Chapter 2 From Enemies to Fiancés

"Backing out at the engagement ceremony? And then wanting to marry her sworn enemy? Kate must have lost her mind!"

"She's way out of her league! Of all people to mess with, why Mr. Levington? She must have a death wish. Besides, how could Mr. Levington possibly be interested in her?"

Ethan, the current head of the Levington family, the undisputed king of Amberhaven's business world. Noble and cold, ruthless in his methods, he was the kind of man all women yearned for yet feared.

Over the years, countless women had tried to get close to him, only to end up completely ruined. Everyone knew Ethan had no interest in women.

And Kate was his notorious enemy. How dare she?

Everyone was waiting for the drama, waiting to see Kate mercilessly pushed away and humiliated by Ethan. This included even Kate's own family.

However, in the suffocating silence, Ethan suddenly spoke.

His voice was deep, with a hint of probing coldness. "Are you sure?"

Wait, this wasn't the right reaction! This didn't sound like he was about to publicly humiliate Kate; it sounded more like he was seriously considering it?

"I'm sure." Kate's voice was still hoarse from crying, but absolutely certain.

Ethan looked down at Kate in his arms, who was suddenly acting so out of character. He couldn't see her expression clearly, but he could feel her body trembling slightly. Thinking she was scared, he instinctively wanted to push her away. But the moment his hand touched her shoulder, he felt dampness beneath the fabric. She was crying?

Ethan frowned, his heart inexplicably tightening.

Had he frightened her? Without thinking, he raised his hand to brush away the hair covering her face, but his fingertips touched a trail of burning tears. Feeling the warmth of his fingertips, Kate cried even harder.

"Don't cry." Ethan's voice came out softer than he intended, laced with a helplessness and a flicker of panic he didn't even recognize. "It's just an engagement. I'll agree."

He thought she was trying to corner him into saying yes. He didn't know Kate's tears were born from the sheer relief of feeling him alive again.

His hand was warm, solid, burning away the frost that had clung to her soul since the moment she died.

Kate pressed his palm to her cheek, clinging to that rare warmth as if she could absorb it into her skin. Ethan's confusion deepened. She wasn't usually this dependent. Vulnerable.

What was she playing at? Had Blake hurt her? Or was this another elaborate act he couldn't read?

He started to pull her upright, ready to demand answers, but she gripped him tighter, panic flashing in her eyes.

"Kate! Let go." His breath caught from the force of her hold, his brow furrowing.

"I won't… I won't!" The words came out raw, desperate. She was terrified that if she let go, she'd lose him again.

In her past life, this was the day Ethan had vanished from her world. After that, there had only been venom between them—her cutting words, his cold distance—until they became sworn enemies. She hadn't known then that he'd been quietly sacrificing for her all along, swallowing his pride, making concessions she never earned. She'd been blind to the depth of his love.

Not this time.

She burrowed into his chest like a stubborn, cornered animal. Ethan's irritation gave way to something else—an unfamiliar, disarming helplessness.

"Kate… what exactly do you want?"

"Get engaged to me."

"I already said yes. I'll arrange the party—tomorrow."

"Not tomorrow." Her voice was hoarse, but her eyes burned with fierce resolve. "Now."

She knew he'd brought a ring today. In her past life, he'd come to take her away. She had pushed him back then, destroyed her own happiness with her own hands.

Her gaze locked on his, unwavering. Ethan had assumed this was just a stunt to humiliate Blake, a grab for protection. But what he saw in her eyes now… it threw him off balance.

His silence stretched, heavy, until a low laugh escaped him—half indulgence, half surrender.

"Fine. Now."

He reached into his suit pocket and drew out a velvet box. When he opened it, light caught on a ruby, glowing with a deep, rich fire. It was his mother's engagement ring—recognizable to anyone in Amberhaven.

Richard's face went pale. He stepped forward sharply. "Ethan, this isn't proper."

"When have I ever lived by someone else's rules?" Ethan's voice was ice, his gaze cutting straight through Richard, silencing him immediately.

Ethan took Kate's hand, sliding the ring onto her finger with deliberate precision. It fit as if it had been waiting for her.

He lifted their joined hands for the entire room to see. "From now on," his voice rang out, clear and commanding, "Kate is my fiancée."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Before anyone could speak, Ethan bent, scooped her into his arms, and carried her toward the exit. Blake's glare followed them like a knife, but Ethan didn't spare him a glance.

Once they were in the car, Kate clung to him like she was welded to his side. Ethan let her, saying nothing, until the car rolled into a familiar gated neighborhood.

"We're at your place," he said evenly. "Get out."

His tone was cool again, as if the chaos at the engagement ceremony had never happened.

Kate's grip tightened. "I'm not going home."

Ethan glanced at her. "Then where?"

"I'm your fiancée. I want to be with you. At your place." She leaned closer, eyes wide, voice soft but stubborn.

His frown deepened, his tone sharpening. "Kate… haven't you had enough of this performance?"

Performance?

She pressed her lips together, realizing he didn't believe her. She raised her hand in a mock oath. "I'm not acting. I meant every word."

His expression didn't change. He just watched her, silent, as if daring her to keep up the charade.

Frustration flared. Kate suddenly shifted, swinging a leg over to straddle him. Ethan's body went rigid.

"Privacy screen," he snapped to the driver.

The partition began to rise. Ethan's glare could have cut glass. "The driver was still here, Kate. Have you no shame?"

"No." Her chin lifted in defiance. "You're my fiancé. If I want to sit on your lap, I will."

His laugh was cold. Then, without warning, he pulled her hard against him. The sudden closeness sent heat flooding her cheeks, her earlier bravado crumbling as her gaze skittered away.

Ethan's smile didn't warm—it sharpened. "Can't keep the act going? Blake's bidding on the new aviation uniform design next week. Is this what it's about? Seducing me to get the plans?"

His voice dropped, colder still. "Or are you fishing for information to hand to him?"

Kate blinked, thrown by the accusation. Her silence only hardened his suspicion.

"So willing to ruin your own reputation for him. Kate, you're a damn fool."

His patience snapped. He tried to push her back into her seat. But she lunged forward again—this time pressing her lips to his.

One second. Two. Three.

Ethan shoved her away, shock and fury clashing in his eyes. "Kate, you—"

"I know you don't believe me," she said, breathless, cheeks flushed, eyes blazing. "Words mean nothing. I'll prove it with actions. Do you believe me now?"

'Believe you? Not a chance. Has she lost her mind? To help Blake, she kissed me? Did she forget she once said even touching me made her sick?' Ethan thought.

Kate froze. Wait… she'd said that?

She searched her memory—it was from so long ago she'd almost forgotten. But Ethan hadn't.

And then another thought struck her.

Just now… Ethan hadn't opened his mouth.

Had she heard that voice in her head?

Was this a side effect of being reborn?