The café was filled with a soft hum of voices. Outside, a cool breeze blew, while inside, the scent of coffee and the mingling conversations of people created a warm atmosphere. At a table by the window, Scharline sat with her legs crossed, sipping her coffee as she half-listened to Lisa, who was spilling gossip one after another.
"You know, I saw Jessica the other day," Lisa said excitedly, stirring her coffee. "She still has that arrogant attitude, but now it’s even worse! She’s apparently seeing someone new… A rich, older guy. Ah, Schar, I really wish you’d be a little smarter about this. The most important thing in a relationship is stability—at least financially."
Scharline rolled her eyes. She was no longer surprised by Lisa’s way of thinking. She always talked about the good life, money, and luxury. Scharline was used to it, but sometimes Lisa’s materialistic mindset felt overwhelming. Was life really just about money?
"The important thing is to be happy, Lisa," Scharline said with a faint smile.
"Can you be happy without money, Schar?" Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
She didn’t answer. Because she wasn’t sure herself.
Braun sat silently, watching Scharline out of the corner of his eye. He was the kind of man who never rushed when flirting. His gaze was impossible to ignore. Scharline wasn’t a stranger to these looks. Many men had chased after her before.
But Braun…
Right now, he was the only one who was close to her, who was making an effort to be by her side.
Braun leaned in slightly and spoke in a low voice. "Forget what Lisa says, Schar. If you want to be happy, you need to choose the right man."
Scharline smirked. "And you mean… you?"
Braun bowed his head with a grin. "Well, you’re the one who said it."
Just then, the café door swung open, and someone stepped inside.
Ethan.
The moment Scharline noticed him, her thoughts briefly drifted into the past.
Ethan was the kind of man many young guys aspired to be.
Money, status, women… He had them all. Despite his young age, he was rising fast in the business world. He worked in a modeling agency but was quickly climbing the ranks. More importantly, he was making a name for himself with the new girls he was bringing into the company.
Lisa’s eyes lit up as she turned to Braun. "Look who just walked in… Our handsome prince."
Ethan stood in line to order his coffee, and Lisa immediately started talking faster.
"Did you guys know? Ethan and a few others started a company. Something called Hotgirls. They’re making crazy money right now. Apparently, they bring in new girls and put them on the market."
Braun let out a sarcastic laugh. "Ah, new dolls for the collection?"
Lisa ignored Braun’s mocking tone and continued. "Say what you want, but they’re making serious money. And from what I’ve heard, even the girls are earning a fortune."
Scharline remained silent.
But she was listening carefully to every word Lisa said.
Especially when it came to money.
She resisted the urge to ask, "How much?"
But the questions in her mind started to grow.
When will I have a life this comfortable?8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ixlHBhipz
When will my financial struggles end so I can finally do what I want?
She scolded herself. She shouldn’t be thinking like this.
But Lisa’s words kept echoing in her head.
She knew Ethan.
He had once been Tom’s friend. His family had connections with theirs. Their fathers had been business partners at one point.
But then… something had happened.
And that partnership had ended.
She had never learned why.
But now, looking at Ethan, there was no trace of regret or any sign of the past in his eyes.
Scharline turned back to Lisa and Braun’s conversation, trying to focus.
But silencing the thoughts growing inside her…
Wouldn’t be that easy.
Scharline’s Inner Conflict with Ethan and a Journey into the Past
As Ethan moved through the café, picking up his coffee, Scharline’s eyes followed him without her even realizing it. Lisa and Braun continued their conversation, but she no longer heard them. Watching Ethan, she was momentarily pulled into the shadows of the past.
Years ago…
Tom, Ethan, and herself… The three of them had practically grown up together. Even back then, Ethan had been someone who naturally drew attention. But as they transitioned from childhood to adolescence, Scharline unknowingly began to sense a change in his gaze.
That look.
At first, it seemed like admiration. But over time, the spark in Ethan’s eyes transformed into something else.
He didn’t just see her as a friend anymore.
