Chapter 402

The ocean breeze carried a briny tang as it swept across the shore.

Evelyn Laurent clenched the hem of her coat, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"Ethan Sullivan, you do make me feel... something special." Her voice faltered, nearly drowned by the crashing waves. "But I think... we should keep things as they are."

Ethan's pupils constricted sharply.

He studied her for a long moment before forcing a bitter smile. "Understood."

An invisible fist squeezed his heart.

He took half a step back, his tone eerily calm. "I overstepped."

As he turned away, his shoulders slumped under the weight of rejection.

Moonlight stretched his solitary shadow across the sand.

Evelyn's hand hovered midair before dropping limply to her side.

A dull ache spread through her chest.

She couldn't tell if it was guilt or something else twisting inside her.

Julian Langley stood in the shadows, brows furrowed.

He'd never seen his little sister look so devastated.

Even after rejecting him, her gaze still followed Ethan's retreating figure.

Waves pounded against the jagged rocks.

Ethan sat alone at the water's edge, letting the icy surf soak through his trousers.

The night wind carried traces of Evelyn's gardenia perfume.

His fists clenched until nails bit into his palms.

He shouldn't have been impulsive.

Now even friendship was impossible.

Restless fury surged through his veins.

He sprang to his feet and strode into the deepening water.

"Ethan!"

Julian's shout shattered the night.

Evelyn burst from the cabin just as the last strands of Ethan's dark hair disappeared beneath the waves.

Her heart stopped.