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Chapter 111 – Ethan's POV
"A Day Just for Us"
She looked so peaceful, sitting at the breakfast table with sunlight spilling across her face, cradling her mug like it held her entire world.
God, I loved her.
It was still sinking in — the fact that she was here, in my home, in my shirt, smiling across the table at me like I hadn't nearly destroyed us once upon a time.
She had forgiven me. Slowly. Carefully.
And now, I didn't want to waste a single second of it.
I didn't want this morning to end.
As she reached for another slice of toast, I pulled my phone from the counter and stepped aside, quietly dialing the office.
"Mr. Lantel," my assistant's voice answered, sharp and alert. "You're not expected until—"
"I'm not coming in today," I interrupted gently, glancing over at Amara. She caught my eyes, raising a curious brow.
There was a pause. "Understood. Should I move your meetings to tomorrow?"
"Yes, and one more thing," I said. "Amara Blackwood. I want her to have the day off too. Paid, no questions asked."
"Of course, sir."
"Tell HR to mark it as executive-approved leave. I'll send a message later to confirm."
"Very well, sir. Anything else?"
"No. That's all."
I hung up, slipping the phone back into my pocket and walking toward her.
She was still watching me.
"Was that work?" she asked.
I nodded, setting my mug down. "I gave you the day off."
Her brows rose. "You what?"
"I called the office," I said simply, "and told them you're not coming in. Neither am I."
Her lips parted. "You gave me a day off without asking?"
"You'd have said no."
She narrowed her eyes. "That's not the point."
I grinned. "I wanted you here."
"I can't just skip work—"
"You're not skipping," I interrupted. "You're being forced into it by your tyrant of a boss who happens to be madly in love with you."
She blinked.
And then she smiled. That small, reluctant smile she gave when she was trying to act annoyed but her heart wouldn't let her.
"You're ridiculous," she muttered.
"I am," I agreed, walking over and pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "But I want to be ridiculous with you today."
She looked down at her half-eaten plate, then back at me. "What exactly do you plan to do with this stolen time?"
I tilted my head in mock thought. "Well… we could go back to bed. Or we could spend the day on the couch watching bad TV. I could run you a bath, massage your feet, cook for you again—"
She held up a hand. "Okay, stop. You're going to spoil me."
"I fully intend to."
She laughed, finally standing from her chair and stretching. My shirt barely covered her thighs. Her hair was a mess. She looked like art in motion.
And she was mine.
"What if someone finds out?" she asked softly. "About us, I mean."
I reached for her hand and laced our fingers together. "Let them. We're not hiding anymore."
She let out a breath and leaned against me. "You're really serious about this?"
I cupped her cheek, making her look at me. "I've never been more serious about anything in my life."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?"
She smiled. "Okay. Let's be ridiculous together."
---
The rest of the morning passed in slow, golden moments.
We cleaned up the dishes together, bumping into each other on purpose, laughing when the soap suds got on her nose.
She showered while I changed the sheets — a small gesture that felt oddly symbolic.
Fresh bed. Fresh start.
When she stepped back into the bedroom wrapped in one of my robes, she looked around, eyebrows raised. "You even made the bed?"
"I'm trying to be a better man," I said, tossing her a fresh pair of socks. "Starting with house chores."
"Impressive."
"You haven't seen anything yet."
We spent an hour on the couch after that, curled together beneath a blanket, watching a terrible romantic comedy that she liked but pretended not to. She kept pretending she hated it… until she started quoting lines under her breath.
I didn't call her out. I just pulled her closer.
At some point, her head dropped to my shoulder and her breathing slowed. She fell asleep on me, just like that.
And I didn't dare move.
I just sat there, one arm wrapped around her, the other playing absently with her fingers.
There was something sacred about the quiet.
About the way she trusted me again.
About the way she let herself be vulnerable, here, in my space — not out of obligation, but because she wanted to be.
---
It was early afternoon when she finally stirred, blinking up at me.
"How long was I out?"
"A couple hours," I said softly.
Her hand gripped mine. "And you didn't move?"
"Didn't want to."
She smiled, sleepy and soft. "You're going to spoil me rotten."
I leaned down, brushing my lips across her forehead. "Good."
She stared up at me, her eyes clouding with something deeper. "I could get used to this."
"You should," I said. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
She didn't reply. She just leaned up and kissed me — slow and deep, like she was memorizing the moment.
And as the sun shifted across the room, as the city moved outside without us, we stayed in our little world — two broken hearts finally whole again.
Together.
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End of Chapter 111 – Ethan's POV