Chapter 2

Amid wave after wave of cheers, the kiss lasted a full three minutes.

When it ended, Ethan's pale lips were already smeared with Harper's lipstick.

"How was that, Ethan? You enjoyed it too, didn't you?"

"I'm a good judge of character. Even though you say you hate me, you really can't resist me. You're physically attracted to me."

Watching her smug expression, Ethan pressed his lips together, feeling a subtle embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed.

"Think whatever you want, but I already have Nina. We're getting married soon."

Harper let out a scornful laugh, completely unconcerned.

"That's fine. As long as there's love, I don't care about titles like 'girlfriend.'"

"When we were kissing just now, your heart was racing and your movements were clumsy. Ethan, was that your first kiss?"

Ethan froze for a moment, tacitly confirming it.

The people around immediately started jeering.

"Ethan, you're not lying to our Harper, are you? You've been with your girlfriend for five years and you're saying you've never kissed? Who's going to believe that?"

"Exactly! Harper, watch out---you might be getting played!"

Harper glared at them angrily, also thinking she'd been deceived, and got up indignantly.

But Ethan pulled her back into his arms.

"I'm not lying to you. It really was my first kiss."

"I have germophobia. At home, I won't even touch her plates and forks... Kissing her, I find it disgusting."

My heart trembled uncontrollably.

Ethan was taciturn by nature, not someone who liked to explain.

Every time we fought or had a misunderstanding, he was a man of few words, leaving me to process my emotions alone.

But now, with Harper, whom he'd only known for a month, he was willing to lower himself.

Harper's expression visibly brightened, her eyes full of mockery.

"You can't even stand kissing her, yet you've been with her for five years? You really can endure!"

Ethan didn't refute it. He just lowered his eyes and said with a sigh,

"If I'd met you earlier, I definitely wouldn't have gotten together with her."

Harper was delighted by his words, grinning as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

Watching them lost in each other, I clenched my fists, my stomach churning.

Forcing myself to calm down, I took out my phone and called Ethan.

My special ringtone played. Ethan instinctively tried to push Harper away.

But Harper wrapped herself around him again, dissatisfied.

By the time Harper finally ended the kiss, I'd already called four times.

Ethan took a moment to compose himself. Once his breathing steadied, he answered.

His voice was the same as always---cold, but tinged with the unique gentleness he reserved for me.

"What's wrong, Nina? The music was too loud just now. I didn't notice you calling."

A mocking smile tugged at my lips. I didn't expose his lie, instead saying softly:

"Ethan, I came to surprise you."

"Turn around."