Chapter 4

Ryan's company, Dreamscape Studio, was perched on the top floor of a high-rise right in the middle of downtown.

The whole floor was his, and the place carried a sleek, artsy vibe. It looked modern and stylish, alive with creative energy.

He brought me to a spacious, sunlit office with floor-to-ceiling windows, the city stretching out below us, all hustle and bustle.

"This is your office now," Ryan said, handing me a glass of warm water. "Sorry you had to come back and jump straight into a mess like this."

"No, really, it's fine," I replied, taking the glass and shaking my head. "If anything, I should be thanking you. Ryan, thanks for taking me in."

It had been seven years since I'd worked in my field. I felt like I'd fallen off the map professionally. Sure, I'd been top of my class in college, but after all this time away, I couldn't help but feel unsure of myself.

"Don't say that," Ryan laughed. "I know your talent better than anyone. You have won international awards, and you still picked my little studio to come back to. I am the lucky one here."

He was talking about my college days, back when I was young and a bit wild, using the alias "Echo" when I entered design competitions overseas. I won several awards and even gained a small reputation in the field.

But after I got married, I gave up the chance to keep growing in my career and let go of my "Echo" identity. I was content to play the role of the woman behind Ethan, supporting him from the shadows.

Ethan had no idea about any of this.

He had only ever seen a housewife who spent money and kept the home running, nothing more.

"That's all behind me now," I said with a wry smile. "I'm just the new kid here, so I'll need you to show me the ropes, Mr. Cole."

"Easy enough," Ryan chuckled, his gaze gentle. "Since Dreamscape just scored our ace designer, lunch is on me today. Let me give you a proper welcome."

"Sounds good," I said.

After talking with Ryan, I started getting familiar with the place and catching up on the projects Dreamscape had in the works.

Dreamscape might be a young studio, but it had already earned a solid reputation in the field, taking on landmark architectural projects. Ryan's talent spoke for itself.

Staring at the design tools and blueprints I hadn't touched in years, I felt the passion I thought I'd lost suddenly reignite inside me.

A quiet sense of resolve settled over me, as if the moment itself were welcoming me back.

At noon, Ryan took me to an upscale, exclusive restaurant nearby.

We had barely sat down when the door to our private room burst open.

Ethan appeared in the doorway, his face thunderous.

Claire trailed behind him, worry written all over her face.

"Emily, I knew I would find you here." Ethan's eyes locked on me before shifting to Ryan. "So I really did underestimate you. You wasted no time replacing me, did you?"

Ryan stepped in front of me, his expression hardening. "Mr. Grant, please leave. This is a work lunch."

Ethan let out a harsh laugh. "A work lunch? The two of you, alone in a place like this?" He looked me up and down, disgust twisting his mouth. "Emily, we are still married. Did you forget that? And you expect me to believe this is work? What is this supposed to be? A date? Or something you could not wait to jump into the moment you left me?"

His mouth kept going, every line he threw out more vile than the last.

I was so furious that my hands shook. I snatched up a glass of juice, ready to toss it right in his face.

But Ryan stopped me, his eyes cool but full of a quiet, intimidating force as he stared Ethan down.

"Mr. Grant, Mr. Grant, speak if you must, but keep your language in check," Ryan said, his tone cool but unyielding. "Emily works for me now, and this is a work lunch. But you? You walked in here with another woman and started interrogating your own wife. Does that not strike you as ridiculous?"

Ryan shot a sharp look at Claire, who was hovering behind Ethan.

Claire shrank back under his gaze, mumbling, "Ethan, let's go. Let's not make this any harder for Mrs. Grant..."

"Shut up," Ethan snapped, his voice sharp with irritation.

Ethan glared at me, eyes drilling straight through. "Emily, I am asking you one last time. Are you coming with me or not?"

"My answer hasn't changed since this morning," I said, standing up and meeting his eyes. "Sign the papers, Ethan. Don't make a bigger scene."

"A bigger scene?" Ethan let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You are sitting here with another man in the middle of the day, pretending it is work. Do you honestly think anyone would buy that? I am not signing anything. You want out? Then you can wait. I will drag this out as long as I damn well want. You are not ending this marriage just to run to him."

His twisted obsession and refusal to listen made me lose all hope.

I was done wasting words on him. Taking Ryan's hand, I said, "Ryan, let's go."

"Stop right there." Ethan stepped forward, trying to block my way.

Ryan moved to block his path, standing firm between us.

The two men, both tall and imposing, faced each other in a silent standoff. The tension between them was unmistakable.

Just then, a breaking industry news story echoed through the restaurant from the TV.

"Sources report that the internationally recognized architect known as Echo has returned home and joined the rising firm Dreamscape Studio as its new chief designer. The announcement has already caused a stir in the local design community."

A moment later, my photo appeared on the screen.

It was not a casual picture. It was the one taken years ago, when I stood on stage in college accepting an international design award.

In that photo, I looked young, confident, and absolutely radiant.

The whole restaurant went dead silent.

All eyes were on me.

Even Ethan.

The rage and jealousy on Ethan's face just stopped cold, replaced by total shock and utter disbelief.

He stared at the TV and then back at me, his lips trembling, for he was so stunned he couldn't even form a word.

Ethan finally managed to choke out, "Echo... You're Echo?"