Chapter 178

Ethan Roscente's breath was dangerously close, his warm exhales brushing against Sophia Lowell's ear. She could feel her heartbeat accelerating, her skin burning with an uncontrollable heat.

"Your ears are red." His deep voice carried a teasing lilt as his lips barely grazed her sensitive earlobe. "Just like that night."

Sophia jerked her face away, only for his long fingers to catch her chin.

"Let go!" Her voice trembled.

Instead of releasing her, Ethan leaned in closer. "You didn’t say that that night." His thumb traced her soft lips. "You liked it—"

"Shut up!"

The elevator lurched violently. The lights flickered before plunging them into complete darkness. Sophia froze as the shadows swallowed them whole.

"What’s happening?" Her voice shook.

Ethan released her and calmly pressed the emergency button. "Just a malfunction."

But Sophia was already sliding down the wall, her knees drawn tightly to her chest. In the dark, she was back in that nightmare—trapped in an elevator for twelve hours. The last thing she’d heard before her phone died was Ethan’s impatient dismissal.

"Breathe." His voice cut through the blackness.

Only then did she realize she’d been holding her breath. She gasped, her back drenched in cold sweat.

"Afraid of the dark?" Ethan crouched in front of her.

Sophia bit her lip, refusing to show weakness in front of him.

Then his warm hand enveloped her icy fingers. His palm was dry, steady—an anchor in the storm.

"Count with me," he said. "One. Two—"

The elevator jolted back to life. Harsh light flooded the space, forcing Sophia to squeeze her eyes shut. When she opened them, Ethan’s face was inches from hers.

His dark eyes held something unreadable.

"That night..." His voice was low. "I came back for you."

Sophia’s pupils constricted. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

The doors slid open. Ethan stood, looking down at her with an inscrutable gaze.

"But you were already gone."

The words stabbed through her like a blade.