Minutes ticked by in the Bentley's leather-scented silence until Ethan pulled up to her building.

His eyes lingered on her legs for a beat too long before he reached for his business card.

The message was crystal clear.

Honestly?

She was shocked he'd still want her after the Grant-sized disaster earlier.

And yeah, Ethan was exactly the kind of man women fantasized about, but...

"Mr. Caldwell," she said carefully, "I think it's better if we don't... complicate things."

He just shrugged, cool as a cucumber.

The man probably had supermodels on speed dial anyway.

"Playing it safe," he commented, pocketing the card. "Smart girl."

Before she could overthink that loaded comment, he was already out and opening her door - all smooth moves and expensive cologne.

If it wasn't for the wrinkled shirt and smudged lipstick on his collar, she might've convinced herself she'd imagined their whole steamy almost-hookup.

Then he was gone, leaving her wrapped in his designer coat that probably cost more than her car.

Her phone buzzed - Ivy, her stepmom. "Lila, get home now! It's bad!"

The panic in Ivy's voice had Lila's stomach in knots.

She found her stepmother looking like she'd been through hell, mascara tracks down her cheeks.

"Where's Dad?" Lila's heart was already racing.

Ivy lost it. "That snake Grant! After everything... After you stood by him when Emerson Group was tanking! Now they're back on top, and what does he do? Dumps you AND throws your father in jail! He's in detention right now!"

Lila's world tilted sideways. This couldn't be happening.

"Let me talk to him," she managed, her voice barely steady.

Despite everything, four years had to count for something, right?

Grant couldn't be this cold.

Her fingers shook as she pulled up his number.

He answered on the third ring.

"Grant, please," she hated begging, but this was her dad.

"We're done - I get it. But leave my father out of this."

His laugh was pure ice.