The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Ethan locked eyes with her, the fury in her gaze making him shrink back a little.

He had heeded Alaric's advice and arrived early at Lydia's apartment complex, hoping to offer her a ride to work. But he had no clue which apartment was Lydia's, nor whether she had already left, so he ended up asking the security guard at the gate. The guard mentioned that Lydia had just left a short while ago, so Ethan hurried after her. Little did he know, he'd catch up just in time to see Lydia confronting Jesse about a fight from the day before! At that moment, Ethan felt a sense of dread creeping up on him. But it was too late to stop Jesse from spilling the beans.

"Hey, Dr. Lydia," Ethan managed to find his voice amidst the thick tension, greeting her first.

Lydia shot him a fierce look, filled with disappointment and anger, then turned and walked away without a word. Her silence scared Ethan more than any scolding could.

soon as Lydia stepped away, Ethan quickly caught up, explaining anxiously, "Dr. Lydia, it's all Alaric's fault for giving me this terrible advice. He suggested I play the damsel in distress so you'd play the hero, creating a reason for us to connect.

even properly started, and everything had already gone south. Why was

her head, her words as cold as ice,

at all these bruises on me; I wouldn't harm myself like this if I weren't serious," Ethan pleaded, not wanting

hadn't met a womandike her. And now that he had, he didn't want to let her slip away. Missing out

chest heaved, and through gritted teeth, she yelled. Ethan froze, Lydia's outburst startling him into immobility, his neck shrinking back. Facing Lydia's fury, Ethan looked timid, like a big boy

won't do it again. Please, forgive me