Love beyond the contract

aring out at the city skyline. Her thoughts circled back to the previous evening-the mysterious Charles Beaumont, Ethan's tense reaction, and the unsettling sense t

at happened to his mother?" Margaret's expression darkened. "It was tragic. Eleanor was the heart of their family. Her death shattered Ethan. But it's not my place to say more." Sophia's curiosity burned brighter than ever. --- That night, Sophia couldn't sleep. Ethan's guardedness, Margaret's cryptic words, and the eerie resemblance between her and Eleanor-it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't ignore. She crept out of bed and made her way to Ethan's office. The door was locked, but she remembered seeing a key in a drawer in the living room. After a moment of searching, she found it and unlocked the door. The room was dimly lit, the scent of leather and wood filling the air. Sophia's eyes scanned the shelves and desk, searching for clues. Her gaze landed on a locked drawer in the desk. She hesitated, then used the same key to open it. Inside was a collection of photographs and documents. One photo caught her attention immediately. It was a picture of a young woman-Eleanor, she realized-standing beside a man she didn't recognize. Her breath caught in her throat. The man was Charles Beaumont. Before she could process the implications, she heard footsteps approaching. Panic set in as she hastily returned the items to the drawer and relocked it. Ethan entered, his expression thunderous. "What are you doing in here?" Sophia's heart pounded. "I... I couldn't sleep. I was looking for a book." Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're lying." Sophia opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off. "Stay out of my office, Sophia," he said, his voice low and menacing. "This isn't a game." --- The next day, Ethan left early for a meeting, and Sophia seized the opportunity to dig deeper. She searched the penthouse for more information, her determination outweighing her fear. In a hidden compartment in the closet, she found a box filled with letters. Most were addressed to Ethan from his mother. But one letter stood out-it was from Charles. The letter was short but chilling: "Ethan, You can't escape the past. Eleanor