(Grace's POV)Tears welled up at the corners of my eyes, my mind blanking for a moment at Ethan's unexpected agreement. I had prepared myself for negotiation, for pleading, perhaps even for outright rejection. But not for this simple "okay."I quickly regained my senses, hurriedly saying, "Thank you, and you—""What was the condition you agreed to?" Ethan interrupted, cutting through my stammered gratitude.He drew the cigarette away from his lips, the smoke curling between us like the complicated emotions that had replaced our once-clear bond. Then, with a gentleness I hadn't felt in months, he brushed the tear sliding from my eye corner with his thumb."Get some rest early," he added softly, his voice lacking its usual coldness.I stood frozen, watching his departing figure, forgetting how to respond. The warmth of his touch lingered on my skin, a ghost of intimacy that felt both familiar and foreign.The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone with the echo
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