Chapter 2

Natalie's POV

With Thanksgiving approaching, Grandpa's war buddy returned home due to illness.

As the secretly hired specialist surgeon, I accompanied Grandpa on a visit. I never expected to see Ethan Pierce answering the door, my ex-boyfriend who had cut contact four years ago.

The moment our eyes met, we both froze. Ethan broke the silence first.

"You're Mr. Hart's granddaughter?"

Before I could respond, his phone rang. Vivian Ross's bright voice came through.

"Let's go set off fireworks in the suburbs after dinner. We'll pray for Grandpa and wish him a successful surgery."

My hand clenched around the gift bag.

Four years ago, that same voice had demanded hysterically:

"Choose! Her or me, Ethan? Natalie Hart or Vivian Ross?"

Vivian had pointed at me sitting nearby, her laugh cold.

"Ethan, I know you got together with Natalie just to provoke me, to make me see my own heart clearly. Well, I see it now. So what about you? If you want me, break up with her. Right now."

My heart seized. I looked instinctively at Ethan in the booth, hoping he'd deny it.

If he just explained, I'd believe him. Because I couldn't believe that seven years together, three years dating, had only been manipulation.

But Ethan just looked at me silently, his eyes showing the relief of truth finally exposed.

Clearly dissatisfied with his silence, Vivian grabbed her purse from the table and smiled coldly.

"You're hesitating. Fine. Since this decision is so hard for you, I'll back out. You and her can stay together."

She turned to leave, but Ethan pulled her into his arms, coaxing gently:

"You've got to give me some time to process, don't you? If I'd known that one kiss with another girl in front of you would make you see your feelings clearly, why would I have wasted all that time?"

In that moment, I dug my nails into my palm, forcing down the burning sensation in my nose.

So he thought being with me was wasting time. But I had truly loved Ethan Pierce for seven years.

Seven years. I'd offered him my most precious love. At first he ignored it. Later, when he finally accepted it, it was only to use me as a tool to provoke the woman he actually loved, to make Vivian face her own feelings.

So what did that make me? A catalyst for their love?

I was about to speak when Ethan, still holding Vivian, cut me off.

"Let's break up, Natalie. We're done."

Seeing his complete indifference, my heart still couldn't help but ache. I forced down the tightness in my throat and asked:

"Why me?"

"Because you liked me."

He tilted his head slightly, his smile carrying a careless arrogance.

"You chased me for four years straight. You threw yourself at me. I chose to do you a favor. Shouldn't you be grateful?"

He paused, then laughed softly.

"At least be grateful I let you into a world you could never have entered on your own."

In that moment, I finally realized he truly had never liked me. And from the very beginning, he'd looked down on me.

He chose me only because I was loyal enough and had no connections, so I'd be easy to dispose of.

That day, I don't remember how I fled the club in humiliation. I only remember the mocking, jeering looks from everyone in that private room, drowning me.