Behind the Smile The next morning, Ethan’s office felt unusually quiet.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.” The door opened slowly.
“Good morning, Mr.
Hawthorne.” The greeting was polite.
Professional.
But something was missing.
The warmth.
Ethan looked up from the documents in his hands.
For a brief moment…
He forgot what he had been reading.
Ava stood before him in an elegant champagne-colored dress that reached just below her knees.
The fabric was simple but graceful, accentuating her petite frame without being overly extravagant.
Her dark hair, usually tied into a neat bun, had been styled into soft waves that rested gently over her shoulders.
She looked…
Beautiful.
Not in the dazzling, attention-seeking way that filled magazine covers.
She looked effortlessly beautiful.
Ethan found himself staring.
Ava shifted awkwardly beneath his gaze.
“You asked me to dress appropriately for today’s conference,” she said quietly.
“I hope this is acceptable.” Acceptable?
It was far more than that.
“It suits you.” His voice was lower than usual.
“Very well.” Instead of thanking him with her usual bright smile, Ava simply nodded.
That was when Ethan noticed it.
She still wasn’t looking at him.
She was still upset.
He quietly placed the file on his desk and walked toward her.
One step.
Then another.
Until only a short distance separated them.
Ava instinctively looked up.
“What?” “You’ve been avoiding me.” She blinked.
“No, I haven’t.” “You have.” “I’ve been working.” “You’ve been avoiding looking at me.” Ava folded her arms.
“And whose fault is that?” Ethan frowned.
“…Mine?” She let out a short, humorless laugh.
“So you do know.” “I don’t.” Ava stared at him in disbelief.
“You seriously don’t?” He slowly shook his head.
“I’d like you to tell me.” “So you can fix it.” Something about the sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.
Still…
She had every intention of making him hear it.
“You embarrassed me.” Ethan listened quietly.
“You yelled at me in front of everyone.” “You sent me away like I was some annoying child.” “I thought you hated working with me.” Her words tumbled out one after another, and once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop.
“You never answer my greetings.” “You always look so cold.” “I was trying my best.” “I-” She stopped.
Because Ethan wasn’t interrupting.
He wasn’t defending himself.
He was simply watching her.
There was the faintest smile at the corner of his lips.
She frowned.
“Why are you smiling?” “I wasn’t.” “You were.” “I might have been.” She became even more irritated.
“I’m pouring out my feelings and you’re smiling?” “I wasn’t smiling at what you said.” “Then what?” Ethan hesitated.
“…You.” “What?” “You pout when you’re upset.” Ava’s eyes widened.
“That’s what you’ve been paying attention to?” Without realizing it, Ethan had taken another small step closer.
Close enough that Ava instinctively stepped back.
He continued listening.
She continued complaining.
One step.
Another.
Until- Her back gently met the wall.
Ava looked up at him, suddenly aware of how close he had come.
“W-What are you doing?” The question pulled Ethan back to reality.
He blinked.
Then immediately stepped away.
“I’m sorry.” A genuine apology.
“I didn’t realize.” Silence settled between them.
Then Ethan spoke again.
“I’m also sorry about the other day.” Ava looked surprised.
“I wasn’t angry.” “I was worried.” His voice softened.
“You hit your head.” “You looked dazed.” “I wanted you to make sure you weren’t hurt.” “I handled it badly.” “But I never meant to scare you.” Ava stared at him.
All this time…
He had been worried?
Not annoyed?
Not angry?
She suddenly felt a little embarrassed for assuming the worst.
“I…” She looked away.
“I’m sorry too.” Ethan smiled faintly.
“So…” “We’re okay?” After a brief pause…
Ava finally smiled.
The first genuine smile she’d given him in two days.
“We’re okay.” For some reason…
That answer made Ethan’s morning considerably brighter.
— The conference and award ceremony were being held at one of the city’s most prestigious convention centers.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Guests wearing elegant evening attire stepped onto the red carpet one after another.
When Ethan and Ava arrived, another car stopped behind them.
Lucas stepped out first.
Moments later, Mia joined him.
The guards greeted them politely.
“Invitation, please.” Ethan handed over the embossed invitation.
After checking the names, the guards smiled respectfully.
“Welcome, Mr.
Hawthorne.” As they entered the grand ballroom, Ava couldn’t help looking around in amazement.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.
A live orchestra played softly in the background.
Business leaders, celebrities, investors, and politicians filled the room.
Almost immediately, several people approached Ethan.
“Mr.
Hawthorne.” “It’s good to see you again.” “Congratulations on Aurora Grand’s recent improvements.” Some of the people greeting him were nearly twice his age.
Yet every one of them spoke with respect.
Not because of his age.
Because of the Hawthorne name.
Ava watched quietly.
From the outside, it looked glamorous.
Powerful.
Perfect.
But the longer she observed…
The more exhausted Ethan seemed.
He smiled politely.
Shook hands.
Held conversations.
Answered questions.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Eventually, Ava and Mia drifted away to give the brothers some space.
Mia sighed dramatically.
“I wish I were born into a family like theirs.” Ava looked at her.
“Really?” “They’re rich.” “They’re handsome.” “They own practically everything.” Ava smiled gently.
“You only see the easy part.” Mia frowned.
“What do you mean?” “Wealth comes with responsibility.” She glanced toward Ethan, who was speaking to another group of investors.
“Everyone depends on them.” “Their family.” Their employees.
“Their businesses.” “One wrong decision could affect thousands of people.” Mia followed her gaze.
“I never thought about it like that.” Ava nodded.
“Money doesn’t erase hardships.” “Sometimes…” “It just gives you different ones.” Mia fell silent.
For the first time that evening…
She understood.
— Several minutes later, Mia looked around.
“Where did they go?” Ava blinked.
Ethan and Lucas were gone.
The girls searched the ballroom.
The dining area.
The terrace.
Nothing.
Finally, they noticed a small balcony overlooking the city.
There, hidden away from the crowd…
The Hawthorne brothers stood quietly.
Each held a glass in one hand.
Neither of them was speaking.
They were simply enjoying the silence.
Escaping, if only for a few minutes…
From the weight of carrying the Hawthorne name.