Wednesday Evening – NY City Mall, Manhattan
The Mercedes Benz rolled up smooth and ink-black against the glass-fronted grandeur of New York City's elite shopping district. Inside, Ethan Vale leaned against the passenger-side door, posture composed, eyes calm behind dark lenses. Leona Joey, glowing and effortless beside him, gave a final glance at her phone before stepping out into the cooled dusk air.
The boutique was high-end—minimalist décor, marble floor tiles, and a soundtrack of ambient electronica that felt expensive. Staff glided, not walked. Smiles were trained and perfectly symmetrical.
Leona led the way toward a private section of the women's collection—one she was already on a first-name basis with.
"Pick something subtle but loud," Ethan murmured. "Something that says 'I don't need the room—but I built it.'"
She turned with a soft grin. "That almost sounded like praise."
"Wasn't," Ethan said, hands in his pockets. "Observation."
She disappeared into a line of silk and structured blazers. Ethan lingered near the mirrored edge of the boutique, watching the store as if it were a chessboard. Until—
"Ethan?"
The voice cut soft and hesitant.
He turned.
Liora.
His ex.
She hadn't changed much—sleek dress, careful makeup, but something in her eyes… almost strained. Next to her stood Jason—tall, fit, the kind of man whose shoes always looked freshly unboxed and whose smirk thought it was doing more than it was.
Jason blinked. "Wait. Ethan Vale?"
Ethan's jaw flexed slightly. "Jason."
Jason looked him up and down with mock subtlety. "Didn't expect to see you here, man. Place like this… you on a shopping spree or just… shadowing someone?"
Before Ethan could reply, Leona reemerged from the aisle, holding two options over her forearm. She hadn't noticed the reunion yet—but Jason noticed her.
His face fell for a second.
Leona Joey.
The Leona Joey.
Jason straightened as if to recheck his posture. "Uh… wow. Are you—?"
Leona's brows rose faintly. "Depends who's asking."
Liora whispered, "That's her… right? From Venture Hall? The Leona Joey?"
Jason chuckled, trying to recover his confidence. "Just surprised to see a business magnate like you out… casually."
Ethan said nothing. Not even a smirk. Just let the silence grow fangs.
That's when it happened.
A young guy, maybe nineteen, hesitant but trembling with excitement, approached Leona from the perfume section. "Ms. Joey, I—I know this is weird, but… could I maybe get a quick photo?"
Leona glanced at Ethan once.
He didn't flinch.
She turned to the fan with a warmth she reserved only for strangers. "Sure. Let's make it quick."
The kid's phone clicked. He walked away in quiet disbelief, mouthing "Oh my god" to himself.
Jason looked like he'd just swallowed his ego. Liora's gaze, however, had changed. She watched Ethan now—really watched. The calm posture, the unreadable face, the way Leona brushed her fingers past his wrist as she stepped back to his side, owning the moment without even trying.
"I didn't know you two were…" Liora started.
"You don't know a lot of things," Ethan said quietly, still not looking directly at her.
The silence cracked like glass under pressure.
Leona tilted her head and offered a smile—gentle, firm, final. "We should go. Ethan has to pick a suit, and I have to talk him out of choosing black-on-black again."
Jason forced a chuckle. "Nice seeing you both."
Ethan didn't reply. He just walked.
Leona followed, her heels soft against the marble, her expression neutral but knowing.
As they exited, the lights of the boutique curved like a halo over their path. Behind them, Jason stood rattled, and Liora watched Ethan's back like she wasn't sure if it was regret or curiosity clawing at her chest.
And Ethan?
He didn't look back once.
Because in his world, some echoes were meant to stay behind glass.