Chapter 3

The next morning, when I opened the door and walked out, Ethan was already making breakfast.

He acted as if nothing had happened.

"Up? Come eat breakfast."

I glanced at the food on the table and said, a little tired, "I'm allergic to eggs."

His hand, putting mayonnaise, froze.

Then he tossed the toast in front of me into the trash. "I forgot. Go eat out then."

I hummed in response.

Just as I was about to turn, Ethan said from behind me, "Don't you think we're acting strangely?"

"Sophia, we're like strangers."

I met his hazy eyes and let out a mocking, humorless laugh.

"No, strangers at least don't butt heads. We're worse than strangers. But whose fault is that? Mine?"

The air fell silent.

We faced each other, neither willing to back down, neither willing to be the first to lose.

Not long after.

His phone ringing broke the stalemate.

"Okay, Grandpa," he said expressionlessly. "Sophia and I will be there on time."

After hanging up.

He rubbed his temples tiredly, his expression complex as he looked at me.

"Let bygones be bygones."

"Tomorrow is Grandpa's 80th birthday party. Let's go together; don't let him see anything suspicious."

I sighed silently.

"Okay."

Then I turned and went to the cafe downstairs, my phone still on video call.

Sophia hadn't spoken, so I broke the silence first.

"What are you thinking about?"

She looked a little lost.

"I just never imagined that the future me and Ethan would reach a point where we have nothing to say to each other."

"No sharing, no expressions of love, just blame and resentment."

I paused, saying nothing.

The plane tree leaves in the villa area were scattered all over the ground by last night's strong winds and heavy rain.

They crunched underfoot.

It was like the sound of him carrying me when I was sick, but now everything had changed.

The cafe owner saw me.

"Ms. Sophia, back again? The usual? Coffee and a sandwich, no eggs because of your allergy, right?"

I smiled. "That's right."

Even the owner remembers my egg allergy, but Ethan forgot.

The next day, he came to pick me up for Grandpa's estate.

I sat in the passenger seat, staring silently out the window at the street view.

Suddenly, Ethan spoke.

"You know Chloe saved Grandpa's life back then, right?"

I turned to look at him.

"What are you trying to say?"

He pressed his lips together. "So Chloe is also coming to Grandpa's birthday party. I didn't invite her, Grandpa did."

I didn't know what expression to make.

Because I wasn't very surprised.

Suppressing the suffocating feeling like my heart was being crushed, I said hoarsely, "Fine, I have no objections."

Anyway,

Only three days left. In three days, the past Sophia will rewrite history.

And we won't have a future.

Hearing that,

He was stunned for a moment.

Then, with an unreadable expression, he gripped the steering wheel tightly and finally said, "Good, no objections."

In my earpiece,

Sophia was crying.

I had grown accustomed to this cold way of interacting, and I had accepted the brokenness of our relationship.

But I knew this was cruel for her.

It was like falling from heaven to hell.

"How could he do this to you...?"

I couldn't comfort her, I could only stay silent.

Not long after.

We arrived at the estate.

Almost as soon as we got out of the car, a delicate figure rushed over from a distance.

"Ethan..."

"I thought we'd never see each other again."

She was crying too, and Ethan comforted her.

He completely disregarded the onlookers, gently wiping away her tears.

"Don't cry. Since you're back, I won't let anyone send you away again."

I said sarcastically,

"Do whatever you want. I won't object. Don't make me sound like some executioner breaking up lovers."

Chloe pouted, a flicker of disdain in her eyes.

Ethan's brows furrowed, seemingly puzzled.

I understood what puzzled him: how could I be so generous?

I looked away.

It was nothing; I had simply come to terms with it.