Chapter 4

Cecilia’s heart raced as she dashed through the elegant corridor, fleeing the ballroom’s stifling environment and Ethan’s intense stare. The sounds of his taunting laugh lingered behind her, a haunting reminder of their short yet intense meeting. Her heels tapped on the marble floor, the sound scarcely covering her labored breaths.

She kept going until the lavish doors of the ballroom faded into the past, supplanted by the soft murmur of the gymnastics area. In that space, illuminated by the soft light of dimmed bulbs, Annie was poised on a beam, her motions elegant and exact.

Cecilia rested against the wall, her breath coming in heavy gasps. Annie noticed her immediately, stepping down from the beam with practiced ease.

“Cecilia?” Annie’s voice was a mix of concern and surprise. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Cecilia brushed a quivering hand over her forehead, her voice unsteady.“It’s not a ghost. It’s... Ethan.”

Annie's eyebrows knitted together. “Ethan? Who is Ethan? That name sounds unfamiliar.

“Yes.” Cecilia exhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. “He cornered me in the ballroom. At first, he was his usual arrogant self, but then...” She paused, the weight of her realization sinking in. "I believe he could be my mate for a second chance."

Annie's eyes grew larger, shock evident on her face. "Are you for real? Ethan? The bully?”

Cecilia nodded."I understand that it doesn't seem logical. But the bond... It was unmistakable. The pull, the sparks. It was all there.”

Annie placed a comforting hand on Cecilia’s arm. “You need to be careful, Cecilia. This person, you explained his character to me, isn’t someone you can trust. If he is truly your mate, then this might be worse than dealing with Alpha Andrew.”

The mention of Alpha Andrew sent a shiver down Cecilia’s spine. “I don’t think Ethan is like him,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction. “But he’s still... dangerous.”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Annie’s tone was firm.“He excels in exerting control and instilling fear.” If he detects vulnerability, he’ll take advantage of it. Don’t let him manipulate you.”

Cecilia gulped nervously, the recollection of Ethan’s piercing look surfacing in her thoughts. "I won't," she declared, more to herself than to Annie. "I am unable to."

It seems there is no specific text provided for paraphrasing. Please provide the text you'd like to be paraphrased, and I'll be happy to help!

Ethan walked restlessly in the softly lit ballroom, his thoughts circling around the meeting with Cecilia. Her resistance fascinated him, her existence awakened emotions he hadn’t experienced in years. Nevertheless, he covered his intrigue with the pride he donned as a shield.

“Why her?” he whispered quietly, raking his fingers through his black hair. He had never trusted in second chances, much less in second-chance mates. Yet Cecilia—there was an aspect of her that caused him to doubt everything.

A subtle fragrance remained in the atmosphere, an echo of her sudden exit. His lips turned up into a smirk, but his eyes revealed a hint of frustration. “Cecilia, running won’t rescue you,” he spoke to the vacant room.

In the meantime, Cecilia and Annie were seated on a bench near the gymnastics area, the atmosphere thick with tension.

“What will you do next?” Annie asked, her tone cautious.

“I don’t know,” Cecilia admitted. “Part of me wants to confront him, demand answers. But another part just wants to stay as far away from him as possible.”

“Confront him?” Annie’s voice rose slightly. “Are you insane? He’s unpredictable, Cecilia. You need to be smart about this.”

Cecilia nodded slowly, her thoughts racing. “I’ll keep my distance,” she said finally. “But if he is my mate, I can’t avoid him forever.”

“True,” Annie conceded."However, for the time being, let’s concentrate on ensuring your safety."

Just as Annie left her to grab a few snacks for them to eat. There was a noise nearby footsteps caused Cecilia to become tense. She looked to find Ethan at the entrance, his silhouette outlined by the gentle light. His face was inscrutable, a blend of interest and annoyance.

"Never imagined you could sprint this quickly," he said, his tone laced with irony. "I believed we were only beginning."

Cecilia stood, her posture stiff. “What do you want, Ethan?”

He moved closer, his presence commanding the room. “What I desire,” he reiterated, as if examining the phrasing.

. “I want to know why you ran. Afraid of me?”

“Not afraid,” Cecilia shot back, though her voice wavered slightly. “Just uninterested.”

Ethan chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. “Uninterested? Funny, It's not what I felt in that place at that moment.

Cecilia clenched her fists, refusing to let him intimidate her. “Whatever you feel is irrelevant. I don’t have time for your games.”

"Cecilia, you cannot run forever," he said, his voice becoming more quiet. And this bond ... It won't just drop away.”

Cecilia met his gaze, her resolve hardening. “Maybe not. But I can decide how to deal with it. “And at this moment, that implies keeping my distance from you.”

Without pausing for an answer, she walked toward the exit. Ethan observed her depart, his jaw clenching.

As the door shut behind her, he whispered quietly, “This isn’t over.”

Outside, Cecilia and Annie strolled quietly, the chilly night breeze sharply contrasting with the warmth of their meeting with Ethan.

“Are you okay?” Annie asked after a moment.

Cecilia nodded, though her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. “I will be.”

Annie squeezed her hand. “Remember what I said. Be careful.”

Cecilia managed a small smile. “I will. Thanks, Annie.”

However, as they left for their apartment, Cecilia felt unable to dismiss the notion that Ethan’s words held more meaning than just a warning and they carried a promise. For the first time, she questioned whether keeping her distance from him was genuinely a possibility.

Later that evening, while Cecilia rested in bed, gazing at the ceiling, a gentle knock on her window surprised her. She stood still, her heart pounding. Gradually, she rotated her head, discovering a recognizable shape outlined by the moonlight.

Ethan.

"What are you doing in my home?" she murmured, her voice shaking. She attempted to rise, but her body felt weighted as if anchored down. Ethan remained silent. Rather, he moved nearer, his intense gaze meeting hers.

Before she had a chance to scream or react, a sudden knock broke the silence.

“Cecilia! Are you awake?” Annie’s voice called from outside her door.

Cecilia sprang up in her bed, her heart racing as the truth flooded back to her. She blinked quickly, looking around her room. The window remained shut, the night calm and silent.

A dream.

Her heart raced as she placed a hand on her forehead, attempting to dispel the persistent fear. Yet the dream of Ethan at her window would not fade from her thoughts.

“Cecilia?” Annie knocked again, this time more forcefully.

"I'm on my way," Cecilia replied, her voice trembling. She tossed her legs over the side of the bed, her feet landing on the chilly floor. As she approached the door, she found herself glancing back at the window.

It was merely a dream.