Chapter 455

The man's strides were long and purposeful. For every step he took, little Lily had to skip two or three to keep up. Under the silvery glow of the moonlight, Sophia watched the contrasting figures—one tall and steady, the other small and energetic—moving in sync. Her heart swelled with quiet contentment.

To protect these two for the rest of her life—she would have no regrets.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Ethan's deep voice carried over, reciting slowly, "Under the bright moonlight, two figures came."

Lily echoed obediently, "Under the bright moonlight, two figures came."

Ethan continued, "One big, one small."

Lily repeated, "One big, one small."

"One tall, one short."

"One tall, one short."

Then, mischief laced his tone. "One good, one bad."

Lily hesitated. "..."

"One handsome, one ugly."

Lily's lips pursed. "..."

"Hmm? Why did you stop, Lily? Keep going," Ethan teased.

Lily huffed. "Then... who's good and who's bad? Who's handsome and who's ugly?"

Ethan smirked. "By order, you're the bad one. And the ugly one."

Lily gasped. "..."

"Pfft—" Sophia, seated on a nearby bench, burst into laughter.

"Mean Daddy!" Lily stomped her foot. "You're bullying me! You should say: one bad, one good. One ugly, one handsome. Say it right this time!"

Ethan chuckled. "Fine, I promise."

Then, with exaggerated solemnity, he recited again: "Under the bright moonlight, two figures came. One small, one big. One short, one tall. One bad, one good. One ugly, one handsome."

Sophia laughed harder.

For the first time in so long, she felt light. The past—her conflicts with Ethan, the grudges with the Thornton family, even Noah Whitmore's disappearance—faded into the background.

All that mattered were the two figures before her.

"Mom! You're laughing too!" Lily whined, running to Sophia and burying her face in her lap. "Daddy's teasing me! I won't play with him anymore!"

But Sophia knew Lily was happy.

She had never seen her daughter so carefree. Having a father—this father—was a gift.

Leaning down, Sophia whispered in Lily's ear, "When you grow up, he'll grow old. Then you can tease the grumpy old man back, okay?"

Lily giggled. "Okay! Mom, let's go upstairs."

She tugged at Sophia's hand, then reached for Ethan's. Together, the three of them ascended.

Exhausted from the evening, Lily fell asleep quickly. Sophia tucked her in, then slipped out quietly.

Back in her room, she chose a delicate silk nightgown—one with thin straps and barely enough fabric to be decent. After a quick shower, she didn't return to her own bed.

Instead, she pushed open Ethan's bedroom door.

He had just stepped out of the shower, water still glistening on his bare torso. The cool air didn't seem to bother him—he wore nothing at all.

Sophia's cheeks warmed, but she didn't retreat. She stepped forward and pressed herself against him, her arms winding around his waist.

Ethan stiffened.

This was new. She had never initiated like this before.

Her face burned against his skin, her shyness palpable. Yet she held on, her fingers trembling slightly.

He tilted her chin up, studying her. "What's this about?" His voice was rough.

She swallowed. "Nothing... I just..."

"You can't lie to me," he murmured, thumb brushing her lower lip.

She wasn't lying.

She didn’t think her male colleagues at Montgomery Designs liked her. They were just... easier to work with than the gossipy women.

But under his scrutiny, her nerves frayed.

Ethan mistook her silence for guilt. With a growl, he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed.

The mattress swallowed her slight frame, the silk nightgown riding up dangerously.

She wasn’t here out of obligation. Not because he’d helped Noah.

She just... wanted him.

Tonight, she wanted to bridge the distance between them.

But she was inexperienced. Clumsy.

And Ethan? He was relentless.

What followed wasn’t the tender reunion she’d imagined.

He punished her. Dominated her.

She didn’t ask why he was angry.

"You deserve this," he rasped against her ear.

Ethan was furious—not at her, but at himself.

He refused to admit it was jealousy.

Refused to acknowledge the burn in his chest at the thought of another man looking at her.

Only when she lay boneless in his arms, exhausted, did he finally relent.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then fetched a towel to clean her up.

As he gathered her close, her breathing evened out.

Tomorrow would bring its own challenges.

But tonight, she slept safe in his arms.

Next day...