Half-asleep, Sophia Reed thought she heard the soft creak of a door opening.

A wave of unease crawled up her spine.

She blinked awake, eyes adjusting to the dim golden glow of the bedside lamp. There—standing in the middle of her room—was the teenage boy who had sneered at her the day before. His eyes were closed, his face blank, moving like some sort of automaton without a soul.

Sophia nearly screamed, but caught herself in time. Sleepwalking, she realized after a stunned second. She’d been through similar episodes before—back when her nerves were shredded by stress. People’s bodies had their own ways of purging emotion, she supposed.

Still, the sight of Ethan Kane wandering around her room in the middle of the night like a lost ghost made her heart pound.

Seriously, doesn’t anyone in the Kane Manor check on this kid? What if something happens?

Muttering under her breath, Sophia slipped out of bed and gently caught his wrist. Bit by bit, she coaxed him back to bed and tucked him in.

“Like father, like son,” she grumbled under her breath. “The older one’s a headache, the younger one’s a walking nightmare. I must’ve owed the Kanes something in my past life.”

The next morning, the storm over Manhattan hadn’t let up. Thunder still rolled distantly over the East River.

Sophia woke with a start—a cold, heavy sense of being watched prickled her skin.

When she opened her eyes, she nearly screamed again.

Ethan stood by her bed, hair tousled, face pale and grim.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she blurted.

“That’s my question!” the boy snapped back. “What are you doing in my bed? My dad told you to get out—why are you still here?”

Sophia yawned, snuggling back into her pillow.

“Sweetheart, open your eyes and look around. This is my room, my bed. And maybe—just maybe—you should be thanking the person who saved your life last night.”

She was still wearing last night’s sequin dress, now paired awkwardly with lounge pants she’d grabbed for warmth. The effect was… chaotic, to say the least.

“If it weren’t for me,” she added lazily, “you’d still be wandering the hallways half-dead in your sleep.”

Ethan’s face darkened. He looked like he wanted to bite someone. “You’re disgusting! Can’t seduce my dad, so now you’re trying me?”

Sophia found him adorable in his fury. “Your dad’s too old and cranky—an old man’s flavor just doesn’t appeal to me. But you? You’re fresh and tender. Way more tempting.”

“Gross!”

The boy bolted from the room, slamming the door behind him. Sophia collapsed into laughter—until she looked up and froze.

Alexander Kane was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Dark silk pajamas, tousled hair, eyes sharp as glass.

“Good morning, Mr. Kane,” she said weakly.

A long pause.

“Get dressed,” he said evenly. “Come to my study.”

Sophia’s legs were trembling as she approached the study. She was doomed, obviously. Last night she’d crawled into his son’s bed, and this morning she’d teased the boy within earshot. What else could he want except to fire her—or worse?

She stopped at a safe distance from the desk. The room was dim; the curtains were drawn. Alexander sat behind his desk, now wearing a loose cotton shirt instead of silk, collar slightly open to reveal the hard lines of his chest. A pair of rimless glasses framed his cool gaze.

He gestured for her to come closer.

“Mr. Kane,” she said carefully, forcing a smile. “I was just packing my things—”

“In such a hurry to leave? I thought you liked Ethan.”

He’d heard. Oh, he’d definitely heard.

“It was just a joke, Mr. Kane. The kid’s adorable, I was teasing him.”

“Oh? And the old man’s flavor?” His tone was mild, but every syllable was a blade.

Her face drained of color. “I—I shouldn’t have said that. My apologies, sir.”

“Come here.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried absolute authority.

Sophia hesitated, then slowly stepped forward.

Alexander’s long fingers tapped the desk, eyes glinting behind the lenses.

“Old man’s flavor?” he repeated, voice slow, dangerously amused.

“I was wrong,” she murmured immediately.

“Am I that old?”

His voice brushed against her ear—low, close, unsettling.

Sophia’s breath caught. Up close, his collarbone and chest were right there, tanned skin against white cotton. Old man, her ass.

“N-no, you’re not—”

Alexander chuckled softly, releasing her wrist.

“I don’t think you need to pack just yet,” he said. Then, calmly:

“Until Ethan’s sleepwalking is cured, you’re not leaving Kane Manor.”

Her heart jumped.

“The future heir of Kane Corporation,” he added coolly, “can’t afford to have a single stain on his reputation.”

Sophia understood immediately: he wanted to keep her silent. This wasn’t a request—it was an order.

As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her one last time.

“If you’re going to act like you’re fond of Ethan,” he murmured, “then act the part. Don’t half-ass it. Understood?”

“Yes, Mr. Kane.”

