Chapter 14

Mia barely slept after Ethan left.

She kept thinking about his words.

Losing you was the first thing in my life money couldn't fix.

She hated how deeply they affected her.

But every time her heart softened toward him, another memory came rushing back.

Ethan sitting beside Vanessa.

Ethan believing the photographs.

Ethan accusing her without asking a single question.

She couldn't erase those things just because he had started regretting them.

By morning, Mia had made a decision.

She needed to give herself a chance to move forward.

And Ryan deserved an honest chance too.

---

Ryan picked her up that evening.

When Mia got into the car, he immediately noticed her expression.

“You look serious.”

“I am.”

Ryan glanced at her.

“Should I be worried?”

She smiled faintly.

“No.”

“Then what's wrong?”

Mia looked out the window.

“I've been thinking about us.”

Ryan became quiet.

“Okay.”

“I don't want to hurt you.”

“I know.”

“I still have feelings for Ethan.”

Ryan's hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

He had expected the words.

That didn't make them easier to hear.

“Thank you for telling me.”

Mia turned toward him.

“But I don't want to keep living in the past.”

Ryan looked at her.

“What are you saying?”

“I want to try.”

His eyes widened.

“Try?”

“With you.”

For several seconds, Ryan didn't say anything.

Then he smiled.

A genuine, almost boyish smile that made Mia smile too.

“Are you sure?”

“I think so.”

“You don't have to say yes because you feel sorry for me.”

“I don't.”

“Or because Ethan hurt you.”

“I know.”

Ryan pulled the car to the side of the road.

He turned toward her.

“I need you to be certain about one thing.”

“What?”

“If you choose me, I don't want to be the man you use to forget him.”

Mia looked into his eyes.

“I won't.”

Ryan studied her face.

Then he slowly reached for her hand.

“Okay.”

He smiled.

“Then I'll make you happy.”

Mia squeezed his hand.

“I hope so.”

---

They spent the evening at a quiet rooftop restaurant.

Ryan had arranged a small table overlooking the city.

No cameras.

No reporters.

No business associates.

Just the two of them.

Mia felt lighter.

She laughed.

She ate.

She listened to Ryan tell stories about his childhood.

For a few hours, she forgot about Ethan.

Then Ryan stood.

“Dance with me.”

Mia laughed.

“Here?”

“Why not?”

“There isn't even music.”

Ryan held out his hand.

“I'll provide the music.”

She shook her head.

“You're crazy.”

“Probably.”

She placed her hand in his.

They moved slowly beneath the soft lights.

Mia rested her hand against his shoulder.

Ryan's arm settled gently around her waist.

For a moment, everything felt easy.

Then he looked into her eyes.

“Mia.”

“Yes?”

“Can I kiss you?”

Her heart raced.

She knew what this moment meant.

She could step away.

She could say no.

But she didn't.

She nodded.

Ryan leaned down and kissed her.

It was gentle.

Careful.

Nothing like the desperate passion she remembered from her marriage.

When he pulled away, he didn't try to take more.

He simply looked at her.

Mia smiled.

And that was when she realized something.

She had enjoyed it.

She wasn't pretending.

---

Across the city, Ethan was leaving a business dinner when he received a call.

Daniel's voice came through.

“Sir.”

“What?”

“There are photographs circulating online.”

Ethan's stomach tightened.

“Of what?”

“Mia.”

His entire body went still.

“Send them.”

A message arrived.

Ethan opened it.

The photographs showed Mia and Ryan dancing on the rooftop.

Then another photograph.

Ryan kissing her.

Ethan stared at the screen.

His face went pale.

For several seconds, he couldn't breathe.

Daniel spoke again.

“Sir?”

Ethan locked his phone.

“Delete them from everywhere you can.”

“I'm trying.”

“No.”

Ethan's voice was cold.

“Don't delete anything illegally. Just find out who leaked them.”

“Understood.”

Ethan got into his car.

He sat there alone.

The jealousy came first.

Hot and painful.

Then anger.

Then something worse.

Fear.

He had always known Ryan was a threat.

But now it wasn't just a possibility.

Mia was actually beginning to move on.

Ethan leaned his head against the seat.

He had no right to be angry.

No right to demand anything.

Mia was free.

And he was the reason she had become free.

He opened the photograph again.

Ryan's hand was around her waist.

Mia was smiling.

Ethan stared at that smile.

Then he whispered,

“She looks happy.”

His eyes burned.

And despite the pain tearing through him, he smiled faintly.

“At least she's happy.”

---

The next morning, Mia's name was everywhere.

ETHAN CARTER'S EX-WIFE SPOTTED KISSING ANOTHER BILLIONAIRE.

IS MIA BENNETT MOVING ON?

RYAN ANDERSON WINS THE BILLIONAIRE'S EX-WIFE?

Mia stared at the headlines in disbelief.

She had expected attention eventually.

But not this.

Her phone wouldn't stop ringing.

Ryan arrived at her office almost immediately.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

He looked furious.

“I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault.”

“I should have been more careful.”

Mia shook her head.

“We didn't do anything wrong.”

Ryan nodded.

“I know.”

Before they could continue, the office door opened.

Ethan walked in.

Mia's body stiffened.

Ryan stepped forward.

“What are you doing here?”

Ethan ignored him.

He looked at Mia.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Ryan's expression hardened.

“If you've come to complain about the photographs—”

“I haven't.”

Ryan stopped.

Ethan looked at him.

“I don't have the right to complain.”

Mia stared at Ethan.

He looked exhausted.

But there was no anger in his eyes.

Only pain.

Ethan turned toward her.

“The media is going to become aggressive.”

“I know.”

“I've instructed my lawyers to protect you from any false reports.”

Mia frowned.

“You don't have to.”

“I know.”

He paused.

“But I'm doing it anyway.”

Ryan folded his arms.

“You're surprisingly calm.”

Ethan looked at him.

“Don't mistake calm for acceptance.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

Ethan's eyes moved back to Mia.

“I don't like seeing you with him.”

Mia's heart tightened.

“But I have no right to stop you.”

Ryan stared at him.

“Then why are you here?”

Ethan answered without hesitation.

“Because I want her to know that whatever she chooses, I'll respect it.”

Silence.

Mia's eyes filled with tears.

Ethan took a breath.

“I loved you badly, Mia.”

His voice trembled.

“I thought loving you meant keeping you beside me.”

He looked at Ryan.

“I was wrong.”

Then he looked back at her.

“Love means wanting you to be happy, even when your happiness doesn't include me.”

Mia couldn't speak.

Ethan turned toward the door.

Before leaving, he stopped.

“I'll keep my promise.”

“What promise?”

“To earn you.”

He looked at her one last time.

“Even if I never get you back.”

Then he walked out.

Ryan watched the door close.

Mia remained completely still.

After several seconds, Ryan spoke softly.

“You're crying.”

Mia touched her cheek.

She hadn't realized.

A tear had slipped down her face.

Ryan reached for her hand.

“Do you regret last night?”

Mia looked at him.

“No.”

“Do you regret choosing to try with me?”

She hesitated.

“No.”

Ryan nodded.

“Then don't.”

He squeezed her hand.

“You're allowed to love me and still be hurt by him.”

Mia stared at him.

“But eventually, you'll have to decide which heart you want to keep.”

She knew he was right.

And that frightened her more than anything.

Because for the first time, Mia wasn't simply trying to escape Ethan.

She was beginning to fall for Ryan.

And if that continued...

Ethan might lose her forever.