Chapter 38 Unspoken Desires

• The weekend in the cabin had been everything Sophia didn’t know she needed. Away from the pressures of the city, she and Ethan had the time and space to just be with each other. They had talked late into the night, shared stories of their pasts, and slowly, the barriers between them had started to crumble. But as they returned to the city, the reality of their lives loomed once again, bringing with it the responsibilities and secrets they both still carried.
• Back in her apartment, Sophia found herself replaying moments from the weekend—Ethan’s gentle touch, his thoughtful gestures, the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the world. It was all so new, so overwhelming. She had never imagined feeling this way about him, but now, it was undeniable.
• Ethan had been different too. More relaxed, more open. The walls he usually kept firmly in place seemed to lower just enough for Sophia to glimpse the man beneath the stoic exterior. She saw his vulnerability, his guilt, and his desire to make things right—not just for her, but for himself too. It was these glimpses of the real Ethan that made her feel closer to him than she ever thought possible.