Scharline had realized it, but at that age, she didn’t know exactly what to do with that knowledge. His interest revealed itself in small ways—sometimes through a touch, sometimes through his eyes lingering on her a second longer than necessary.
And back then, she had enjoyed it.
Little games…
Moments that had started as innocent teasing but gradually gained meaning for both of them.
Sometimes, Scharline noticed Ethan standing just a little too close when he passed by. Was it intentional? Their arms would occasionally brush against each other, or her hair would lightly graze his face.
She used to think he was uncomfortable.
But when she paid attention to the expression on his face, she realized it wasn’t discomfort—it was desire.
And at the time, she had liked it.
Sometimes, she would intentionally step into his space—using her body language, her voice, her gaze—to tease him, to stir something in him. She hinted at things but never fully revealed them.
Ethan had been aware of everything back then.
But he had always hesitated to cross a line.
Now…
Now, Scharline no longer felt the same way about him.
Ethan was still attractive, still someone who turned heads.
But the bond they had shared years ago… was no longer the same.
She knew she had been the first woman Ethan had ever desired.
But back then, it had been a game.
Now, reality was much more complicated.
And that difference left a strange, unsettled feeling inside her.
Ethan took his coffee and stood near the counter.
For a fleeting moment, his gaze landed on Scharline.
And their eyes met.
There was a faint smile on Ethan’s lips—one that carried the familiarity of the past.
But in that smile, Scharline saw something else.
That old look.
That feeling he had once made her experience.
But that game had ended a long time ago.
Scharline took a deep breath, breaking eye contact and focusing on her coffee.
But she couldn’t silence the voice inside her.
Scharline’s Inner Conflict: Comparing Ethan and Braun
Lisa’s voice seeped into Scharline’s thoughts, pulling her back into the present moment.
"If you wanted to get on his radar, what would you do?"
Scharline blinked. She realized Lisa was watching her curiously. The question echoed in her mind, and for the first time, she had no immediate answer.
Because she had never asked herself that before.
But Lisa didn’t wait for a response—she jumped in with her own opinions.
"You know, Schar, the best way to seduce a man is by using your body the right way. You show just enough to make them curious about the rest. For example…" Lisa leaned forward slightly, making her curves more noticeable. "Clothing matters. Tight, form-fitting outfits. A little skin, but not too much. And touches… Men are hungry for physical contact. Sometimes an accidental brush, sometimes a whisper in their ear. It all leaves a mark in their subconscious."
Braun rolled his eyes, visibly unimpressed by Lisa’s analysis.
"Jesus, Lisa. It sounds like you’re writing a manual for escort girls. Maybe you should open an office and make it official," he said with a sarcastic laugh.
Lisa frowned but didn’t back down.
Scharline, however, was actually listening.
What would she do to attract Ethan’s attention?
And more importantly… Did she really want to?
Her gaze flickered toward Braun for a brief moment.
Her relationship with him had always been uncertain—neither love nor commitment, but something else entirely. Braun wasn’t the first man who had desired her, and he wouldn’t be the last. But he was the one closest to her right now.
Yet, Scharline knew exactly what their relationship was built on.
It wasn’t romance. It wasn’t emotion. It was… a transaction.
Braun took her out, showed her a good time, occasionally bought her gifts. But his only goal was to get her into his bed.
Admitting this was hard, but Scharline saw it in his eyes every day. And with every moment she spent with him, the unease inside her grew.
But what if Braun were Ethan?
That thought struck her like lightning.
She began comparing Ethan and Braun.
Ethan… He was stronger, more successful, more untouchable.
He wasn’t like Braun—he wasn’t simple.
He was the kind of man who held power and wealth in his hands.
And most importantly… she knew that once upon a time, she had caught his interest.
But years had passed. Were those games truly over?
Scharline imagined Ethan in Braun’s place.
Would he approach her in the same way?
Would he see her as just another conquest, or… something more?
The thought sent a strange thrill through her.
Maybe…
Maybe it was time to test Ethan again.
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