Ethan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck before glancing back at Jane. His voice was calm, steady—not demanding, not pushing.
"I know there's something in your past," he said, watching her reaction carefully. "Something you don't talk about."
Jane's fingers tensed slightly in her lap, but she didn't interrupt.
"But I'm not going to investigate it," Ethan continued. "You don't have to tell me anything until you want to." He leaned back slightly, letting his words settle. "No need to hurry. I trust you."
Jane's eyes widened just a little, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something. But no words came out. Instead, her gaze grew softer, almost fragile. A shimmer of moisture gathered at the edges of her eyes, her hands clenching slightly before she quickly looked away, blinking rapidly.
Ethan didn't comment on it.
Instead, he moved on instinct, reaching forward and pulling her into a hug.
