Chapter 183: A Narrow Encounter
No matter whether it was potions, equipment, or temporary buffs...
...they were ultimately nothing more than external aids.
Ethan awoke to the soft glow of the morning sun.
The other side of the bed was already empty.
The curtains hadn't been fully drawn, allowing slender beams of sunlight to slip through the gap and settle across the edge of the mattress.
He slowly sat up as memories surfaced alongside the sensations in his body.
That familiar exhaustion—the kind that came after being completely drained—returned once again.
But compared to before, it was noticeably better.
At the very least...
...this time, he had endured it.
Ethan lowered his gaze to his hands before rolling his shoulders.
Every muscle in his body ached.
Yet despite the soreness...
...he felt surprisingly good.
His condition was far better than he had expected.
His recent training had clearly paid off.
Praise Natasha!
Praise John!
His strength, stamina, and reflexes had all been put through the most honest—and most brutal—test imaginable the previous night.
He could even say that he and Max were finally approaching an even match.
That realization left Ethan in an exceptionally good mood.
All the hard work had finally produced results, and they were the most direct, satisfying kind of positive feedback.
Of course, it still wasn't enough.
Now that he'd finally reached the threshold, there was no way he was stopping.
His fitness, control, and sense of rhythm all needed further refinement.
He had to keep training.
Keep improving.
And someday...
...make Max willingly admit defeat.
Smiling to himself, Ethan got ready to head for the clinic.
He pulled open the apartment door and stepped into the hallway—
"Ah!"
A startled yelp rang out as someone stumbled straight into his arms.
It was Caroline.
She had apparently been standing outside her apartment, her key already in the lock but not yet turned.
Ethan steadied her before helping her back onto her feet.
Caroline glanced up at him, only to immediately avert her eyes. She froze on the spot, looking like someone who had just been caught red-handed.
One hand held a pair of high heels.
The other clutched her purse tightly.
She instinctively edged toward the wall, as if pressing herself close enough would somehow make Ethan fail to notice her.
Her hair was a complete mess.
She was still wearing the same waitress uniform from the night before.
Before either of them could speak, another set of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Oleg appeared from the opposite end, leaning forward slightly as he walked.
His steps were unsteady.
One hand rested against his chest while the other reached out in front of him, his entire posture screaming, "Last night took everything I had, and I'm still recovering."
Three people.
Approaching from three different directions.
Meeting face-to-face outside Max and Caroline's apartment.
Ethan and Caroline looked at Oleg.
Oleg looked back at them.
An awkward silence settled over the hallway.
Ethan was the first to break it.
His tone was perfectly casual, as though this were nothing more than an ordinary morning encounter.
"Morning, you two."
"Morn—"
Oleg looked at Ethan, then at Caroline, hesitating for a moment.
"Caroline... why are you here?"
Caroline fired back immediately.
"I live here. Why are you here?"
Oleg pointed at her.
"You're still wearing last night's clothes."
Without missing a beat, Caroline shot back,
"So are you."
Both of them turned to look at Ethan.
Sure enough...
He was also wearing last night's clothes.
Oleg delivered another finishing blow.
"And you've still got that post-passion bedhead."
"..."
Caroline sneered.
"Look who's talking."
Only then did Ethan raise a hand.
"I actually took a shower."
He looked at Caroline first.
"The web designer?"
Caroline silently nodded.
Then he turned to Oleg.
"Sophie?"
Oleg immediately straightened his back, pride written all over his face.
"That's right. She called me last night."
"We... held hands."
"..."
Caroline couldn't help blurting out,
"Hasn't Sophie always hated you?"
Oleg shrugged.
"She doesn't hate my hands."
Caroline immediately made a face of pure, instinctive disgust.
"You can't tell anyone," Oleg said seriously.
"That was one of her conditions."
After a moment's thought, he added,
"And she also wants a recent blood test signed by a doctor."
Caroline and Ethan answered in perfect unison.
"No problem."
Oleg's eyes lit up as he turned toward Ethan.
"So, Doctor... your report counts too?"
Ethan thought for a second.
"Come by my clinic today. I'll examine you first."
Oleg pondered it seriously for two whole seconds.
"...Actually, never mind. The clinic near my place is closer."
Caroline immediately added,
"And neither of you says a word to anyone."
She emphasized,
"Especially not Max."
"She'll never let it go."
Oleg nodded vigorously.
"Deal!"
Ethan couldn't help reminding her,
"But she already knows you didn't come home last night."
Caroline waved a dismissive hand.
"What does she know?"
"You know what she's like—big boobs, empty head."
"One time I didn't come home all night either."
"When I got back, she caught me at the door."
"I told her I'd gone out for coffee, it was so good I finished it before I got home."
"She didn't even question it."
After a brief pause, she looked at Ethan.
"Keep my secret."
"I'll tell you one of her little secrets later."
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"Deal."
"Pinky promise?"
Caroline hooked out her little finger.
"Sure."
The two of them hooked pinkies for form's sake.
Caroline then turned toward Oleg.
"Oleg, you too—"
She stared at his hand for two seconds before immediately changing her mind.
"...Actually, never mind."
"I have no idea what your filthy hands touched last night."
Oleg looked genuinely puzzled.
"Didn't I just tell you?"
Ethan and Caroline fell completely silent.
---
The workday at the clinic proceeded exactly as usual.
Ethan was at the top of his game throughout the day.
Patients.
Medical records.
Procedures.
Everything ran without a hitch.
He had originally planned to find an opportunity to properly thank Natasha and John.
Unfortunately, John wasn't at the clinic. Apparently, he was busy with something somewhere nearby.
As for Natasha...
From the moment she arrived that morning, she'd been wearing an unmistakably teasing smile.
The corners of her lips curled upward ever so slightly.
She was obviously waiting for the perfect chance to make a snide remark.
Ethan, however, remained completely composed.
Perfectly at ease.
That's right.
I went to see Max yesterday.
So what?
And I'm going again today.
He didn't even feel the need to explain himself.
After work, Ethan returned to his apartment first and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
Then he picked up the champagne and wine he had prepared in advance...
...and headed toward the Williamsburg Diner.
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