid tugging in his heart wouldn't let go.

Beside him, Sophie noticed it too.

He could feel the way her posture shifted, could see the flicker of concern in her eyes.

They exchanged polite greetings, and Sophie filled the silence with small talk.

Ethan was grateful for her.

Because he had no idea what to say.

Finally, Evelyn broke the quiet, her gaze steady on Ethan.

"Ethan," she said softly. "The company is yours."

That was the last thing he expected.

Ethan's brow furrowed. "What? What do you mean?"

Evelyn took a breath, her voice even, but heavy with something unspoken.

"Your father and I have come to an agreement. He's stepping down. Resigning."

She folded her hands in her lap. "What you decide to do with it—it's entirely up to you. Keep it. Sell it. Abandon it, if you wish. No one will fault you for your choice."

Ethan stared at her.

For a moment, he thought he misheard.

His father? Stepping down?

A man who had spent his entire life controlling that empire, who had valued the company above everything—including his own family?

Giving it up now?

Surrendering it to him?

It didn't make sense.

Evelyn's gaze softened.

"I know there's nothing I can say to excuse the kind of mother I was to you," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

"But please... let me make this right."

Her fingers clenched against the table, as if she was afraid to say the next words.

"You don't have to come back to the house. You don't even have to see me again, if you don't want to."

Her eyes met his, full of quiet pain.

"I'll understand. I won't blame you."

Ethan's chest tightened.

He didn't hate his mother.

That was the thing.

His expression shifted, his brows creasing as Evelyn's voice softened even further—

As if she was about to say something she had never said before.

As if she was about to say something she had never said before.

Evelyn took a slow, unsteady breath.

"I only wanted you to know that... I've always loved you, Ethan."

Her voice was quiet but heavy, carrying a weight she had held for far too long.

"You're my son. My only child. And loving you... it came as easily as breathing."

Ethan didn't move. He just listened.

Her gaze dropped for a moment, as if bracing herself, before she met his eyes once more.

"The truth is, I never really knew what love was until you were born."

She swallowed, her hands trembling slightly.

"I come from a family that didn't understand love."

She said it simply, but the pain beneath it was sharp.

"My father sold me to the highest bidder. My mother resented me. And your father... he was no different."

A bitter smile flickered on her lips before it disappeared.

"But then there was you."

She exhaled softly, as if recalling a memory that had once been a lifeline.

"I didn't know what that feeling was—the warmth I felt when I held you in my arms. I didn't recognize it, didn't understand it. But I knew... you were the only thing that ever truly belonged to me."

Sophie watched Evelyn, her own eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears.

Evelyn continued, her voice growing shakier.

"Your father's family isolated me. They cut me off from you so they could mold you into who they wanted."

She swallowed hard, the first tear slipping down her cheek.

"They trained you, tried to shape you. And I fought—God, I fought to at least have you near me. Even if I couldn't raise you the way I wanted."

Her lips quivered, the regret in her expression unbearable to witness.

"It doesn't excuse anything. I know that."

Her hands clenched slightly against the table.

"But I wanted you to know... I always regretted not taking you and running away that day we left."

Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.

That day.

The one day he had felt like maybe—just maybe—she had chosen him.

Evelyn inhaled shakily.

"I thought about it. I wanted to believe we could start fresh, the two of us."

A single tear dripped onto the table.

"But I wasn't strong enough."

Her voice broke.

"I knew your father would never let me take you. So I stayed. And I have regretted it every single day since."

Evelyn's hands trembled as she reached across the table, stopping just short of touching Ethan's hand.

The distance between them was small, just inches.

But the weight of it?

It was years. Decades. A lifetime.

Sophie's heart ached as she watched Evelyn hesitate—hovering on the edge of a touch she seemed desperate for but too afraid to take.

And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Evelyn's last words cracked open the silence.

"I'm sorry, Ethan."

Her fingers curled slightly, retreating just a fraction.

"I know it's too little, too late."

