Ethan's grip on the wheel tightened.
"They see Atlas as a threat now," he said, voice calr. "That's the only reason they're reaching out."
Lila was quiet for a second before murmuring, "You really built sothing amazing, you know. I saw the posts… You did great my love,"
Ethan let out a small, humorless chuckle. "Apparently amazing enough for Newton to co crawling back."
"I just don't want them to ruin what you've worked for."
He sighed, shifting in his seat as he pulled into a quiet parking lot near a closed coffee shop.
The neon sign flickered dimly, and for a mont, he just sat there, staring at it, letting Lila's words sink in.
"They won't," he said finally. "I won't let them."
Lila humd softly, as if trying to gauge whether or not he truly believed his own words. "You don't have to stress over this alone, you know. I'm here for you now and I will always be,"
Ethan closed his eyes briefly, exhaling. "I know."
Another mont of silence. Not awkward, but rather heavy with unspoken things.
"…I'm glad you picked up," Lila admitted quietly. "I was worried."
Ethan's lips twitched slightly. "Didn't an to worry you. Just had a lot on my mind."
"I get it," she murmured. "But don't shut people out, okay? You have people who care about you."
His throat tightened for half a second, but he pushed the feeling aside.
"I know," he said again, a little softer this ti.
"Good." There was a warmth to her voice now, lighter, like she was reassured. "Are you heading ho?"
"Yeah," he said, glancing at the ti.
It was past midnight now, and exhaustion was beginning to creep in. "Just needed a minute to breathe."
"Then I'll let you go," she said, but she hesitated before adding, "Call if you need anything, alright? Or I could co over?"
Ethan felt sothing settle in his chest at her words. A steadiness.
"I will call."
"Promise?"
He chuckled lightly. "I promise."
She sighed in amusent. "Good night, Ethan."
"Night, Lila.
The call ended, leaving him in silence once more.
#####
Ethan barely managed to park the Porsche in his driveway before exhaustion hit him like a truck.
His limbs felt heavy, his head slightly foggy from the long day.
The mont he stepped inside his house, he didn't even bother going upstairs.
Instead, he collapsed onto the couch, letting out a deep exhale as he sank into the cushions.
His whole body ached, not in a painful way, but in the way that ca after a long, draining day.
His mind, too, was exhausted — from the grand opening, the unexpected encounter with Newton Corp, and the endless responsibilities piling up.
"I'll just rest my eyes for a minute…"
Just as he was about to drift off, his phone vibrated against his chest.
He groaned.
With reluctance, he lifted it, squinting at the bright screen.
[Vanessa.]
A part of him debated ignoring it — he was so damn tired — but she would probably keep calling if he did so he picked it up.
With a sigh, he swiped to answer.
"Yeah?" His voice was hoarse, low, tired.
The mont she heard him, Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"Ethan! Finally! Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to reach you?"
He rubbed his face with a small sigh. "Not really."
Vanessa scoffed. "I called, like, four tis!"
Ethan blinked, scrolling through his missed calls. "Three, actually."
"Oh my god — " she huffed, clearly frustrated. "That's not the point!"
He smirked slightly, despite his exhaustion. "Then what is?"
"The fact that I had to find out how your big day went through a Postgram post, you could have called you know, I wouldn't have minded!"
Ethan let out a slow breath, closing his eyes. "It was a long day, Vanessa. I didn't have much ti on my phone,"
"I can see that," she muttered. "You looked good, by the way."
His lips twitched at that, it wasnt everyday ine got a complint from her. "Thanks."
"But seriously, Ethan, you should've called."
"I ant to," he admitted, shifting slightly on the couch. "Just… didn't get the chance."
Vanessa was quiet for a second before sighing. "I get it. It's just — I worry, you know?"
He could tell from her tone that she wasn't just annoyed. She was genuinely concerned.
"I know," he murmured.
There was another pause, and then Vanessa added, "Also, you took photos with lissa again? What about the promise?"
Ethan groaned. "Vanessa — "
"Oh, don't you 'Vanessa' ," she huffed. "I saw the pictures. You looked pretty cozy with her."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "She pushed into a pool. There's nothing cozy about that "
"And you're telling that wasn't flirting?"
"She literally shoved ."
"Ethan."
He sighed, rolling onto his side, phone still pressed to his ear. "lissa's a friend. Nothing more."
Vanessa humd, clearly not fully convinced.
"I didn't even know she was going to be there," Ethan added.
"That's… actually fair."
"Glad we cleared that up," he muttered.
Another silence stretched between them, this ti more comfortable.
Vanessa's voice softened. "You sound exhausted."
"I am."
"Then sleep, dummy."
Ethan chuckled under his breath. "Trying to."
"Well, don't let keep you up."
"You kind of already did."
Vanessa let out an amused scoff. "Go to sleep, Ethan."
"Yeah, yeah."
He was about to hang up when she suddenly spoke again, voice quieter this ti. "I'm proud of you, you know?"
Ethan blinked, his breath hitching slightly.
She continued, "For everything. For pushing through, for building Atlas into what it is. You did it, Ethan."
His throat tightened, and for a mont, he didn't know what to say.
So instead, he settled for a quiet, "Thanks, Vanessa."
She smiled, he could hear it in her voice. "Good night, Ethan."
"Night."
The call ended, leaving him alone in the quiet of his ho.
Fo a while, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling until sleep finally took him.
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