Ethan's arms still rested loosely around Yuna's waist as the quiet warmth between them lingered in the morning sunlight. The tension that had filled the penthouse during the past few days had finally eased into something softer, calmer, almost hopeful.
Yuna looked lighter now.
Not completely healed.
But alive again.
And Ethan noticed every small change.
The way she smiled more easily now.
The way her eyes no longer looked completely empty.
The way she talked about the future again instead of only loss.
He wanted to keep her like this.
Away from pain.
Away from disappearing into grief again.
Ethan's thumb moved lightly against her waist before he spoke.
"I'll arrange a press conference."
Yuna blinked softly. "A press conference?"
He nodded once. "You'll officially announce your return to work."
Yuna stared at him quietly as he continued.
"You'll continue your career from now onward under our company," Ethan said calmly. "Actress. Model. Public ambassador. Whatever projects you want."
The more he spoke, the brighter her expression became.
"You're serious?"
"I don't joke about business."
Yuna let out a small laugh immediately, excitement slowly replacing the heaviness that had been following her for days.
"A real conference?" she asked again, almost unable to believe it.
Ethan watched her reaction carefully, and despite himself, the corner of his lips softened slightly.
"Yes."
Yuna's eyes lit up instantly.
For a moment she looked exactly like the version of herself he imagined before tragedy touched her life—the actress everyone admired, the woman who loved cameras and lights and crowded filming sets.
That version of Yuna was still here.
Just buried beneath grief.
And now she was slowly returning.
Yuna suddenly grabbed both of Ethan's hands excitedly. "Do you know how long it's been since I stood in front of cameras properly?"
"You were literally famous."
"That's not the point."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Then what is?"
"I miss it," she admitted softly. "The noise. The energy. The makeup artists yelling because someone's late. Directors getting angry over small mistakes." She laughed quietly. "I even miss wearing uncomfortable heels for hours."
Ethan looked at her with quiet amusement.
"You really love this work."
"I do."
There wasn't even hesitation in her answer.
And hearing that certainty made Ethan even more determined.
"You'll go back properly then," he said firmly. "Not halfway."
Yuna smiled brightly at him after that.
The kind of smile he hadn't seen in a long time.
It hit him harder than he expected.
Without thinking, Ethan lifted a hand and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear slowly. Yuna's expression softened immediately at the gentle gesture.
"Thank you," she whispered again.
Ethan looked at her silently for a second before answering quietly—
"Don't thank me yet. The industry is still cruel."
Yuna nodded faintly. "I know."
"And after your father's death, reporters will become worse."
The happiness in her expression dimmed slightly after those words.
Just slightly.
But Ethan noticed immediately.
Yuna slowly loosened her grip on his hands.
The excitement inside her suddenly mixed with something heavier again.
Fear.
She looked down quietly, the brightness in her eyes fading little by little as reality started catching up again.
Because Ethan was right.
The outside world already knew one thing—
Her father was dead.
But they didn't know the full truth yet.
Not officially.
Not publicly.
Yuna's chest tightened slowly.
"What if…" she started softly before stopping.
Ethan's expression sharpened slightly. "What?"
Yuna stepped away a little now, her earlier excitement turning uncertain. "What if everything about my father comes out later?"
The room grew quieter instantly.
Yuna wrapped her arms around herself unconsciously.
"They already know he died suddenly," she whispered. "People are already curious. But if they find out what he actually did…"
Her voice cracked slightly.
Ethan stayed silent, listening carefully.
Yuna lowered her eyes. "What if everyone starts looking at me differently?"
The fear in her voice felt painfully real now.
"What if they say I knew?" she continued quietly. "What if people think I was involved too?"
"You weren't."
"But people online don't care about truth," she said weakly. "They just attack whoever they can."
Ethan's gaze darkened slightly because she wasn't wrong.
Yuna moved toward the couch slowly and sat down, her earlier excitement fading completely now beneath anxiety.
"I worked so hard for my career," she murmured softly. "What if all people remember now is that I'm the daughter of someone terrible?"
Ethan watched her carefully for a few moments before walking toward her slowly.
Yuna looked small sitting there now, her thoughts clearly spiraling again.
Ethan crouched slightly in front of her, forcing her eyes back toward him.
"Listen to me."
Yuna blinked softly.
"You are not responsible for another person's sins."
"But the public won't care—"
"Then let them talk."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
Controlled.
Yuna stared at him quietly.
Ethan continued, "People forget faster than you think."
"That's easy for you to say."
"No," he corrected quietly. "It's easy for me to say because I've watched the world destroy people publicly before."
That made her pause.
Ethan's grey eyes stayed locked onto hers steadily.
"People create scandals. They judge. They gossip. Then a few months later they move on to the next target."
Yuna swallowed softly.
"But your life can't stop every time strangers decide to speak."
The room stayed silent after that.
Yuna looked down at her hands again. "I'm scared."
Ethan's expression softened slightly hearing her finally admit it openly.
"I know."
"What if my career never recovers?"
Ethan answered immediately.
"Then I'll rebuild it myself."
Yuna looked up at him quickly.
His face remained serious.
Completely serious.
"You'd really do that?"
"Yes."
The certainty in his voice stunned her again.
Ethan moved one hand gently against hers now. "You think I'm investing in you because I pity you?"
Yuna didn't answer.
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.
"I'm doing this because I know your value."
Those words hit her harder than expected.
Not because they sounded romantic.
But because they sounded genuine.
Ethan rarely spoke emotionally unless he meant it.
Yuna's eyes slowly softened again.
Ethan stood back up before continuing calmly. "The conference will happen in two days."
Her eyes widened. "Two days?"
"You need preparation. Styling. Statements. Media control."
"You already planned everything?"
"I told you already," he said calmly. "I plan everything."
Despite her nervousness, a tiny laugh escaped her again.
Ethan looked down at her quietly before adding—
"And I'll be there beside you."
Yuna froze slightly.
"What?"
"At the conference."
Her chest tightened softly hearing that.
"You'd stand there publicly with me?"
Ethan looked almost annoyed by the question. "Obviously."
"But your image—"
"I don't care."
Yuna stared at him silently.
Because this wasn't small.
Ethan Devereaux rarely appeared publicly beside anyone unless it mattered.
And if he stood beside her during the conference—
Everyone would understand immediately that she was under his protection.
That she wasn't alone.
Yuna's eyes started stinging slightly again, though this time not from sadness.
"You really won't let me face this alone, huh?"
Ethan's expression softened just slightly.
"No."
Something warm spread painfully through her chest after hearing that single word.
Yuna slowly stood up from the couch again before moving closer to him quietly.
"I'm still scared," she admitted.
"You can be scared."
"But what if I fail?"
Ethan looked down at her for a second before answering in a low voice.
"Then fail while moving forward."
The words surprised her slightly.
Ethan rarely said things like that.
"You don't have to become perfect overnight," he continued quietly. "You just have to stop hiding from your life."
Yuna stared at him silently.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
She nodded.
Because maybe he was right.
Maybe healing wasn't waiting until the fear disappeared.
Maybe it was moving anyway despite being afraid.
Yuna exhaled softly before a small smile returned to her lips again.
"Okay."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Okay?"
"I'll do the conference."
"Good."
"But if reporters ask stupid questions," she warned softly, "I might throw something at them."
Ethan looked completely calm. "Aim properly then."
Yuna burst into laughter immediately.
Real laughter.
And hearing it echo through the penthouse again made Ethan realize something quietly dangerous—
He would do almost anything to keep hearing that sound.