The Turning Point

The episode opens with Sofia throwing herself into her work at the gallery, trying to keep her mind off of Ethan. Days have passed since their tense conversation, and despite her efforts to stay focused, her thoughts keep drifting back to him. Every time the door chimes, her heart skips, hoping it's him, but each time it isn't, the disappointment weighs heavier.

Across town, Ethan is still wrestling with his feelings. He’s been avoiding Olivia, who continues to spread rumors about Sofia, but he’s also been keeping his distance from Sofia herself. Conflicted, Ethan seeks advice from his sister, Emma, a sharp and independent woman who has always been able to see through people’s facades.

Over brunch, Emma can sense something is wrong. Alright, spill it. What’s going on with you?”

Ethan sighs, stirring his coffee. “It’s about Sofia. She didn’t tell me who her family was… and it’s kind of a big deal. I don’t know how I’m supposed to trust her after that.”

Emma raises an eyebrow. “So, let me get this straight. The girl you’ve been raving about turns out to be from a rich family… like you. And that’s the issue?”

Ethan frowns. “It’s not about the money, Em. It’s the fact that she hid it from me. What else is she hiding?”

Emma shakes her head. “Look, I get it—you feel blindsided. But from what you’ve told me about her, it sounds like she was trying to protect herself, not deceive you. We both know what it’s like to be judged for our last name. Maybe she was scared you’d do the same.”

Ethan is silent, mulling over her words. Emma, noticing his internal struggle, continues, “You have to ask yourself if this is about her lie or if you’re just scared of getting hurt. If it’s the former, talk to her. But if it’s the latter, you need to figure that out for yourself before you push her away for good.”

Back at the gallery, Sofia’s friend and co-worker, Ben, notices her mood and tries to cheer her up. “You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders, Sof. What’s going on?”

Sofia smiles weakly, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. “Just… Ethan. It’s been days, and I haven’t heard from him. I think I really messed things up.”

Ben offers her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Hey, if he really cares about you, he’ll come around. Give him time.”

Sofia nods, though the uncertainty gnaws at her. She tries to bury herself in the final preparations for the gallery’s upcoming charity event, hoping the busyness will distract her from the lingering sadness.

Later that night, Ethan decides to attend the event. He’s spent days thinking about Sofia and, after talking to Emma, he realizes that his feelings for her are stronger than the doubt Olivia tried to plant. He arrives at the gallery, unsure of what to expect, but determined to talk to Sofia.

The event is buzzing with guests, art enthusiasts, and collectors. Sofia, dressed in a sleek black gown, is mingling with attendees, doing her best to hide her nerves. When she spots Ethan across the room, her breath catches. She hadn’t expected him to show up, but there he is, looking handsome and conflicted.

Their eyes meet from across the room, and for a moment, the noise and chaos of the event fades into the background. Ethan slowly makes his way through the crowd toward her, and Sofia’s heart races, unsure of what’s about to happen.

When Ethan reaches her, they step aside to a quiet corner of the gallery. There’s a tense silence between them, both unsure how to begin.

Finally, Ethan speaks, his voice soft but steady. “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything. About you, and why you didn’t tell me.”

Sofia looks down, guilt weighing heavily on her. “I know I should’ve told you from the start. I was just so scared that if you knew about my family, you’d see me differently. Like… like everyone else does.”

Ethan steps closer, his expression softening. “I was hurt. But I get it now. You weren’t hiding it to deceive me—you were trying to protect yourself. And I know what that’s like.”

Sofia’s eyes meet his, surprised by the empathy in his voice. “I didn’t want to lose you, Ethan. I thought if I could just keep that part of my life separate, things would be easier. But I see now that I was wrong.”

Ethan reaches out and gently takes her hand. “I don’t care about your family’s money. I care about you. I care about the person I got to know—the one who’s passionate about art, who challenges me, who makes me laugh.” He pauses, squeezing her hand. “But I need to know that we can trust each other moving forward. No more secrets.”

Sofia nods, her heart swelling with hope. “No more secrets. I promise.”

There’s a long pause as they look at each other, the tension slowly dissolving. Ethan smiles softly. “So… are we okay?”

Sofia smiles back, tears of relief filling her eyes. “Yeah. We’re okay.”

They share a tender embrace, the weight of their conflict lifting. For the first time in days, Sofia feels like she can breathe again.

As the event continues around them, they slip into easy conversation, the tension of the past week fading. It feels like a fresh start, and both of them are eager to move forward.

However, not everyone is happy about their reunion. Across the gallery, Olivia watches them from a distance, her expression dark with jealousy. She had hoped that revealing Sofia’s secret would be enough to end things between them, but it seems her plan has failed. Undeterred, Olivia vows to come up with a new way to break them apart.

The episode ends with Ethan and Sofia leaving the gallery together, their hands intertwined, a renewed sense of hope between them. But as they step out into the night, a shadow of uncertainty looms in the distance, as Olivia’s scheming threatens to bring new challenges to their relationship.

Episode 5 ends with Ethan and Sofia’s relationship rekindled, but the threat of Olivia’s interference continues to hang over them, setting the stage for future conflicts

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***