Chapter 19
Ethan prepared a lavish meal.
He set the grand dining table with the finest china and crystal.
He even attempted a centerpiece with flowers from the garden.
He wanted to invite Sarah and Lily to dinner. A proper dinner.
A gesture. An offering.
His demeanor had transformed.
The demanding, arrogant CEO was gone.
Replaced by a man who was cautious, respectful. Almost … hesitant.
He found Sarah in the guest suite, reading to Lily.
“Sarah,” he began, his voice a little uncertain. “I’ve made dinner. I was
hoping … perhaps you and Lily would join me?”
Sarah looked up.
She saw the effort he had made. The hope in his eyes.
But the memories were still there.
The pain. The humiliation.
She looked away.
“Thank you, Ethan,” she said, her voice polite but cool. “But Lily needs to
rest. Perhaps another time.”
She maintained her distance. The emotional barrier was still firmly in
place.
Ethan entered her room, the one she shared with Lily now.
It was a large, comfortable suite, far from her old staff quarters.
Sarah stiffened.
“Old habits die hard?” she asked, a touch of her old bitterness creeping
into her voice. “Just walking into my room?”
Ethan flinched. He deserved that.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low. “You’re right. I … I just wanted to ask
again. About dinner.”
He looked so earnest. So … unlike the Ethan she knew.
Or thought she knew.
“My answer is the same, Ethan,” she said, her voice softening slightly
despite herself. “Lily is tired. And frankly, so am I.”
She made it clear. Her stay was temporary. For Lily.
Once Lily was fully recovered, they would leave.
Ethan’ s face fell. The pain of her rejection was evident.
But he nodded.
“I understand,” he said.
He retreated, a look of quiet determination on his face.
He would prove his sincerity. Not with words. But with actions.
Later, Sarah heard a crash from the kitchen.
She found Ethan staring at the remains of the lavish meal, now
scattered across the floor.
He had swept it all away in a moment of frustration. Despair.
His emotional turmoil was palpable.
Sarah remained cold, distant.
She focused on Lily. Her recovery was paramount.
Ethan, however, was persistent.
He didn’t push. He didn’t demand.
He simply … served.
He brought them breakfast in bed.
He made sure Lily took her medications.
He read to Lily, his voice surprisingly gentle.
He even tried to cook for them again.
One evening, he presented a slightly burnt, rather lopsided lasagna.
He looked like a nervous schoolboy.
“I … I followed a recipe,” he stammered. “It’s probably terrible.”
Sarah looked at the lasagna.
She remembered the cold, leftover food Olivia used to make her eat.
She remembered Ethan tossing cash at her feet after …
She looked at Lily, who was eyeing the lasagna with interest.
“It smells good, Mommy,” Lily said.
For Lily’ s sake, Sarah took a bite.
It wasn’t terrible. In fact, it was … okay.
“It’s … edible,” she said, her voice carefully neutral.
A small smile touched Ethan’ s lips.
“I’ll do better next time,” he promised.
And he did.
Slowly.
Painfully.
The ice around Sarah’ s heart began to thaw.