The restaurant had a warm, elegant atmosphere. It had soft lighting, gentle music in the background, and that low, cozy murmur that made everything feel more intimate than it really was.

Kate sat across from Ethan. She didn't say anything at first, just held her wine glass like it was a shield. Ethan, on the other hand, wore that same confident smile he always had—the one that used to make her laugh back in college. But now… it made her feel something else. Uncomfortable.

"This isn't about the case, is it?" she asked, breaking the silence with a tight smile.

Ethan let out a soft, cheeky laugh.

"No. But it was the only way you'd agree to have dinner with me."

Kate looked down, biting back a smile she didn't want him to see. She glanced away, uneasy, not sure what to do with her hands.

"You still have the same smile," Ethan said, like he was speaking of a memory that still stung a little.

She just toyed with the base of her glass. She didn't want to open that door. Not yet.