In the dimly lit, underground parking garage, Mae and Ethan are seated inside a sleek black SUV. The muffled hum of distant car engines creates a quiet backdrop as Mae watches Ethan, a teasing smile dancing on his lips.
"Did you hit your head on the way here?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
Ethan grins wider, unbothered. "Yeah, I did. Fell pretty hard… for you."
Mae rolls her eyes, exasperated. "Cut it out with the charm."
He shrugs, chuckling. "Alright, alright. What's on your mind?"
Mae narrows her gaze. "What are you doing here?"
Ethan tilts his head slightly, his smile turning sly. "Is that your way of saying 'thanks' for saving you back there?"
She scoffs, crossing her arms. "I didn't need your help. You know as well as anyone that I could've handled Shaun myself. Why didn't you let me?"
"And miss out on the chance to mess with him? No way I was letting you have all the fun," he replies, his voice light with mischief.
Mae exhales sharply, frustration flickering in her eyes. "Is that your idea of payback for all those years of cleaning up his mess while you were his secretary?"
Ethan smirks. "Am I that petty to you?"
Mae's expression hardens. "You married me just to get back at my family for what happened thirteen years ago. So yes, I'd say you are."
Ethan's gaze softens, but his voice remains steady. "You're never gonna let me forget that, huh?"
She shoots him a look of mock annoyance. "Not in a million years."
"Sheesh, you really know how to hold a grudge," Ethan said, shaking his head, amusement dancing in his gaze.
"Why did you come back?" Mae questioned, her tone sobering as uncertainty crept back in.
"I'm guessing you're also not happy to see me," he replied, a shade of vulnerability flickering across his features.
"Answer my question."
"I came back to be with my family," he said simply, sincerity spilling from his words.
"Yeah, right," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, confusion wrinkling his brow.
Her face hardens, a mix of hurt and anger flickering behind her words. "You promised you'd be there when the kids were discharged. You promised we were in this together. But you just… disappeared. Do you have any idea how much stress I've been under these past few weeks? You can't just waltz back in like nothing happened."
Ethan takes a breath, clearly feeling the weight of her words. "You're upset because I didn't show up?"
Mae's gaze drops to her lap as she steadies her breathing, frustration thick in her voice. "I've tried to be patient, understanding that you've been dealing with your real family. But it's been over a month, Ethan. I didn't hear a word from you. I had to call your mother every time I wanted an update on how you were doing. Do you know how worried I was?"
Ethan leans in slightly, his voice playful yet tinged with vulnerability. "Wait… are you mad because I didn't show up, or because I made you miss me so much?"
Mae's face reddens. "I didn't miss you."
Ethan moves closer, his eyes glinting with teasing challenge. "Really?" he asks, his proximity making her heart race.
"Stop," Mae says, her voice strained as she instinctively presses her back against the car door.
Ethan leans in even closer, his breath warm against her ear. "You know you want this," he murmurs, his hand resting lightly against the window.
"I don't," she stutters, but her breath quickens, betraying her words.
He smirks, sensing her flustered reaction. "You've got nowhere to run."
Mae avoids his gaze, her heart pounding. "Ethan…" she whispers, barely able to keep herself composed.
He tilts his head slightly, eyes flicking to her trembling lips as he reaches out, brushing his hand against her neck. A shiver runs down her spine as he leans in and presses a soft kiss to her skin.
Her pulse accelerates, her hands shaking as she stammers, "E-Ethan…" She can barely catch her breath.
Ethan pulls back slightly, studying her flushed face with a knowing smile. "You really need to stop acting like a teenage girl every time we get close."
Mae huffs in frustration, crossing her arms and turning her gaze away. "You're so annoying."
Ethan chuckles lightly. "I'm sorry for making you miss me so much. I promise next time I won't leave such an… impression."
"I didn't miss you," she insists, though her tone lacks conviction.
"Anyways," Ethan shifts the conversation, clearly eager to move past the awkward moment, "I heard Mia's staying with you. She seems like a good kid."
Mae's face softens, the tension easing. "She's amazing. Honestly, it's hard to believe you raised her on your own."
Ethan's smile falters for a second, a shadow of regret flickering in his eyes. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Mae glances at him, her voice quiet. "She's sweet, understanding, caring… loving. Everything you're not."
Ethan raises an eyebrow, unbothered. "Thanks, I guess."
"But seriously," she presses, "why didn't you ever tell me you raised her as your daughter?"
"It just felt like the right thing to do," he says simply, his expression softening.
Mae nods slowly. "I'm really sorry."
Ethan gives a small, reassuring smile. "Don't be. She's one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
"How much do you love her?" Mae asks quietly, her eyes searching his.
Ethan's gaze is steady. "What parent doesn't love their child?"
"True," Mae admitted.
"To be honest, I've really missed her a lot. Working for Shaun made me neglect her a bit. I had to protect her from him and his mother, so I sent her halfway across the world. It must have been hard for her to be away from her only parent for so long."
"She's stronger than you think," Mae reassured him.