Sophie felt her own tears brimming, watching the two of them try to bridge the painful distance of so many years.

She could see how deeply Evelyn's remorse ran.

And she could see Ethan taking it all in, his mind working through a vulnerability in his mother he had never witnessed before.

It was uncharted territory—for both of them.

Ethan's mind drifted back to his childhood, to memories he had worked hard to bury.

He remembered the countless times he had asked about his mother, only to be met with dismissive answers.

"She's too busy."

"She's away on business."

And yet, behind closed doors, he had heard the whispers.

Servants muttering under their breath. Hushed voices.

"She doesn't want to see him."

But when she did come to him—when they had those rare, fleeting moments together—

He would cling to her, desperate, as if she might vanish at any second.

Because she always did.

She would play with him, kiss him, hold him, and for a brief moment, he would feel like the luckiest kid in the world.

But just as quickly as she appeared—

She was gone.

For weeks. Months.

One day, when he was still young enough to believe in hope, he had finally asked his father.

"Why does Mom leave so much?"

He had been hoping for reassurance.

Instead, his father had looked at him with pure disgust.

That was the moment Ethan stopped asking.

By the time his mother started appearing more regularly during his high school years,

He had already learned to keep his distance.

A long silence stretched between them.

Ethan's fingers tightened slightly around his glass.

Then—he spoke.

His voice was soft, but heavy with the weight of years of unspoken emotion.

"Mom... can I call you 'Mom'?"

The word felt strange on his tongue.

But also comforting.

A title he had longed to say with affection.

Such a simple word.

And yet—he had never used it before.

Evelyn's face broke into a bittersweet smile.

Fresh tears slid down her cheeks.

She nodded, her voice thick with emotion.

"Of course, dear."

A soft, watery laugh escaped her.

"It would make me the happiest woman in the world."

They didn't rush through dinner.

For the first time in years, they simply talked.

And when it was time to leave, Ethan went ahead to bring the car around.

That left Sophie and Evelyn standing outside, sharing a quiet moment.

Sophie turned to her, then—on instinct—wrapped her arms around Evelyn, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Thank you, Evelyn."

Her voice wavered, thick with emotion.

"You have no idea what this means to him."

Evelyn held onto Sophie just as tightly, her voice no more than a murmur.

"No, thank you, Sophie."

She pulled back slightly, blinking away her tears.

"I never dreamed of a day like this. And it's all because of you."

As they stepped apart, Sophie hesitated.

Then, carefully, she asked—

"Do you think Ethan should go back to the company?"

Evelyn's expression shifted, something complicated flickering in her gaze.

"I know he has so many ideas... he wants to make it something entirely different from his father's legacy."

A sigh left Evelyn's lips.

Her voice was quieter now.

"I hope he chooses to."

Then, after a pause—

"His father... we came to an agreement."

Her hands tightened slightly around her purse.

"I'm so sorry for what he did to you, Sophie."

Her voice broke.

"If he knows what's good for him, he'll never return."

Sophie's stomach tightened.

The PR team would announce his retirement soon.

Which meant Ethan had the freedom to do whatever he wished.

But... something about Evelyn's tone.

The weight behind her words.

Sophie hesitated.

Then, gently—"Are you... are you okay with staying with him?"

Evelyn opened her mouth.

For a second, it looked like she might answer.

But before she could—

Ethan pulled up to the curb.

He stepped out, looking between the two of them with a soft smile.

"Mom, are you sure you don't want us to drive you home?"

His voice was warm.

New.

Evelyn shook her head, smiling.

"It's alright, son. The driver is already waiting."

She hesitated, just for a second.

Then, with quiet sincerity—

"Just... drive safe, okay?"

Ethan nodded. "Goodnight, Mom."

Sophie gave her a gentle smile.

"Goodnight, Evelyn."

Evelyn waved, her face alight with a quiet joy as she watched them climb into the car together.

As she turned to leave, a bittersweet peace settled in her heart.

Maybe she would never get back all the years she had lost.

But tonight—she had gotten something back.

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