Chapter 3

I floated back to our current apartment like a ghost. I pulled out my keys, but before I could open the door, I heard familiar voices coming from inside.

"Ethan, are you sure Hazel won't be mad that you brought me here?"

It was Chloe.

Ethan’s voice was incredibly gentle.

"She won't. Hazel is very understanding. She’ll take good care of you."

My hands shook as I unlocked the door. I looked up and saw Ethan and Chloe sitting close together on the living room sofa.

When Ethan saw me come in, he barely glanced up.

"I have to go on a business trip with my department head for the next few days. The locks at the townhouse haven't been changed yet, and I don't feel safe leaving Chloe there alone. So, I brought her here to stay for a while."

"Hazel, while I'm away, please let Chloe sleep in the master bedroom. Make sure she's taken care of."

He said it so casually, as if he were asking me to water a plant.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and spoke quietly.

"Ethan, do you even remember that this is our home?"

"You already let her move into our townhouse. And now, you want to hand this place over to her too?"

Ethan didn't even look at me. His voice turned irritated.

"Hazel, what are you throwing a tantrum for now?"

Chloe gave me a timid, victimized look, her voice trembling.

"Ethan, I think Hazel is upset because of me. I should just leave..."

Finally, Ethan deigned to look at me.

But his eyes were cold, like he was looking at an annoying stranger.

"Hazel, you're a grown woman. Why are you picking on a kid like Chloe?"

"A kid?" I laughed bitterly. "Ethan, Chloe is your late mentor's daughter, not yours. She is twenty-two, not twelve."

"Have you ever seen a twenty-two-year-old 'kid'?"

Ethan’s face went cold. He stood up, shielding Chloe behind him, and glared at me.

"Hazel, what is your problem?"

I looked past him, locking eyes with Chloe.

"My problem, Professor Vance, is that I find it hard to believe you haven't heard the rumors spreading about you and Chloe all over campus."

Chloe’s eyes flickered, and a faint smirk played on her lips for a fraction of a second.

Ethan frowned.

"I told you, those are just mindless rumors."

"I only look after Chloe because of her father."

The resentment I had bottled up for years finally exploded. I stepped forward, raising my voice.

"Her father again! Ethan, tell me, does looking after your mentor's daughter mean letting her move into our future home? Letting her redecorate it?!"

"What kind of professor abandons his fiancée on her birthday just because a female student calls?!"

Ethan’s face turned pale with rage, but he still refused to acknowledge his behavior.

"Hazel, shut up! I’ve explained this to you a million times! Do you have to act like a crazy, hysterical bitch and ruin my peace?!"

Chloe shrunk behind him, her eyes gleefully mocking me.

Yet, her words were perfectly sweet.

"Ethan, please don't fight with Hazel because of me."

"If she doesn't like me here, I’ll leave. I won't stay at the townhouse either."

She claimed she wanted to leave, but she didn't make a single move. She just stared at Ethan with tearful eyes.

I lost my patience. I grabbed Chloe’s wrist and dragged her toward the front door.

"Fine. I’ll drive you back to your dorm myself right now!"

Chloe struggled weakly. Suddenly, she threw her weight backward, pulling me down with her as we both crashed to the floor.

Ethan panicked. He rushed forward, lifting Chloe into his arms and holding her close, his voice filled with worry.

"Chloe! Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

Chloe clung to his chest, shaking her head.

"I’m fine. Check on Hazel first. She fell harder than I did."

Ethan looked up at me. But instead of concern, his hand flew through the air, and a sharp slap landed squarely across my face.

*Smack.*

"Hazel! How can you be so malicious?!"

"You’re jealous of a kid! You spread rumors about us, and now you’re physically pushing her!"

"If Chloe injured her hands because of you, do you have any idea how that would affect her career?!"

My cheek stung, but my heart was completely numb. Seeing how easily he believed her, and how fiercely he protected her, a profound sense of despair washed over me.

I didn't have the energy to argue anymore.

"Ethan," I said, using the wall to pull myself up. "We're done. Let's break up."

Ethan froze for a second, then flared up in anger.

"Hazel, can you grow up? Stop using breakups to threaten me every time things don't go your way!"

He scooped Chloe up in his arms and walked toward the door.

"Since you’re going to be like this, I’ll take Chloe to a hotel."

"Use this time to cool your head. I’ll deal with you when I get back."

*Deal with me when he gets back?*

I lowered my eyes, hiding the cold finality in them.

Ethan, there is no "when you get back." We will never have anything to do with each other again.

......

Five days later, Ethan returned from his business trip.

He was still annoyed about the fight before he left. The more he thought about Hazel's "petty behavior," the more resentful he felt.

Yet, he had still bought her a designer bag as a peace offering.

He took a few deep breaths at the front door, opened it, and placed the gift on the entryway table.

"I shouldn't have lost my temper the other day. I'm sorry."

"But Hazel, I need you to be more mature. Stop throwing fits over nothing."

The apartment remained dead silent. He didn't get the reply he usually did.

Ethan looked around the empty living room, and a sudden, cold panic gripped his chest.