Sophia Laurent groggily answered the phone.

"Ethan Sullivan, have you lost your mind? It's three in the morning."

A deep male voice came through the line. "Come to my room. We need to go over the script."

Sophia nearly dropped her phone.

"Mr. Sullivan, are you drunk?"

"I'm perfectly sober."

"Then you must have water in your brain."

Ethan chuckled darkly. "I'm the investor. I have every right to oversee an actor's performance. Your role may be small, but it's pivotal."

Sophia tightened the blankets around her and rolled over.

"Even Director Zack isn't this dedicated. Besides, my character barely has any lines."

"All the more reason to refine it."

"No."

Silence stretched for several seconds.

"Sophia, don't make me come get you myself."

"If you dare show up, I'll call the police."

Ethan's voice turned icy. "You weren't this guarded when you were alone with Kyle Grant."

Sophia bolted upright.

"Kyle is different."

The term "Kyle" cut into Ethan like a knife.

"What kind of gentleman is he? Knowing full well about us, yet inserting himself between us."

"Ethan Sullivan!" Sophia's voice trembled with anger. "We broke up because of Isabella Valentine, because of your father. What does Kyle have to do with it?"

"Everything."

Sophia took a deep breath.

"Mr. Sullivan, if you're looking to exploit actresses, the entertainment industry has plenty lining up. But Sophia Laurent doesn't play that game."

She hung up without another word.

Ethan stared at the darkened screen before hurling his phone onto the sofa.

He strode to the window and lit a cigarette.

Amid the swirling smoke, he dialed his bodyguard. "Keep a close watch. Especially on Kyle Grant."

The next morning at breakfast, the two men crossed paths in the hallway.

Ethan eyed the other man coldly. "Mr. Grant, don't you have anything better to do than follow another man's ex-wife?"

Kyle remained unfazed. "She's family to me now. Protecting her is only natural."

"Family?" Ethan scoffed. "Then why hasn't she moved in with you?"

Kyle's expression darkened.

"My care for her expects nothing in return. Unlike some people, whose possessiveness is suffocating."

"What would you know?" Ethan's voice dropped dangerously. "Only those who don't love don't care."

The set was tense.

What should have been a romantic embrace scene had the male actor hesitating to reach out.

Ethan stood behind the monitors, his glare sharp enough to kill.

Director Zack wiped sweat from his brow. "Mr. Sullivan, perhaps you'd prefer to wait in the lounge?"

"Use a double," Ethan commanded.

When it came to the kissing scene, Sophia couldn't get into character.

After five takes, she suddenly remembered how Ethan kissed her.

Her eyes instantly softened with emotion.

"Perfect!" Director Zack exclaimed. "That's exactly what I wanted!"

Ethan's expression darkened further.

After filming wrapped, he intercepted Sophia in the corridor.

"You're returning with me tomorrow."

"No need. I've booked an economy ticket."

"My jet is safer."

Sophia arched a brow. "And the condition?"

Ethan pulled her behind a tree and kissed her fiercely.

The kiss was both domineering and lingering. Sophia struggled at first but gradually succumbed.

"Could you be this passionate with someone else?" Ethan demanded through gritted teeth when they parted.

Sophia punched his chest. "You're impossible!"

"You've driven me past the point of reason."

That night, Ethan forcibly brought Sophia onto his private jet.

To his surprise, Kyle boarded as well.

Mid-flight, Kyle suddenly stood and approached the cockpit.

He placed a knife before the pilot.

"Fly carefully," he said coldly. "Or your family won't live to see another day."

The pilot's face drained of color.