The rain didn't stop the next day, casting a gloomy haze over the city. Ethan left for the office early, the weight of the legal case heavy on his mind. He'd spent the night going over the file Chase had given him, trying to come up with a plan to minimize the damage. Every possible solution felt like a gamble, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
Back at the apartment, Lila stood by the window, sipping her coffee and watching the downpour. She hadn't slept well. Memories she'd buried long ago had begun to surface, triggered by her conversation with Ethan the day before. The walls she'd built around herself—walls that had always kept her safe—felt shakier than ever.
As much as she hated to admit it, Ethan was starting to matter to her. His quiet resilience, his unwavering determination to turn his life around, and the way he looked at her, like she was more than just a chaotic force of nature, made her feel something she hadn't felt in years: vulnerability.
She shook her head, pushing the thought away. Vulnerability was dangerous. It was the first step toward losing control.
At the office, Ethan faced a barrage of questions and complaints from employees and legal teams alike. Chase had tasked him with taking the lead on the legal case, a decision that wasn't popular among everyone.
"You're putting the future of this company in the hands of someone who doesn't even officially work here," one senior executive had snapped during a meeting.
Ethan had taken the criticism in stride, focusing instead on finding a way to negotiate a settlement. The lawsuit was a ticking time bomb, but he refused to let it blow up everything he'd worked for.
When Ethan finally returned home that evening, the apartment was unusually quiet. Lila was sitting on the couch, a book in her hands, but she didn't look up when he walked in.
"Hey," Ethan said, dropping his bag by the door. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she said quickly, too quickly.
Ethan frowned, walking over and sitting down beside her. "Lila, you're not exactly the quiet type. What's going on?"
She closed the book, her fingers tightening around the cover. For a moment, Ethan thought she was going to brush him off, but then she sighed. "Do you ever feel like you're running from something, but no matter how far you go, it's always there?"
Ethan tilted his head. "You asked me that yesterday. And yeah, I do. But it sounds like you're not just asking. You're talking about yourself."
Lila hesitated, then nodded. "There's a lot about me you don't know, Ethan. Things I've kept hidden because it's easier that way. But the longer I'm around you, the harder it gets to keep it all buried."
Ethan leaned back, studying her carefully. "Okay. So tell me. Whatever it is, just say it. I'm not exactly in a position to judge."
Her laugh was sharp and humorless. "You say that now, but trust me, Ethan, you don't know what you're asking."
"Try me," he said softly.
For a moment, Lila looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resolve. Then she got up and walked to the window, staring out at the rain.
"I wasn't always... this," she began, her voice quiet. "This person you see now. Confident, reckless, unbothered. It's all a mask. The truth is, I've spent most of my life running—from people, from mistakes, from myself."
Ethan stayed silent, letting her speak.
"There was someone," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "Someone I trusted, someone I thought cared about me. But they didn't. They used me, manipulated me, and when I finally realized what was happening, it was too late. I lost everything—my family, my home, my future. And I've been running ever since."
Ethan's chest tightened. He hadn't expected this, but he wasn't surprised. He'd sensed from the beginning that Lila was carrying something heavy.
"Lila," he began, but she cut him off.
"Don't," she said, turning to face him. "Don't say you're sorry. Don't try to fix it. I'm not telling you this because I want your pity. I just... I needed you to know."
Ethan stood and walked over to her, hesitating for a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't pity you, Lila. I admire you. Whatever you've been through, you survived it. That takes strength."
She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You're not what I expected, Ethan Hale."
"Neither are you," he said with a small smile.
For a moment, they just stood there, the rain a quiet backdrop to their shared silence.
That night, as Ethan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a soft chime echoed in his head.
[Ding! New System Task: Bring happiness to Lila Monroe.]
Ethan sat up, blinking in the dark. The system's interface appeared, glowing faintly with its familiar text.
Task Details: Lila is burdened by past trauma. Lift her spirits through thoughtful actions that show your care and understanding. Completion Reward: Negotiation Skills +1, Special Reward (Hidden).
He frowned, running a hand through his hair. "You've got great timing, System," he muttered under his breath. But as he glanced at the sleeping figure beside him, the tension in her features even in slumber, he knew he didn't need a system to tell him what to do.
This wasn't about rewards or stats. This was about Lila. And if helping her meant taking on her burdens, then so be it.
The rain continued to fall, but Ethan felt the smallest flicker of hope. For Lila—and for himself.