Chapter 7 - The velvet trap
Ethan didn't answer her question. Instead, he locked the door behind them and told her that if she wanted to keep her children safe, she would stop asking questions she wasn't ready to hear the answers to.
To punish her defiance—or perhaps to keep her close—Ethan demanded she accompany him to a high-stakes charity gala hosted at the estate that evening. He needed an aide, and she was forced to wear a stunning, modest silver dress that perfectly complemented her rosy complexion and soft brown hair, though she insisted on wearing her comfortable flat shoes beneath the long hem.
The gala was a sea of ruthless wealthy elites. The lighting was brilliantly cinematic, glittering chandeliers casting fractured, dazzling light across the ballroom. Juliet stood silently behind Ethan's wheelchair, playing the part of the dutiful nurse.
A rival businessman, a sneering man with a sharp suit, approached Ethan with a fake smile. "Ethan, a shame about the legs. Hard to run an empire when you can't even stand up to greet your guests."
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Before Ethan could reply, Juliet stepped forward, her voice carrying a quiet, lethal grace. "Mr. Bennett runs his empire with his brilliant mind, sir. Something that clearly cannot be said for everyone in this room."
The rival turned red and stormed off. Ethan looked back over his shoulder at Juliet, completely stunned. A slow, genuine smile spread across his handsome face—the first real smile she had ever seen him wear. For the rest of the night, the space between them felt electric, the secrets temporarily forgotten in the wake of a growing, undeniable bond.
