The moment Nora stepped out of the building, the air behind her shifted.
It started as whispers.
Low. Curious. Disbelieving.
Then it spread.
"Did you see her?"
"That's Ethan's ex, right?"
"No… that can't be her."
"But she came with that man…"
"The billionaire?"
Inside the company, the tension thickened like smoke.
Employees leaned closer in groups, voices hushed but urgent, eyes darting toward Ethan's office.
And inside that office—
Ethan stood still.
Too still.
His hand rested on his desk, fingers slowly curling into a fist as the words replayed in his head.
Her fiancé.
The way that man said it.
Calm. Confident. Certain.
Like it was fact.
Like Nora belonged to him.
Ethan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath.
But the unease in his chest refused to go away.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
His assistant stepped in carefully, as if sensing the storm in the room.
"Sir… the office is talking."
Ethan let out a cold laugh.
"Of course they are."
He turned slowly, his gaze sharp.
"I want everything on him. Alexander. Who he is, where he came from, what he wants."
The assistant hesitated.
"We've already started, sir, but… information is limited."
"Limited?" Ethan repeated, his tone dangerous.
"Yes. It's like… he doesn't exist publicly. But from what we gathered, he owns multiple companies through private holdings. Very powerful. Very private."
That only made things worse.
Ethan looked away, his jaw tightening.
Three months ago, Nora stood in front of him—
Soft. Nervous. Devoted.
Everything about her had been… predictable.
Safe.
Now?
Now she walked into his world like she had outgrown it.
Like she had outgrown him.
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
Why does this bother me?
He made the right decision.
He knew he did.
She wasn't on his level.
She wasn't—
His thoughts stopped.
Because suddenly, he wasn't so sure anymore.