Sophia was exhausted. The past twenty-four hours had been a circus.

She flopped onto the massive bed, groaning. So much for leaving—now she was stuck here, forced to “play nice” with the Kanes.

A knock came at the door. She sat up fast.

“Come in,” she said, clearing her throat.

Mr. Howard, the butler, entered with a neatly folded stack of clothes.

“Miss Cole, these are from Mr. Kane,” he said.

Sophia nodded.

Then came the dagger:

“Mr. Kane also asked me to remind you—teachers should look the part. Please avoid… unprofessional attire that might affect the young master’s aesthetic sense.”

Mr. Howard gave a polite bow and left.

Sophia’s face flamed red. She looked down at the conservative, high-necked blouses he’d sent. Insufferable man. Insulting her without a single curse word.

By the time she came downstairs, wrapped tightly in one of the dull blouses, only Ethan was in the dining room. He didn’t look up, didn’t greet her, didn’t acknowledge her existence.

“Where’s your father?” she asked before she could stop herself.

And immediately regretted it.

Sure enough, Ethan’s glare snapped toward her. “Still scheming? Forget it—Dad’s not interested in you, you pathetic woman!”

Sophia didn’t bother getting angry. She smiled slyly.

“Oh honey, don’t say that. I already told you—I like you, remember? So young and fresh.”

She threw him a deliberately exaggerated wink.

Ethan recoiled, disgusted. “You’re insane!”

He stormed off, muttering under his breath. Sophia smirked. “Rookie,” she said softly, settling into her chair. “Don’t challenge the pro.”

Finally alone, she was about to enjoy breakfast when heavy footsteps sounded behind her.

Ethan again—this time carrying textbooks, face set in grim determination.

“Eat fast,” he said. “You’re tutoring me after this.”

Sophia sighed, instantly losing her appetite. Right. Private tutor. Great.

Back in the study, she flipped through his prep materials and exhaled in relief. The content wasn’t too difficult—middle school history, mostly. Whoever his previous tutor was had made decent notes, though clearly lacked direction.

She might not have been a teacher in years, but she was still a top student once. Picking this up was child’s play.

Ethan sat stiffly, radiating annoyance. Sophia laid three practice exams on the table.

“What’s this supposed to be?” he snapped.

“Tests,” she said sweetly.

His expression twisted. “You’re taking revenge, aren’t you?”

“Can’t handle it?”

Her voice was light, teasing. He looked ready to explode.

Sophia reached out and pinched his cheek lightly. “Still so soft,” she murmured.

“Don’t touch me!” He slapped her hand away, face burning.

“What, never had a girl pinch your face before?” she teased. “Or maybe no girl’s dared come close?”

Ethan went silent, fists clenched. His expression—cold, brittle, painfully proud—was a perfect echo of his father’s.

“Too much,” he muttered.

Sophia laughed. “Then stop acting like such easy prey.”

She checked the clock and her tone shifted.

“Alright, focus. Finish before dinner.” She handed him a pen.

When he hesitated, she added lazily, “If you don’t, I might have to ask your dad for extra lessons. Who knows, maybe we’ll ‘bond’ over your progress.”

That did it. Ethan grabbed the pen like it was a weapon.

Over my dead body.

Sophia smiled in satisfaction and tapped his back lightly with a ruler. “Sit straight. You’ll ruin your eyesight.”

He glared at her but obeyed.

She yawned, half-watching as he scribbled furiously. The servants brought fruit and milk throughout the afternoon, all of which she happily devoured.

Sometimes, when she thought no one was watching, her fingers twisted together unconsciously—an old nervous tic.

From the security feed in his office, Alexander Kane saw it all. His gaze softened almost imperceptibly.

She reminded him of someone. Someone he shouldn’t still be seeing in every shadow.

With a quiet sigh, he pressed a button on his desk.

His assistant entered.

“Dig up everything on her,” Alexander said flatly. “More thorough than last time.”

“Yes, Mr. Kane.”

After the assistant left, Alexander Kane rubbed his temples and cut the video feed, beginning his day’s work.

Meanwhile, Ethan Kane had tried rebelling several times, only to be firmly subdued by Sophia Reed. His expression began to change — even the way he glanced at her carried a faint trace of curiosity.

When Ethan started Sophia’s first practice test, the questions were ones he already knew. The second test pushed him a little, and by the third, every problem was a twisted challenge.

By the time he reached the final reading comprehension, Ethan had to admit — he was starting to see her differently.

During all that tutoring, Sophia hadn’t once seen Alexander again — whether by coincidence or design, she wasn’t sure. But the fact alone eased the tension that had been pressing on her chest.

