Chapter 3

The next morning, I was woken by voices outside.

I stepped out and found Ethan's parents had arrived.

They were gathered around Chloe, showering her with concern.

"How did a car accident even happen? You really need to be more careful."

"If there's ever anything you can't handle on your own, just call Ethan."

Ethan stood nearby with a gentle smile.

"I'll take care of everything for you, Chloe."

A flush of shyness colored Chloe's cheeks.

In five years of dating Ethan, his parents had never once been that warm to me. And Ethan had never once looked at me with that kind of tenderness.

I didn't approach them. I was about to slip away when Chloe called out.

"Ivy, you're up!"

My body stiffened. I had no choice but to walk over.

The moment Margaret saw me, the smile vanished from her face.

She shook her head and looked at me sidelong.

"Chloe's a patient and she managed to get up early. But look at you. Sleeping till noon?"

"This is embarrassing. Honestly, Ethan, I really think you should reconsider..."

"Mom."

Ethan pressed his lips together and cut her off, then walked toward me.

"Do you want breakfast?"

I shook my head.

"No. Go ahead without me."

The explosion had injured my internal organs. It was minor, but the doctor said I needed to watch what I ate for a while.

Margaret heard my refusal and frowned again.

"Can't even get herself to the table without being told. Honestly, how is someone like her going to fit into this family?"

I took a deep breath.

I didn't want to start a conflict, but I also wasn't going to stand there and take their criticism.

I walked straight out the door.

Ethan followed and grabbed my arm.

"My mom was just trying to be nice. Why do you always have to take everything so personally?"

I was silent for a moment.

"Just trying to be nice?"

If they actually cared about me, why hadn't a single one of them asked why I never showed up for Thanksgiving?

He looked down at me.

The impatience in his eyes grew more obvious by the second.

"Ivy, you're going to be my wife. I need you to stop overreacting to everything."

"You walking out like that is going to make Chloe feel like she's not welcome, and it upsets my mom."

"Just be considerate for once."

I pulled my arm free.

I used to try so hard to be considerate.

So when he and Chloe flirted under the guise of friendship, I was considerate enough not to overthink it.

So when his mother looked down on me, I was considerate enough to swallow my pride and try to win her over.

But I didn't want to be considerate anymore.

"Then what counts as being considerate?"

He thought for a moment. "Like Chloe. She handles things with grace. You could learn a thing or two."

I let out a mocking laugh, said nothing, and walked away.

I went to pick up my parents and helped my mom with her discharge paperwork.

On the drive, I told them I'd be leaving soon.

Mom was startled.

"Today? This soon?"

I nodded. "I'll be gone for two years."

My parents exchanged a glance. "Have you told Ethan?"

My hands tightened on the steering wheel. My voice turned colder. "No. We're not married. There's no reason to."

Breaking up was something I could decide on my own.

I took my parents to a nice Italian restaurant nearby.

We'd just finished ordering.

A familiar voice drifted from behind the partition next to us.

I felt a wave of irritation.

There was no escaping them.

Ethan was seated with both sets of parents and Chloe, chatting and laughing, naturally attentive to everyone at the table. He pulled out a chair for Chloe's mother, spoke with the sommelier on behalf of Chloe's father, then leaned over to murmur something to his own parents. He looked like he'd always been part of the Whitman family.

He not only knew everything Chloe couldn't eat, but he also knew exactly which wines her parents preferred.

With me, he knew nothing.

With my parents, he didn't even want to be in the same room.

I tried not to pay attention. Then I heard them mention my name.

Margaret's tone was dripping with disdain.

"Ivy?"

"I can't stand her. I have no idea why Ethan chose her over a sweet girl like Chloe."

She was on a roll.

"And her parents. I met them once. Tracking dirt on my floors."

My parents heard every word. They lowered their heads in shame.

My fists clenched so hard my knuckles ached. My chest heaved.

And Ethan didn't say a word against it. He didn't even try to stop her.

Margaret kept going, tearing my parents apart.

I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved the partition aside and stepped into their section.

My voice had gone ice cold.

"You don't want me? Fine. I don't want your son either. Get it?"