more, though it was clear that his trust would not be easily won. Lily was patient, knowing that he was a man deeply scarred by his past, but she couldn't ignore the gr

n their world. The stakes were

They were sitting in the conference room, reviewing plans for their potential partnership, w

s they settled on Lily. "This woman has nothing to offer you.

s gaze without flinching. Ethan, on the other hand, flinched visibly, a

his voice tight. "This partnership is importa

your own decisions? You're still my son, Ethan

ow much his father's words affected him, how the weight of the family

tension radiating from him, his inner conflict more apparent than ever. She wanted to comfort him,

ietly, her voice gentle.

at the table in front of him, his jaw set in frustrat

free from this," he said, the pain i

. "You will be, Ethan. You have to believe th

. But there was something else there, too-something deeper. Something

of the past that loomed over them, she knew she c