Ethan showed up at Aria's apartment at midnight.
No security. No car.
Just him.
"I'll step down."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"I'll resign as CEO."
Her heart broke.
"You can't throw away everything because of me."
"I'd rather lose the company than lose you."
But she knew the truth.
If he stepped down, Margaret would destroy him.
And Victor would win from prison.
She stepped back.
"You don't choose me over your empire."
His eyes darkened. "You think I care about the empire?"
"I care about the man who built it."
Silence.
Then she said the hardest words of her life.
"We need space."
He walked away.
And for the first time…
They chose distance.
Was Aria right to push him away?
Yes or No?