Chapter 2

After calling my mother to finalize the arranged marriage, I immediately booked a plane ticket.

Forcing myself not to replay what I'd just witnessed, I rushed home and started packing as fast as I could.

When I went to the living room to grab some things, Ethan came home.

He wrapped his arms around me, his expression happier than I'd ever seen it.

"Luna, I love you so much. Let's stay together forever, okay?"

He leaned in to kiss me, his breath reeking of alcohol, the gardenia perfume on him so strong it was suffocating.

Ethan used to constantly give me gardenia-scented perfume. Even after I told him countless times that I preferred jasmine, he kept enthusiastically buying me gardenia.

A few times when I forgot to wear it, he got really angry with me.

Only now did I understand - the one who loved this perfume, the one Ethan truly loved, had always been another woman.

From the very beginning, he'd only been trying to recreate a substitute.

Nausea rising in my throat, I dodged away from Ethan's advance.

But the desire on his face didn't fade. He suddenly pinned me against the door, his cool hands already sliding under my clothes.

"Ethan! Let go of me!"

The man's eyes flashed with surprise. I'd never used this tone with him before.

Just as Ethan was about to speak, the doorbell rang.

When he opened the door, a woman rushed in and threw her arms around him, quickly planting a kiss on his cheek.

She saw me and smiled brilliantly, blindingly so.

"You must be Miss Grey, the secretary who's been by Ethan's side for eight years, right?"

"Hi there! I'm Vivian, Ethan's fiancée. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years!"

The strong scent of gardenias rushed into my nostrils as she moved, the exact same fragrance that was all over Ethan just moments ago.

I didn't move, just looked at Ethan.

Ethan only froze for a moment before avoiding my eyes and nodding.

"Yes, she's the secretary I told you about."

"She doesn't make much, so I let her stay in the guest room here. It's convenient having her around to help with various tasks."

Vivian waved her hand dismissively:

"Ethan, why are you explaining this to me again? I'm not some petty woman who can't separate business from personal matters."

"Besides, Miss Grey looks so much like me - of course you'd feel more comfortable and familiar having her around! Actually, I should be thanking Miss Grey!"

"Oh, and since Miss Grey is familiar with the layout here, I'll trouble you to move all my luggage to Ethan's room! Ethan and I are getting married soon, so it's time we started living together!"

Vivian excitedly bossed me around. Ethan showed no sign of objecting.

I remembered the several times I'd begged to move into the master bedroom. Ethan had always refused, saying couples also needed their own space.

Only occasionally, when passion struck, would he let me stay the night in his room.

If I accidentally left anything behind, he'd darken his expression and say he hoped I could be more mindful of boundaries.

So in the end, it was simply because the position of mistress of the house had never been meant for me.

Ethan suddenly gestured at his phone. I looked down to see a message from him in our chat.

[Vivian and I are only in a nominal alliance marriage, just for show for the company merger. Don't misunderstand.]

I couldn't help but laugh. Even now, Ethan was still treating me like a three-year-old child.

Fine. If he said his alliance marriage was fake, then it was fake.

As long as mine was real, that's all that mattered.

I headed to the guest room to finish packing my luggage, but saw Vivian get there first.

"Miss Grey, Ethan is going to be all over me from now on, so it won't be convenient for you to keep living here. You should hurry up and pack your things and find your own place..."

"Oh my, Miss Grey, you've already packed half your stuff? And your clothing style is so similar to mine! We're so meant to be!"A chill spread through my heart, impossible to stop.