The event continued, but Anna couldn't focus on a single conversation.
Laughter, music, polite greetings—everything blurred into noise. Her mind kept replaying Ethan's words, his calm confidence, the way he looked at her like this was all part of a plan.
Oliver noticed.
His hand brushed lightly against her back as he leaned closer. "You're distracted."
"I'm thinking," Anna replied quietly.
"About him."
It wasn't a question.
Anna didn't deny it.
Before either of them could say more, a voice interrupted.
"Anna."
She turned.
Ethan stood a few steps away, a glass in his hand, completely at ease as if the tension didn't exist.
"Can I borrow you for a minute?" he asked.
Oliver stepped forward immediately. "No."
Ethan didn't even look at him. His eyes stayed on Anna.
"It's about business," he said calmly. "Unless you're afraid to hear it."
Anna narrowed her eyes slightly.
That was a challenge.
She glanced at Oliver. His expression was dark, warning.
"I'll be right there," she said softly.
Oliver's jaw tightened. "Anna—"
"I'll be fine," she added, her voice steady.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Oliver stepped back, but his eyes never left Ethan.
"Two minutes," he said coldly.
Ethan smirked faintly. "More than enough."
They moved to a quieter corner of the hall, away from the crowd.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then Ethan turned to her.
"You've changed," he said.
Anna crossed her arms. "People do."
"Not like this," he replied. "You used to trust people more."
Anna let out a quiet breath. "Get to the point, Ethan."
He studied her for a moment, then smiled slightly.
"Still direct."
Silence stretched between them.
Then his tone shifted—quieter, sharper.
"Do you know what Oliver's company did ten years ago?"
Anna's expression didn't change. "I know enough."
"Do you?" he asked.
Something in his voice made her pause.
Ethan stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.
"My father had a company," he said. "It was growing fast. Too fast for some people."
Anna felt a strange uneasiness settle in her chest.
"Then one deal went wrong," he continued. "One decision… and everything collapsed."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"What does that have to do with Oliver?" she asked.
Ethan's eyes darkened.
"His company was involved."
The words hit harder than she expected.
Anna shook her head slightly. "No. That doesn't mean—"
"It means everything," Ethan interrupted quietly. "We lost everything. My family. Our reputation. My father…" He stopped for a second, his jaw tightening. "He never recovered from it."
Anna's heart started beating faster.
"That's your version," she said, trying to stay calm.
Ethan gave a small, humorless smile. "Of course it is. And Oliver will have his own version too."
A pause.
Then he looked directly at her.
"But ask yourself this, Anna… why didn't he tell you?"
The question lingered.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Before she could respond, Oliver's voice cut in.
"That's enough."
Anna turned.
Oliver stood a few steps away, his expression cold, controlled—but his eyes held something darker.
Ethan straightened slightly. "We were just talking."
"I can see that," Oliver replied.
The tension between them was immediate, sharp.
Anna looked between them, her thoughts racing.
"Is it true?" she asked suddenly, her voice quiet but firm.
Oliver's gaze shifted to her.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
That silence said more than words.
Anna felt something twist inside her.
"Anna—" he started.
But she stepped back slightly.
"You should have told me," she said softly.
Oliver's expression tightened. "It's not that simple."
"It never is with you," she replied.
The air between them grew heavy.
Ethan watched silently, a faint shadow of satisfaction in his eyes.
Anna noticed.
And something inside her shifted again.
This wasn't just about the past.
This was a game.
And she was right in the middle of it.
She looked at both of them, her voice calm but strong.
"I don't know what happened ten years ago," she said. "But I will find out."
Oliver's jaw clenched.
Ethan's smirk returned, slow and deliberate.
"That's exactly what I was hoping for," he murmured.
Anna turned and walked away, her mind filled with questions.
Behind her, the tension between Oliver and Ethan remained—silent, dangerous, and far from over.
Because the past they tried to bury…
was finally coming back to life.