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?”
