Time of the Avenger

her. The door had opened to reveal Ethan himself, looking unusually un

read it," he said, unchar

sed the door and opened the envelo

pend a week with me. No expectations, no pressure-just time to talk, to understand each o

p and stay well out of Ethan's way and all the messiness he brought with him. But another, quiet

hie at the airport w

orb the splendor of the private jet without any commentary. She could not help but admire how thoughtful everything was: her favorite tea

top surrounded by rolling vineyards and fields of lavender. The villa was a testament to ru

She allowed herself a short moment to close her eyes with the

beautiful," she ad

d, the relief audible in his tone. "Come in

and large windows that allowed wind to circulate, making the space feel bright and welcoming. E

n simply," he said, wavi

ine and engaged in forced small talk. But gradually, the tension wore off. Ethan began sharing events from his childhood-his tr

he said softly. "I know that doesn't

didn't just hurt me, Ethan. You destroyed my famil

y that guilt for the rest of my life. But the thing is, there's

him!" Sophie shot ba

le position. Alex and I... we just took advantage of an opportunity. It was ruthless, I admit that.

a man brought down by forces outside of his control. Now, however, she

der field in the vicinity. The great expanse of purple flowers manipulated the eye;

think," he said, breaking the silence

defenses. They walked on for a while, in silence, with t

me here, Ethan?" So

e man who made those horrible decisions... but a ma

cket and produced a small enve

read what was in it-an amount for a settlement tha

money," she said,

way of trying to give back what I took. I know

aistband and clutched it tightly, a c

top. Ethan, to Sophie's disbelief, fit right in under the bright light with laughter and joyous chit-chat. He playfully negot

, Ethan was trying to eat a pastry wit

y at the moment," she said,

than shot back, grinning. "I am

la by candlelight. The sun sank in the hampers of orang

t my whole life chasing success, thinking it would make me happy. But it didn

g she could not really put a finger on. "You hurt me, Ethan. More than I thoug

ion. Ethan leaned across the table, his palm hovering just abo

spered, "we try

they intertwined their fingers as they b

to Re

ness, creating a fine balance between glamour and intimacy, chaos and serenity. Sophie was unsure if this was a conce

orning in Tuscany. A silver tray held freshly baked croissants, a

ie said, sitting up against

sponded, grinning. "I've taken enough

gled to make eye contact. She wanted to believe this new Ethan was si

ed into a vintage convertible rented by Ethan, cruising through winding roads embellished wit

there for a long time. The wind tangled through her hair, and she laughe

g you like th

e wh

ap

ded, but soon recovered. "I g

d the night with truffle pasta and seared scallops. He asked a hundred questions, and his ans

ean it again: I'm sorry, Sophie, for all of it. For what happened to your father, for the pain I put y

tions were a jumbled mass: "I don't know if I can forgive y

was a little too much. "Tha

stillery, where they discovered the process of making essential oil. The sweet and calming s

ndmade pottery and bright scarves. The last thing Ethan bought was for Sophie-a dai

The conversations turned more dignified and vulnerable-they had some stories, especially about

her father's downfall, her family's strug

tter," she confessed one night. "But it

phie. You're stronger than anyone I've ever met. And you've taught me mo

e swimming in the Mediterranean's crystal clear waters. Ethan had prepared a pi

nge to pink, Ethan turned to Sophie. "Now, there's something I want

o see inside a pair of diamond earrings. They were gorge

she whispered, t

ave them to me years ago, told me to give them to someon

, tears filling her

rupted. "I just want you to know how much

toward him and pressed her lips against his in what

er's bodies. Their coupling was wild with passion that was possible only under pressure from emo

ets at the end of it, in those quiet moments, Ethan stro

you, S

name them yet. She rested her head on his chest

ough," she confessed. "But I thin

held her close. "Take all the time

xt morning with a not

Meet me outside-I've got

de the convertible, a misc

e asked as she slipped i

he said, revvi

ost impressive views while relishing more local delicacies. They got to a p

ich had engulfed her for so long did not seem to have a place in her now. The future remained u

e said to Ethan on their last evening to

shining with determination. "Wherev

villa and watched the world spread itself bef