Ethan:
The room went quiet after Ethan's words.
"…And if I can't?"
Luca stared at him for a long moment.
Something serious moved behind his eyes — not anger, not surprise… something heavier.
For the first time in the conversation, Luca didn't argue back immediately.
Instead, he slowly turned away and walked toward the window. His hands rested on the edge of the desk as he looked outside at the quiet garden.
Ethan waited.
Seconds passed.
Finally Luca let out a slow breath.
"So that's how it is."
His voice was calmer now.
Too calm.
Ethan didn't answer.
Luca turned back toward him.
"You know what kind of life we live," he said. "People are already looking for weaknesses."
Ethan's expression didn't change.
Luca continued,
"And Yuna…"
He paused slightly.
"…is the biggest weakness you could ever have."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
But Luca raised a hand, stopping him from speaking.
"Don't argue."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"I raised her. I protected her my whole life."
Ethan knew that.
Luca had always been more than just her brother. After their parents were gone, he had become everything for her.
Protector.
Guardian.
Family.
Luca looked directly into Ethan's eyes.
"So listen carefully."
His voice was quiet but firm.
"You can't be with Yuna…"
He paused for a moment.
"…until I die."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Luca didn't wait for a response.
He simply walked past him and opened the door.
Before leaving, he stopped for a brief second.
"And don't test me on this."
Then he walked out of the study.
The door closed.
Leaving Ethan alone in the silent room.
For a long moment, Ethan didn't move.
His mind replayed Luca's words again.
You can't be with Yuna until I die.
He ran a hand slowly through his hair.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
Then he pushed himself away from the wall and walked out of the study.
Downstairs, the house was quiet again.
Yuna wasn't in the dining room anymore. The kitchen had already been cleaned.
Ethan paused for a brief second in the hallway.
His eyes moved toward the staircase that led to the rooms upstairs.
For a moment… he almost walked that way.
But then he stopped himself.
Luca's warning echoed again in his mind.
Ethan exhaled slowly and turned toward the exit instead.
A few minutes later, the black car was already waiting outside.
Kai stood beside it.
"You're going to the office?" Kai asked as Ethan approached.
Ethan nodded once.
"Yeah."
Kai opened the car door for him.
Ethan got inside without another word.
The car engine started and slowly pulled away from the mansion.
As the house disappeared behind them, Ethan leaned his head back slightly and closed his eyes.
But no matter how much he tried to focus on work…
One thought kept returning.
Yuna.
Her confession.
Her stubbornness.
And the way she looked at him that morning.
Ethan opened his eyes again and looked out the window.
"…This is going to be a problem," he murmured quietly.
But even as he said it—
A small part of him already knew.
The real problem was that he didn't want to stay away from her anymore.