**Chapter 39: Sneaking Around** As the elevator's soft hum enveloped them, Ethan guided Janet inside, his towering presence contrasting sharply with her fragile demeanor. She kept her gaze lowered, fingers intertwined tightly, as if her very life depended on it. The tremors that danced through her body betrayed the battle of emotions raging within her, and her breaths quickened, mirroring the chaotic rhythm of her heart. In a swift motion, Ethan removed the black cap that had concealed her identity. Panic flickered across Janet’s face as her eyes locked onto his. Tear-filled and glistening, her long lashes drooped like delicate petals left in the rain, both heart-wrenching and beautiful. “Are you hurt?” he asked, a hint of concern sparking in his gaze as he meticulously examined her for signs of injury. His fingers brushed against her cheeks, squeezing them gently, as if he could erase the fear etched into her features. But his hands, though kind, ventured lower, seeking to assess her waist beneath her clothing. Janet instinctively clutched her garment, cheeks aflame with embarrassment. Her heart raced, mingled emotions swirling together. “Please… don’t do that. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” she managed, her voice a mere whisper. The weight of her silence filled the small space around them, amplifying the gravity of her distress. Ethan, noticing her unease, enveloped her in his arms, a protective embrace that seemed to shield her from the storm brewing in her mind. His strong hands encircled her slender waist, drawing her closer as he released a sigh that held promises of safety. “Don’t be afraid. I swear, from this moment on, I will protect you from that pervert. No harm will come to you,” he declared with an intensity that caught Janet off-guard. She met his gaze, a flicker of hope igniting within her. Yet, despite his reassurances, she couldn’t shake off the darker thoughts cloaked in her mind. “I’m not unhappy because of what happened… It’s something else that’s bothering me,” she confessed, vulnerability creeping into her tone. Janet had grown fond of the safety his presence provided, a sanctuary amidst her turbulent world. This night, he had been her knight, defending her like a hero in a fairy tale. But lurking behind her gratefulness was a fear that gnawed insistently at her heart. She envisioned the repercussions that could follow. “I just know they’ll fire me. I was terrified earlier… the way you pummeled him, I feared he might end up injured or worse. Do you realize that if anything happened, you could go to jail?” “Stay calm, sweetheart. Nothing like that will happen,” Ethan replied, his tone soothing, yet firm. But as the words left his lips, shadows clouded his eyes, and he tightened his grip around her. “Besides, why are you afraid of Ike? He’s nothing but a loudmouth without substance!" Janet couldn’t help but mull over Ethan’s presence in that hotel. “They just invited me for dinner, that’s all,” he said casually, though his nonchalance ignited a flicker of insecurity within her. Memories of the women she had glimpsed in the private dining room surfaced, leading her down a dark path of doubt. Images of her husband's roguish uncle, Garrett, flashed in her mind. The man was notorious for his infidelities, changing lovers as easily as one changes clothes. Had Ethan fallen into that same vortex of temptation? “Oh,” she managed to respond, though an inkling of mistrust lingered. There was an unspoken tension in their exchange that made her insides twist uneasily. Had they truly only done "nothing much"? Feeling overwhelmed, she buried her face in his chest, seeking solace. As they stepped into the apartment, the stench of cigarettes and liquor assaulted her senses, triggering an intense urge to cleanse herself. With thoughts of Ike’s revolting visage still fresh in her mind, she rushed to the bathroom, her only salve against the memories that haunted her. She turned on the shower, letting hot water cascade over her like a warm embrace. The steam fogged the glass, creating a shelter, a cocoon where she could escape the taint of the outside world. With a fervor, she scrubbed her skin, as if attempting to wash away the very essence of that vile man. Once cleansed, awareness set in; in her haste, she had forgotten to bring clothes. Panic seized her as she realized her outfit was sodden. With her heart sinking, she scolded herself mentally, wrapping her modesty in a bath towel that barely covered her. Frustration bubbled inside her, and she sank to the floor, cradling her head in her hands. The thought of facing Ethan in such a state was unbearable; embarrassment loomed like a dark cloud over her head. Her underwear lay just out of reach, hidden with her pajamas—private garments that felt too intimate to share. Janet pressed her ear against the bathroom door, straining to catch any hint of movement beyond. Silence greeted her ears, emboldening her to inch the door open. Stepping carefully into the living room, she liberated herself from the chaos of her thoughts, hoping to slip into her bedroom unnoticed. But fate had other plans. Just as she took her first tentative steps into the open, the handle of Ethan's bedroom door suddenly turned, opening wide with an unexpected creak.