Treading the line

The day dawned bright and clear, but the atmosphere inside the manor was anything but calm. Emily was still grappling with her emotions from the previous day. She told herself she didn't care about Ethan or his life, but her thoughts betrayed her. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see him—his smug smile, the way he casually ignored her, and, worst of all, the mysterious Rosa.

Meanwhile, Ethan, oblivious to Emily's internal conflict, was unusually cheerful that morning. He decided to make an effort to win Emily over, believing that perhaps the tension between them could be eased with a small gesture.

---

Morning Sparks

As Emily descended the staircase, her emerald-green dress flowing elegantly, Ethan looked up from his coffee. For a moment, he was struck silent.

"You look… nice," he said, his voice softer than usual.

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Ethan smirked. "It's as close as you're going to get from me."

Emily rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Anyway," Ethan continued, standing up, "I thought we could spend some time together today. Maybe take a walk in the garden or—"

"I have work," Emily interrupted, though the idea didn't sound entirely unappealing.

"Work can wait," Ethan countered. "Come on, Emily. Just an hour. It's not like I'm asking you to marry me again."

Emily stared at him for a moment, her resolve wavering. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But only for an hour."

---

A Walk to Remember

The garden was in full bloom, the scent of roses and jasmine filling the air. Ethan and Emily walked side by side, the silence between them oddly comfortable.

"You know," Ethan said after a while, "I've been thinking about us."

Emily stopped walking. "What do you mean?"

Ethan turned to face her, his expression serious. "I know we didn't start off on the best terms. But I'd like to change that."

Emily folded her arms. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"For starters," Ethan said, stepping closer, "maybe you could stop running away every time I try to talk to you."

"I don't run away," Emily protested.

Ethan chuckled. "Right. And I'm not stubborn."

For the first time, Emily laughed—a genuine, soft laugh that made Ethan's chest tighten.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Ethan said, smiling.

Emily shook her head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here you are," Ethan replied, his tone teasing.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. Ethan took a step closer, his hand brushing against Emily's. She didn't pull away.

But just as the tension between them grew palpable, Emily cleared her throat and took a step back.

"We should head back," she said, her voice a little too brisk.

Ethan nodded, though a small smile lingered on his lips.

---

Evening Drama

Later that evening, Emily was in the library, trying to focus on a book, when she heard laughter coming from the sitting room. She hesitated before standing up, curiosity getting the better of her.

As she approached, she stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking at the sight before her.

Rosa was perched on the armrest of Ethan's chair, leaning in close. She laughed at something he said, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. But what made Emily's blood boil was what happened next.

Rosa leaned in even closer, her lips brushing Ethan's ear. From where Emily stood, it looked like she was whispering something intimate. Then, to Emily's horror, Rosa tilted her head as if she were about to kiss him.

Ethan didn't push her away.

Emily's grip tightened on the book she was holding. She didn't wait to see what happened next. Spinning on her heel, she stormed off, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, hurt, and confusion.

---

Ethan's Confusion

Ethan barely registered what Rosa was doing until she laughed and pulled away.

"Relax, cuz," Rosa said, smirking. "I wasn't actually going to kiss you."

"What was that about?" Ethan asked, frowning.

Rosa shrugged. "You wanted her to feel something, didn't you? Trust me, she felt it."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "You're going to drive me insane, Rosa."

"That's what family is for," Rosa replied with a wink.

Ethan sighed, but his thoughts were already drifting to Emily. He hadn't missed the flash of emotion in her eyes before she left. Was it jealousy? Anger?

---

Emily's Turmoil

Back in her room, Emily paced back and forth, her mind racing.

"Why do I even care?" she muttered to herself. "It's not like I have feelings for him. Right?"

But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the image of Ethan and Rosa together refused to leave her mind.

She finally sank onto her bed, burying her face in her hands. "This is ridiculous," she whispered. But deep down, she knew it wasn't.

---

A Quiet Apology

Later that night, Ethan knocked on Emily's door.

"What do you want?" she asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Ethan hesitated before stepping inside. "I just wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine," Emily said curtly.

"Emily," Ethan began, but she cut him off.

"Save it," she said, her voice sharper than intended. "I don't need an explanation, Ethan. You can do whatever you want with whoever you want."

Ethan frowned. "Is that what you think?"

"It's what I see," Emily shot back.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Finally, Ethan sighed. "Goodnight, Emily."

He left without another word, leaving Emily feeling more conflicted than ever.