Chapter 2

When we got home, Chloe looked down at the shoes on her feet and wiggled her toes slightly.

"Olivia, your shoes are so comfortable. No wonder Ethan always keeps them ready for you."

I said nothing.

Ethan's voice was flat.

"Just wear them for tonight."

"She has an old ankle injury. She can't just wear any shoes."

Chloe immediately looked up.

"I don't deserve such nice shoes anyway. If Olivia wants them back, I'll take them off right now."

Ethan reached out to stop her and looked at me.

"Olivia, I'll tend to your foot in a minute."

I suddenly remembered many years ago when he first found out about my ankle injury. He had frowned just like this.

Back then, he said, From now on, I will make sure every path you walk is soft.

The path was still the same path.

It was just that he had given the softest part to someone else.

Chloe sat on the sofa, carefully lifting her leg.

"Ethan, where is the first-aid kit? It hurts a bit."

I stood in the entryway, bending over to change into my house slippers.

The back of the heel rubbed against my raw wound, making my fingers tremble.

Ethan looked back and saw this, his footsteps pausing for a second.

Chloe let out a soft gasp.

"It looks even more swollen now."

Ethan ultimately turned toward the living room and pulled the medical kit from the cabinet.

That tube of ointment was the one I frequently used during my physical therapy. My name was still written on the label.

Chloe held it in her hand, looking at it.

"Olivia, can I use this?"

Ethan unscrewed the cap for her.

"It's just ointment."

He handed the ointment to Chloe, then stood up and walked over to me.

"Let me see your foot."

I took a half-step back.

His brow furrowed.

"Olivia, don't start a fight right now."

Chloe immediately spoke up.

"Olivia, please don't misunderstand. Ethan is just helping me out first."

"You two have been together for so many years. You're obviously the one he loves the most."

She sounded so understanding.

But those white sneakers on her feet were blindingly clean.

I looked down at my own feet.

The edge of my high heels had worn my skin raw. A bit of blood was smudged on the edge of my sock. It wasn't much, but it stung badly.

Ethan saw it too.

"Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the store..."

I quietly declined.

"No need."

His movements froze.

"It's just a pair of shoes. Are you really going to hold a grudge over this?"

Chloe gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Ethan, maybe Olivia doesn't care about the shoes. Maybe she cares that you put them on me."

The living room fell silent. Ethan didn't deny it.

I looked up at him.

In the past, whenever anyone said something like that, he would always defend me.

He would tell them that Olivia wasn't petty; she was just injured and knew what pain felt like.

But now, he just rubbed his temples.

"Chloe just got back, and she's not used to a lot of things yet. Just cut her some slack."

Cut her some slack.

I had yielded the guest room, half of my walk-in closet, and my usual spot at the breakfast table.

Now, it was my shoes.

I didn't say another word. I turned and walked back to the bedroom.

Ethan followed me to the door.

"Olivia."

I stopped.

"Tomorrow, I'll have the boutique deliver everything from your favorite brand. Don't throw a fit tonight. Chloe's family just went through a crisis. She can't handle any emotional stress right now."

My hand rested on the doorframe. The throbbing pain in my heel came in waves.

"Ethan, I feel pain too."

He stared at me, looking as if he didn't understand.

Chloe called out softly from the living room.

"Ethan, I think I put too much ointment on."

Ethan looked at me for two seconds before finally turning around.

"Get some rest. Don't overthink things."

After the door closed, I sat on the edge of the bed and peeled my socks off.

The fabric was stuck to the wound. As I tore it away, I bit my lip.

From outside the door, Chloe's giggles drifted in.

"Ethan, Olivia's shoe size is almost the same as mine. Can I keep these shoes for now?"

"I have to meet some clients at the office tomorrow."

Ethan's voice came through the door.

"Just wear them. She has plenty of other shoes."