"I know she's a strong kid," he agreed, a fond smile creeping onto his face.
"I know I'm in no position to ask, but what does Shaun want from you?" Mae queried, caution surfacing in her tone.
Ethan leans back in his seat, his face growing more serious. "What do you mean?"
Mae hesitates for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "One time, I overheard Bella and Brooke talking. Bella said they needed an inheritance from you. But that doesn't make sense. You're Uncle Alex's stepson, not his biological son. Shaun's the real heir."
Ethan meets her gaze, his expression hardening. "Do you want the truth?"
Mae nods, tension building between them. "Are you willing to tell me?"
He exhales slowly, as if preparing for the weight of his words. "Your life is at stake, so I guess I owe it to you. I'm not just Mr. Grayson's stepson. I'm actually his biological son. That means I'm his real heir."
Mae stares at him, incredulous. "What? How did you find out?"
"In the hospital. That's when I learned the truth," he says quietly, his voice heavy.
Her brow furrows. "Is that why Shaun hates you so much?"
Ethan leans back, his eyes distant as he recalls the pain of his past. "Shaun doesn't know yet. But I'm sure he'd feel differently if he did."
Mae's voice softens, a trace of sympathy creeping in. "How does he feel about it?"
Ethan's lips curl into a bitter smile. "How would you feel if your father showed a stranger's kid more love than he showed you, his own flesh and blood?"
Mae doesn't respond right away, but she knows exactly how she would feel. "I'd be jealous."
"Exactly," he mutters. "That's how Shaun feels. My whole life, Mr. Grayson treated me like I was his own. Loved me the same way he loves Shaun."
She processes this quietly, her mind racing. "Did Uncle Alex know you were his son?"
Ethan nods. "He only found out recently. My mother knew all along."
Mae shifts in her seat, trying to piece it together. "So… why the inheritance part? What's that about?"
He leans forward, his voice dropping to a low, tense pitch. "My father wasn't the only one who loved me like his own. His grandmother also took an interest in me and loved me more than Shaun."
"I actually feel kind of bad for Shaun right now," Mae admitted, internal conflict swirling in her heart.
"My father wanted to divorce Shaun's mother so he could finally be with my mother. After Shaun and I became adults, he filed for divorce. His wife was actually happy because she could get half of what he owned. That was going to be her payback, but then she found out the only thing he owned was the mansion they were living in. She was furious, so she made a deal with my father that Shaun would be the CEO of his company, and even he couldn't do anything about it. My father agreed, and that's how Shaun became the CEO of SJ Group," Ethan explained.
"What happened to everything Uncle Alex owned?" Mae asked, her brow knitting together.
"He gave everything to his grandmother," Ethan replied, admiration glazing his voice.
"Wow, Uncle Alex is really smart," Mae noted.
"Yes, and what he did caught Shaun's mother off-guard," Ethan teased.
"What do you mean?" Mae asked.
"Well, she became the chairwoman of SJ Group, meaning she could decide who would take over the company by legal rights," Ethan clarified.
"That means the clause Uncle Alex signed with his ex-wife means nothing?" Mae exclaimed, the notion solidifying in her mind.
"Exactly," he confirmed.
"So that means your great-grandmother knew you were Uncle Alex's son and gave you the CEO role. But that would mean your grandparents would have found out that your father had a child with his lover outside of his marriage. She didn't want anything bad to happen to you and your mother, so I'm guessing she decided to give Shaun an opportunity to prove himself." Mae pieced it together, enjoying the thrill of connecting the dots.
"Wow, you're really good at putting pieces together," Ethan complimented.
"I come from a complicated family too, so I can relate," she admitted, sincerity enveloping her warming smile.
"Yeah, that's true," Ethan agreed.
"So does that mean Shaun needs you to get his inheritance?" she probed.
"Yes."
"How?" Mae's heart began to race again, curiosity spiking.
"Well, our great-grandmother decided that Shaun continued to be CEO while I became his secretary to keep an eye on him. She gave him two years to prove himself. If he didn't, I would take over everything," Ethan explained, grim determination underscoring his words.
"I guess he didn't prove himself. I mean, your great-grandmother asked for the impossible. How was the poor boy going to prove he was better than you?" Mae asked incredulously.
"It wasn't my decision," Ethan responded with a shrug.
"And you just had to make it even harder for him by being so awesome," Mae teased, a smile breaking the tension.
"I only did my job to make her proud," Ethan replied, the warmth of his words washing over them.
"Well, now I get why Shaun hates you. If I were in his shoes, I would have done worse things to you," Mae admitted honestly.
"You're supposed to be on my side," Ethan admonished playfully.
"If Shaun couldn't prove he was competent enough to run things, how was he going to get his inheritance?" she asked, steering the conversation back.
"Well, that's where you, my beautiful wife, come in," he said, his gaze growing serious.
"Me?" Mae asked, uncertainty knitting her brow.
"Shaun's mother was planning on getting you two engaged," he revealed, softly.
"What?!" Mae's surprise was palatable.
