Chapter 4. UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Nina hurried home, her mind still spinning from the events of the night. The house was alive with movement—maids scuttling in and out, the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, the sounds of silverware clinking and pans being shuffled around.

“What’s going on?” she asked, raising her voice over the commotion.

“We’re expecting a big visitor,” her father replied, a hint of excitement and maybe nerves in his voice. “Clara is bringing home her fiancé.”

Nina froze mid-step, crossing her arms in surprise. Clara? Fiancé? She hadn’t known Clara was seeing anyone seriously. The last she’d heard, Clara’s relationship had ended six months ago when her ex had cheated on her with her best friend.

Yet here was her father, pacing slightly, and everyone else moving with a kind of urgent energy that made the whole house feel tense. Nina’s brow furrowed as she watched her father’s—Richard Brook’s unusual nervousness. Clara must have caught herself a big one, she thought.

The Brooke family wasn’t just any family in Manhattan, New York. They were one of the wealthiest, most influential households around. There were only a handful of families who could intimidate them. And yet, watching her father like this, she couldn’t help but be curious.

“So… who is this guy?” she muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.

“You’ll find out soon. Don’t be so impatient,” came a sharp teasing voice from behind—It was Clara.

Nina huffed and shook her head. “None of my business,” she muttered, brushing past the chaos and heading up the stairs to her room.

…..

Nina patted the towel over her skin as she stepped out of the bathroom, trying to shake off the memory of last night. She had wanted to forget what happened with Ethan, but her mind kept drifting back, and a guilty flush warmed her cheeks. Damn… I can’t believe I just cheated on Joseph, she muttered to herself. At the same time, curiosity gnawed at her. Who was this Ethan Voss?

She pulled out her phone and started searching. Ethan Voss… CEO of Voss Enterprises, the number-one company in Manhattan, New York. Her eyes widened. She had just… made out with a man who ran the top company in the city? Her heart raced, and she felt a strange mix of guilt and excitement.

Scrolling through more pictures online, she couldn’t help but blush. This is… unreal. How did I even….

A knock at her door snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Miss Brooks, your attention is needed,” a maid called softly.

Nina straightened up, curious. “Oh? Is something wrong?”

The maid’s cheeks tinged pink. “Miss Clara’s fiancé… he’s here.”

Nina froze for a moment. Clara’s fiancé? The same man who had thrown the entire house into a frenzy? She couldn’t help but smile nervously. Well… let’s see what all the fuss is about.

“Oh, Nina!” her mom called, her voice bright and warm. Clara Fiance is here

Nina froze mid-step as her eyes locked with the man across the room. Ethan… she murmured under her breath. Her heart started pounding uncontrollably.

Ethan’s eyes widened the moment he recognized her. It took him a second to realize that the woman he had made out with was her fiancé’s half-sister. His mind scrambled, but he quickly masked it with a polite, casual smile, pretending he hadn’t met her before.

Nina caught his signal and forced herself to compose, adjusting her posture and expression as if nothing had happened.

Richard, seated nearby, noticed the subtle tension in the air and tilted his head, curiosity obvious. “Do you two know each other?” he asked casually, though the question hung heavier than he realized.

Both Nina and Ethan froze, heads snapping up, shock written across their faces. The moment had caught them completely off guard.

Before anyone could react further, Evelyn—Nina’s mom burst into a loud and infectious laughter. How on earth will Nina know Ethan, a whole Ethan Voss.

“Come on, honey,” she laughed, leaning in to kiss her husband. Nina felt her cheeks burn as all eyes turned, her mind spinning from the sudden reveal.