Ethan stood near the edge of the room, his hands curled tightly into fists, his knuckles turning stark white under the pressure.
The torment of standing by, unable to reach out to her, was nearly unbearable. He couldn't touch her. He couldn't even step forward to ask if she was alright. To everyone present, he was nothing more than an ordinary guard.
Even when the opportunity to save her had presented itself, he'd hesitated—and Seven had been a step ahead of him.
Ethan's gaze flicked to the man standing near the railing. His jaw clenched hard as he caught the expression in Seven's eyes while he looked down at Ruri.
He knew that look. Without a single iota of doubt, he knew, Seven liked her.
The noise in the room dissolved into a sharp, high-pitched ringing as Ethan's eyes shifted back to Ruri. His throat tightened. She was staring up at Seven. Her gaze softened in a way that made him uncomfortable.
Ethan swallowed. His eyes hurt as he watched them.