"If not for me, you would have been married to that dumbass brother of mine," Ethan murmured, regret floating in his tone.
"Why would she want us to get married?" Mae questioned, confusion swirling.
"RX Hotels and SJ Group were on a partnership deal. She needed someone with a good amount of shares in RX Hotels, and you fit the bill," Ethan replied, a sense of urgency creeping into his words.
"That doesn't explain why they need me?" Mae said, trying to connect the pieces.
"Once you and Shaun got married, he was going to introduce the idea of RX Hotels becoming part of SJ Group. If he succeeded in merging both businesses together, he was going to take your shares and add them to his, giving him more shares than our great-grandmother," Ethan explained, the weight of their predicament assaulting them both. "With that, he could keep the CEO position to himself, but..."
"But once again you ruined his plans," Mae surmised, the remnants of their earlier banter cracking at the realization.
"Not entirely," Ethan added, his eyes sharp.
"Now I'm starting to suspect you. How do I know you didn't plan to get me pregnant and then marry me to ruin Shaun's plans?" Mae asked, crossing her arms defiantly.
"As much as I would love to take credit for that brilliant plan, it wasn't my idea. Your best friend Bella was behind the whole thing," Ethan confessed, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"What do you mean?" Mae asked, the shift in their banter refreshing.
"Bella was the one who got us intoxicated that night. She's the reason we are in our current situation," Ethan informed her, a twinkle of hidden amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Why would she do that? Isn't she helping Shaun?"
"Well, she wasn't on Team Shaun at that time, and she was jealous that Shaun was starting to show interest in you," Ethan explained, laughter bubbling underneath his seriousness.
"So her best plan was to hook me up with his secretary? No offense," she joked, though worry thrummed through her.
"None taken," he replied with a chuckle.
"So have they given up on their plans to use me to get what they want?" Mae asked, the gravity of the situation settling in her gut.
"No, they haven't," Ethan replied, his tone darkening.
"Why?" Mae inquired, sensing the unease surrounding them.
"There are only two ways for them to get what they want: they either have to kill me, or Shaun has to marry you. Right now, the first is impossible because I'm a Blackwood, and they don't want to pick a fight with my family. So they can only settle for the second," Ethan explained.
"If I get married to Shaun, what will happen to our kids?" Mae's voice trembled with fear.
"His mother will make sure she erases them from your life. You will never see them again," Ethan warned, his expression somber.
"How are we going to stop Shaun and his mother?" Mae pressed, determination igniting within her.
"There is no 'we.' It's you they are after, and besides, you were sympathizing with Shaun earlier, so I'm sure you two will get along," Ethan remarked, an edge of discomfort threading through the silence.
"This is no time for jokes, Ethan," Mae replied, frustration coating her words.
"I'd have loved to help, but I have other more important battles to fight, especially with my mother's brother."
"Are you talking about Sebastian Blackwood?" Mae asked, concern clouding her tone.
"My uncle is not happy with me taking over the company," Ethan admitted, tension tightening around their conversation.
"Why?"
"Well, he wants it for himself, and because he thinks I'm too young," he answered.
"He's underestimating you because you're young?" Mae questioned, her voice colored with disbelief.
"Well, I already made him pay for that mistake," Ethan said, confidence lacing his tone.
"What did you do to him?" Mae asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
"Something that will make sure he never underestimates me again," he replied cryptically.
"Is he going to come after our family?" Mae asked, alarm thrumming in her chest.
"He wouldn't dare," Ethan stated firmly.
"Are you sure?" she pressed, seeking reassurance.
"Trust me, Mae. He won't cause you any trouble," he insisted.
"What about Shaun and his mother?" she implored, her worry punctuating her words.
"Well, that's a whole different matter," Ethan replied, the weight in his voice heavy.
"Ethan…"
"If you want my help, all you have to do is say the magic word," he said, teasingly.
"Please."
"Why does everyone assume 'please' is always the magic word?" Ethan chuckled.
"Then what is it?" Mae fired back, feigning annoyance.
"I don't know; you tell me," he replied, enjoying the back-and-forth.
"Ethan!" she exclaimed, a fierce lightness settling between them.
"I'm waiting," he prompted, a smile stretching across his face.
"You're so annoying," she said playfully, leaning closer to him.
"Mae?"
"I love you," she whispered softly into his ear before planting a gentle kiss upon his lips.
Ethan pulled back, surprise flickering across his features. "What are you doing?"
"You asked for the magic word," Mae replied, cunning laughter dancing in her eyes.
"How is 'I love you' the magic word?" he asked, skepticism coloring his expression.
"How is it not?" she challenged.
"Just forget about it," he said, feigning irritation.
"Does that mean you'll help me?" her eyes widened in hopefulness.
"Do I have a choice?" he relented, the weight of their shared burdens filtering into the air.
"This is why I love you," she cooed, pecking him lightly once more.
"Sure," Ethan replied, his voice warm and filled with light. In that quiet moment, beneath the underground glow, two hearts began to mend, weaving together in a complicated, beautiful tapestry of love amidst the chaos surrounding them.