Chapter 4

Wednesday afternoon, my parents went on a business trip. Only Ethan and I remained at home.

I carried a plate of freshly cut fruit and carefully pushed open the study door.

Ethan was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, breathing evenly, seemingly already asleep.

His tie was loosened slightly, revealing a large expanse of delicate collarbone.

I stared at his thin lips, my mind filled with scenes from my novel of him being kissed until red and swollen, panting.

My hand reached out uncontrollably, inching closer to his cheek.

Just one touch would be enough.

His phone on the desk suddenly vibrated. I jerked my hand back like I'd been shocked, my heart nearly leaping from my throat.

The screen displayed a message from Mia.

"Darling, I came back early. Let's have dinner together tonight."

Darling.

Those three words stabbed my eyes.

Ethan was awakened by the vibration. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze hazy for a moment before returning to clear indifference.

Seeing me standing nearby, he sat up straight and casually adjusted his collar.

"What is it?"

"Nothing... I brought you some fruit."

I pointed frantically at the fruit plate on the desk.

Ethan's gaze fell on the lit screen. A trace of extremely faint smile actually rippled in his eyes.

It was a warmth I'd never seen before.

He picked up his phone to reply to the message, not even sparing me a glance.

"Leave it there. I'll eat it later."

I don't know how I walked out of the study.

Back in my room, I swept everything on the desk to the floor.

Why!

Why should he give all his tenderness to that woman!

Ethan was mine.

Could only be mine!

Since he wanted to fly away with someone else, I'd break his wings and drag him into hell with me.

I pulled open the drawer and took out a small white bottle from the very back.

This was something I'd obtained from the black market. Originally just an impulse purchase, but now it finally had a use.

In the afternoon, Ethan went out for a while. When he returned in the evening, he carried a faint perfume scent.

Mia's scent.

I forcefully suppressed the violence in my heart, lowering my eyes as I brought a cup of calming tea to the living room.

"Ethan, you've been working overtime so much lately. Drink some calming tea and get some rest early."

Ethan removed his suit jacket and casually accepted the teacup without any wariness, tilting his head back to drain it in one go.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. The swallowing motion was inexplicably sexy.

After drinking, he handed me the empty cup, his gaze lingering on my face for a moment.

"You don't look well today either. Get some sleep early."

The rare concern in his tone made me waver for an instant.

But thinking of how he was about to get engaged to another woman, that wavering instantly turned to ash.

I clutched the cup and obediently nodded, returning to my room.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at the time on my phone.

One hour later.

I soundlessly opened my door and walked out.

Ethan's door wasn't locked. I gently opened it. The room was pitch black.

He lay on the large bed, his breathing long and deep.

I crouched beside the bed, my gaze tracing his features.

This absolute sense of control made my whole body tremble.

Worldly ethics and morality were completely cast aside in this moment.

He was a responsible person. Even if he hated me, he could only be bound to my side.

I climbed onto the bed, straddling his lean waist and abdomen.

Trembling, I reached out to undo the first button of his pajamas.

Then the second, the third.

A large expanse of firm chest was exposed to the air.

I leaned down, my nose nearly touching his skin, greedily inhaling his unique pine scent.

"Ethan, you're about to be mine."

I murmured obsessively, closing my eyes and kissing toward his thin lips.

Just then, a hand suddenly gripped the back of my neck, pinning me in place.

My whole body stiffened. My blood nearly froze.

Ethan, who should have been in deep unconsciousness, slowly opened his eyes.

Those black eyes, usually cool and ascetic, now churned with unfathomable dark currents.

The world spun. He flipped me onto the bed.

He turned over and pinned me beneath him.

His cool fingertips brushed across my skin, stirring up tremors.

He laughed lowly, his voice carrying a heart-bewitching hoarseness in the silent night.

"Chloe, the dosage wasn't enough."