The Harper estate seemed quieter the following day, as if the tension of the gala had seeped into its very walls. Sophie lingered on the edge of the expansive garden, her fingers brushing against the petals of a rose bush. The faint aroma was calming, but not enough to untangle the thoughts whirling in her mind.
Ethan's words from the night before echoed relentlessly: "Maybe you should ask yourself why you're so desperate to hold onto something that's already falling apart." She hated how easily his voice cut through her defenses, leaving her raw and exposed.
"Sophie," a sharp voice broke her reverie.
She turned to see Charlotte Harper approaching, her posture as rigid as the towering hedges framing the garden. Charlotte's immaculate white suit and perfectly coifed hair gleamed in the morning sunlight, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp.
"Good morning," Sophie said, her tone polite but guarded.
Charlotte didn't bother with pleasantries. "We need to talk."
Charlotte led Sophie to a small sitting room off the main hall, the air inside thick with the scent of lavender. Sophie perched on the edge of a velvet armchair, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Charlotte remained standing, her gaze piercing as she began.
"I noticed some... peculiar behavior at the gala last night," Charlotte said, her voice smooth but pointed.
Sophie's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
Charlotte's eyes narrowed slightly, a predator circling its prey. "You spent a considerable amount of time with Ethan. That wasn't lost on anyone."
Sophie's pulse quickened. "He asked me for a dance. It was nothing more than that."
"Was it?" Charlotte's tone sharpened. "Because it didn't look like nothing. And I'd hate for anyone to get the wrong idea, especially so close to your wedding."
Sophie's breath caught. There was no mistaking the warning in Charlotte's words. "I understand," she said carefully. "There's no cause for concern."
Charlotte studied her for a long moment, then smiled, but it was as cold as ice. "Good. Let's keep it that way."
As Charlotte swept out of the room, Sophie felt the weight of her scrutiny linger like a shadow. She exhaled shakily, her hands trembling as she stood. Before she could collect herself, a familiar voice spoke from the doorway.
"Welcome to the family."
Sophie spun around to find Ethan leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed and a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His presence sent a jolt of annoyance—and something more dangerous—through her.
"Were you eavesdropping?" she demanded, her voice low.
"I prefer the term 'observing,'" Ethan replied, stepping into the room. "It's more refined."
Sophie glared at him, her nerves frayed. "What do you want?"
"To make sure you're surviving Charlotte's charm offensive," Ethan said, his tone light but his eyes searching. "She has a way of making people feel small."
"I'm fine," Sophie snapped, brushing past him toward the door.
Ethan caught her arm gently, stopping her in her tracks. "Sophie."
His voice softened, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes that wasn't amusement or defiance. Concern. It disarmed her, loosening the walls she'd been clinging to.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Doing what?" Ethan asked, his brow furrowing.
"Being here. Stirring things up." Sophie pulled her arm free, her frustration boiling over. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Ethan hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. Finally, he said, "Because I know this family. And I know what they'll do to you if you're not careful."
His words sent a chill through her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ethan's jaw tightened, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. "Just watch your back, Sophie."
Later that afternoon, Sophie found herself wandering the halls of the estate, her thoughts heavy. She paused in front of a set of double doors, curiosity pulling her forward. The room beyond was a study, its shelves lined with leather-bound books and its desk cluttered with papers.
She stepped inside cautiously, her gaze falling on a stack of documents spread across the desk. One name caught her attention: Maxwell Harper. Her future father-in-law's name was scrawled across several legal papers, alongside references to financial transactions and properties she didn't recognize.
"What are you doing?"
Sophie jumped, her heart racing as she turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable, but his tone carried a hint of suspicion.
"I'm sorry," she stammered. "I didn't mean to pry. I was just... curious."
Daniel stepped into the room, his gaze flicking briefly to the papers on the desk before landing back on her. "This is my father's office. He's very particular about his privacy."
"I didn't touch anything," Sophie said quickly, stepping back.
Daniel's expression softened slightly, but there was still a tension in his posture. "It's fine. Just... be careful. My family doesn't take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs."
The words stung more than Sophie expected. "Outsider?" she repeated, her voice quieter.
Daniel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's not what I meant. I just... things can get complicated around here. I don't want you to get caught up in something you don't understand."
Sophie nodded, her chest tightening. "I'll keep that in mind."
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Sophie found herself on the estate's balcony, the cool night air soothing against her skin. She leaned against the railing, her thoughts tangled and restless.
The sound of footsteps behind her made her tense, but she didn't turn. She already knew who it was.
"You have a habit of showing up uninvited," she said, her voice tired.
"I like to keep people on their toes," Ethan replied, his tone light.
Sophie glanced at him, her gaze wary. "What do you want now?"
Ethan joined her at the railing, his expression unusually serious. "To warn you."
"About what?" she asked, her chest tightening.
"This family," Ethan said, his voice low. "They're not what they seem. Especially Maxwell."
Sophie frowned, her heart pounding. "What do you mean?"
Ethan hesitated, as if weighing how much to say. "Let's just say he has a way of keeping secrets. And he'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
The words sent a chill down Sophie's spine. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I've seen what happens when someone gets in his way," Ethan said, his gaze piercing. "And I don't want you to be the next casualty."
Sophie stared at him, her mind racing. Ethan's warning hung heavy in the air, a thread of unease weaving its way through her thoughts.
"Be careful, Sophie," he said softly. "You don't know what you've gotten yourself into."
As he walked away, leaving her alone on the balcony, Sophie's grip on the railing tightened. The Harper family's pristine facade was beginning to crack, and beneath it lay something dark and dangerous.
She wasn't sure she was ready to face it.