This is a rewritten version of Chapter 10, crafted with a more evocative, dramatic tone suitable for a narrative-driven storytelling video. *** ### Chapter 10: The Ghost of a Smile Seven days. It had been a full week since Noah left, and I was still a ghost haunting the corners of my own life. I haven’t found a rhythm yet—a way to breathe without him there. This is the longest we’ve ever been apart, and if I’m being honest, I’m falling apart at the seams. Noah is my anchor. Without him, I’m nothing but a shipwreck, drifting aimlessly through a grey, indifferent sea. I live for his phone calls. Every time the screen lights up with his name, the world stops spinning. His voice is the only thing that keeps my feet touching the ground. As for Rowan... silence. I haven’t heard a word from him since that final, freezing moment at the airport. A stubborn, aching part of my heart still calls out for him, but I drown it out. I have to. There was no future there—only the slow suffocation of living with a man who looked at me and saw nothing worth loving. For now, the world is quiet. The shadows that haunted us have retreated. Since the echoes of the last shootouts faded, the criminals seem to have crawled back into whatever dark holes they came from. Or maybe they’re just waiting. I was lost in the fog of these thoughts, my head down as I walked, when the world suddenly jolted. *Thud.* The impact knocked the breath out of me. My books went flying, sprawling across the pavement like broken wings. “I’m so sorry! I wasn't looking...” I stammered, immediately dropping to my knees to gather my things. It had been a long, grueling day at school, and all I wanted was the sanctuary of my bed. “It’s alright. I wasn’t exactly watching the compass either.” That voice. It was deep, warm, and instantly recognizable. I snapped my head up. Ethan. He was already on the ground, helping me gather my papers. When our eyes met, he flashed a smile so charming it felt like a physical warmth. I couldn’t help it; I smiled back. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice slightly breathless. He was in full uniform, and God, he wore it well. I might have sworn off men for the foreseeable future, but I wasn't blind. The silver badge, the crisp lines of the fabric over his broad shoulders—he was a sight to behold. “We got a tip about someone dealing to the kids around here,” he said, his expression sobering for a second before his eyes twinkled again. “And let me guess... you’re a teacher here?” He arched a suggestive eyebrow. “I am,” I replied, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. It wasn’t the glamorous career people expected from the wife of a billionaire. My parents had made their disappointment clear, constantly comparing my 'modest' life to my sister Emma’s high-powered law career or Travis’s entrepreneurial success. To them, I was just a teacher. Another mark against me in the family ledger. “So, what’s the specialty?” Ethan asked. He actually sounded interested, his gaze focused entirely on me. It was a sharp contrast to Rowan. In all our time together, Rowan had never asked about my day. I’m not even sure he knew what I taught. “Biology,” I said. “Beauty and brains,” he winked, the flirtation as effortless as breathing. “I like that.” I felt the heat creep up my neck, and I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Uh, thanks.” Ethan made me nervous, but a good kind of nervous. I wasn't used to this—to being seen. In my world, I was the "mouse." Next to a golden, statuesque blonde like Emma, I was invisible. Plain brown hair, plain brown eyes, a petite frame that barely left a shadow. I’d spent my whole life being told I was the background character, the girl boys only talked to so they could get an introduction to my sister. “Listen, I’m sorry I haven’t called,” Ethan said after a moment of comfortable silence. “It’s been chaos at the precinct. No free time at all.” I smiled, though a small, cynical voice in my head whispered it was just an excuse. “It’s okay, Ethan. I get it. Being a cop isn't a nine-to-five job.” We stood there for a beat too long. I shifted my weight, feeling the awkwardness settle in. He just stared at me, his blue eyes searching mine with an intensity that made me want to look away—and yet, I couldn't. “Ethan!” a voice barked from down the street. Another officer was waving him over. “Coming!” Ethan shouted back. He turned back to me, his expression softening. “It was good to see you, beautiful. I’ll see you around, yeah?” “Yeah,” I whispered. Before I could react, he pulled me into an unexpected hug. He smelled like crisp air and something spicy, and for a second, I felt safe. Then, he was gone, leaving me standing on the sidewalk wondering what on earth had just happened. I forced myself to keep moving. I needed groceries, and the walk would do my sore shoulder some good. The sling was off, but the dull ache remained—a constant reminder of the chaos I’d barely escaped. As I walked, my mind was a whirlwind. Ethan’s words echoed in my head. *Beautiful.* Nobody ever called me that. If my own husband found me repulsive, how could a man like Ethan see anything else? *Stop it,* I scolded myself, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. *He’s just being polite. A guy like that doesn't look twice at a girl like you.* I finished my shopping quickly—just the essentials, since the house felt too empty to cook real meals anyway. I stepped out of the store, my bags heavy in my hands, planning to hail a taxi. I hadn't driven today; my shoulder was too stiff to trust the steering wheel. I raised my hand to flag a cab, but my arm froze mid-air. Across the street, the world turned to ice. Rowan and Emma. They were walking hand-in-hand, their fingers entwined like they belonged together. I don’t know where they were going, and I didn't care. Emma whispered something into his ear, and Rowan did something I hadn't seen in years. He laughed. It was a deep, rich, joyous sound that filled the air. He threw his head back, his face glowing with a happiness he had never, not once, shared with me. The pain I had tried so hard to bury came roaring back, a tidal wave of salt and glass. It felt like my heart was being physically crushed in my chest. If only he had given me a single chance. I would have given him the world. I would have made him happy. But he didn't want my world; he only wanted Emma. As if the universe wanted to twist the knife, Rowan turned. He sensed me. The laughter died instantly. The warmth drained from his face, replaced by a dark, hard scowl. It was like I was a smudge of dirt on a pristine window. I was the bringer of his sorrow, the shadow that ruined his light. He stepped toward the curb as if to cross the street—to confront me? To pity me? I didn't stay to find out. I dived into the first taxi that pulled up. “Just drive,” I rasped to the driver. I refused to look back. I refused to watch them. He had moved on. It was easy for him because he had never been anchored to me in the first place. He was free, while I was still drowning. *No more,* I told myself, clutching my grocery bags until my knuckles turned white. I don’t care how long it takes or how much it hurts. Rowan is the past. It’s time I finally start looking for my own light.