Chapter 5

Naked provocation.

Should I laugh? I was so broken that the words just registered as numbly.

The next message appeared, like a death knell.

The moment I saw it clearly, a sharp, sudden pain pierced my chest, almost stealing my breath.

"Chloe, did you really think he hated me?"

"The day I was expelled from school, he slipped me a phone number and an address."

"Chloe, Chloe, the truth is, you lost a long time ago."

My hands trembled uncontrollably.

It wasn't a coincidence at all.

Not a drunken mistake, not a chance encounter at a bar.

It was one call from Olivia, and he went.

Ethan.

When you kept comforting me not to be scared, when your eyes reddened touching the scars on my hand.

When you cried with excitement celebrating buying this new apartment.

Were you crying for the woman you claimed to love, or were you worried about how the bully from years ago was doing?

A wave of nausea washed over me.

I rushed to the bathroom and threw up until I saw stars.

Along with my shattered heart, it all went down the drain.

Forget it.

This was all too disgusting.

Wiping my face, I opened my laptop and, underneath that expatriate job offer I'd never even considered, I checked 'agree'.

After shutting down, I booked a ticket for the next day.

I had rushed back overnight, not even opening my suitcase.

It was fine.

No need to pack anymore.

That post was updated again.

Amidst a flurry of curses, Olivia posted a photo of them holding hands.

"The line between hate and love is so fine, after all."

"Even as he hated me for bullying, wasn't it a kind of attention?"

"See? Seven years, and I still won, didn't I?"

I didn't sleep all night.

I saved and recorded every one of her words, every undeniable piece of evidence of their affair.

Early the next morning, I dragged my suitcase out the door.

I ran right into Ethan, who was rushing back.

Seeing the suitcase, his gaze stopped, and his expression became anxious.

"Chloe, I was just called in last night for an urgent project. You don't need to make a scene over this, do you?"

Ethan rubbed his tired brows, his tone softening slightly:

"I didn't sleep all night, just quickly rinsed off, sorry."

He curved his lips and took my suitcase:

"We agreed to get our marriage license today, Chloe. All our relatives and friends are waiting for us to post it on Ins for likes."

"I've already booked the makeup artist; she'll be here soon, we..."

I sidestepped, avoiding his hand.

Ethan's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. A strange feeling flashed through his heart.

"What's wrong?"

I quietly looked at him, suddenly curious:

"Ethan, how much sincerity was there in your smooth words?"

"What...?"

"Olivia's perfume from last night hadn't faded yet, and there was a lipstick stain on the back of your collar."

Ethan's face abruptly went pale.

I managed a mocking smile:

"Most importantly, the wedding ring on your right hand? You took it off."