As days turned into weeks, the line between Ethan and Mia's fabricated relationship and their real emotions grew increasingly blurred.
Late one night, after an exhausting day of countering corporate attacks and deflecting family suspicions, Ethan found himself sitting with Mia on the balcony of his penthouse.
"You ever think about what comes next?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence.
Mia glanced at him. "You mean when this whole engagement charade is over?"
Ethan nodded.
Mia looked away, the city lights reflecting in her eyes. "I guess I go back to my life. You go back to yours."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "And if I don't want that?"
Mia's breath caught. She turned to him, searching his face for answers. "What are you saying, Ethan?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm not just going through the motions. And I think that has something to do with you."
The weight of his words hung between them, heavy and electric. Neither of them spoke, but the unspoken feelings were undeniable.