Chapter 3

A young girl's intentions are easy enough to read. I just didn't care anymore.

She stormed up to me, face twisted with anger.

The next second, she dropped to the floor with a thud.

And burst into tears.

Ethan rushed in, frowning at the scene before him.

Hannah cried even harder.

"I want to die!"

"Serena called me shameless because she's jealous you bought me a car!"

She wailed at the top of her lungs.

Ethan looked at her with pained concern and hurried over to help her up.

"I've told you before. If someone wrongs you, fight back. Whatever the problem is, I'll handle it for you."

Hannah's sobbing eased slightly.

"But she's your fiancée. Otherwise I definitely would've told her off."

Ethan sighed, sounding helpless.

"So what if she's my fiancée? You can still tell her off."

He turned to me, his gaze frigid.

"Apologize to Hannah."

I raised an eyebrow. "And if I refuse?"

Hannah sobbed out her next words between hiccups.

"I don't want her apology. Can you just make her wash my car instead?"

Ethan agreed without a moment's hesitation. "Of course. No problem."

I stood up.

"Ethan, you've gone too far."

His voice dropped low.

"Can you just stop? Just this once, do it for me."

"I'll wash it with you."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door.

And there it was. That MINI Cooper I'd been dreaming about, just sitting there.

He picked up the hose and shoved it into my hands.

Hannah stood off to the side, directing us.

"Here. And over there. Make sure you get it all clean."

I didn't move.

Hannah suddenly snatched the hose from me.

As if she'd lost her grip, she aimed it straight at my face.

The water hit me dead on.

She burst out laughing, like she'd just discovered the funniest game in the world.

"Serena, forget about washing the car. This is way more fun!"

The stream kept blasting into my face. The pressure stung my skin raw, and it felt like blood was about to break through the surface.

My eyes burned. I blinked frantically, drenched and humiliated.

But Ethan just watched Hannah and laughed.

As if nothing was wrong at all.

I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged forward and ripped the hose out of her hands.

I was about to turn it on her.

Ethan immediately stepped in front of her.

In an instant, he was soaked from head to toe.

We stood there, staring at each other.

After a long silence, he said:

"Happy now?"

"I knew it. You always have to get even, don't you?"

I went still. The hose slipped from my hands and hit the ground.

I had no idea what I looked like in that moment.

Hair plastered to my face. Clothes soaking wet. Eyes so swollen I could barely see.

But none of that hurt as much as his words.

He used to tell me I was the kindest girl in the world.

He couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting me. He told me never to blame myself for anything.

And now, he was the one hurting me, over and over again.

I looked at him in silence.

It seemed like only now did he actually notice the state I was in.

But all he did was frown slightly.

"Why didn't you move out of the way?"

My face was red and swollen from the blast, covered in bruises from the pressure.

I wiped the tears from my face. I didn't want him to see them.

"The pressure was so strong I couldn't even open my eyes. How was I supposed to move?"

He looked at me, and something that might have been guilt flickered across his face. He took a step toward me.

But Hannah grabbed his hand.

"I didn't mean to. I was just trying to lighten the mood between me and Serena. I had no idea the pressure was that strong."

Ethan was quiet for a beat.

"Enough. Both of you, stop it. It's done."

He dismissed the whole thing with a single sentence, leaving me standing there soaked and humiliated.