Truthfully, she still couldn’t be herself around him — not when she wore Vanessa Cole’s identity. Every time she thought of the days she’d been Alexander’s kept woman, her stomach twisted.

Ethan, growing restless, suddenly shoved the test paper aside.

“You sigh more than the turtles in the Central Park fountain. It’s distracting.”

Sophia blinked, then smirked. “At least those turtles have a stable job — I don’t even qualify. Do you?”

He huffed, cheeks puffed, and went silent. That earned him a quiet laugh from Sophia. The kid was prickly, but interesting.

When the session ended, Sophia graded his papers, marked key sections, then stretched out on the bed upstairs. Ethan lingered over the red ink on his pages.

Something about her handwriting… it looked familiar.

Could people’s writing really change that much?

No — it looked exactly like her handwriting.

Was she imitating it on purpose?

A mischievous grin spread across Ethan’s face. Being a tutor at the Kane Estate wasn’t bad — good food, good pay, and a student who was bright enough to make it entertaining.

Later, Sophia lounged comfortably in bed scrolling through her phone. She deleted every file and message related to Alexander Kane. Those were things Vanessa Cole would have needed — not her.

No one knew Alexander like she did. That man’s heart was made of ice and razor wire.

Just as she cleared the last file, her phone buzzed violently. She answered on instinct — and a man’s furious roar exploded through the speaker.

“Useless trash! You still haven’t finished the job?”

It took her a few seconds to realize it was Nathan Cole, this body’s brother.

“You worthless fool! You’ve got the looks, but can’t even seduce a man properly?”

Nathan’s insults came one after another, vicious and relentless. Sophia tried to interrupt, but he never gave her the chance.

Finally, he snapped, “Tomorrow afternoon. Be home to sign for the package.”

Then — click.

The line went dead.

Sophia stared at the dark screen. Whether or not he called, she’d already been planning to find him. She wasn’t about to throw her life — or Vanessa’s — away for some twisted scheme involving Alexander Kane.

The next day, Sophia pulled on a white T-shirt and light blue jeans, heading downstairs to tutor Ethan. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, it turned — and she froze.

Standing there was Alexander Kane himself, cold and devastatingly handsome.

“Mr. Kane,” she greeted, forcing calm.

He barely glanced at her. That look — detached, distant — she knew it all too well.

Sophia lowered her gaze, saying nothing more. But when he stopped beside her, she tensed, fingers twisting together nervously.

From behind them came a voice. “Dad?”

Ethan stood halfway down the stairs, expression uncertain.

Sophia’s mind raced. Great. Now the kid thinks I’m flirting again.

“Ethan, wait downstairs,” she said evenly.

But Ethan frowned. “Maybe the tutor should go first.”

Sophia forced a smile. “You’re right, Ethan. If Mr. Kane doesn’t need me, I’ll go ahead and prepare for the session.”

Without waiting for permission, she practically bolted.

Alexander watched her retreating back — and for a moment, something strange stirred in his chest. He turned toward his son.

“Didn’t you say you hated her?”

Ethan shifted uncomfortably, mumbling, “I just think… she explains things well.” Then he slipped away.

Alexander’s gaze lingered, dark and thoughtful.

Later, during the lesson, Ethan seemed sharper — and pricklier. No matter what Sophia said, he found a way to argue. Finally, she turned it into a challenge.

“If you don’t focus, I might just marry your father and become your stepmom.”

That did it. Ethan scowled and finished every problem in record time.

By evening, Sophia felt like she’d fought a war. As she was about to rest, Mr. Howard, the butler, appeared with a small package.

“Miss Cole, this arrived for you.”

Her heart dropped. The delivery.

Thanking him, she slipped into a quiet corner to open it. Inside was a small glass vial. She picked it up, and her face instantly flushed red.

An aphrodisiac?!

Nathan Cole really had lost his mind. Did he think she could actually drug Alexander Kane — and live to tell about it?

Sophia destroyed the box but kept the vial, staring at it for a long time before tucking it into her pocket.

She’d find another use for it — one that didn’t involve dying.

What she didn’t know was that Alexander, standing on the upstairs balcony, had seen everything. His expression was unreadable — lips pressed in a tight line.

That night at dinner, Mr. Howard summoned her:

“Mr. Kane requests your presence in the dining room.”

Sophia entered to find both Alexander and Ethan at the table, both watching her intently.

Alexander’s fingers interlaced calmly as his gaze dropped — precisely — to the pocket where she’d hidden the vial.

Sophia’s heart skipped.

Then came his low, commanding voice:

“Where is it?”