Chapter 5

At ten that night, I went downstairs.

Ethan was leaning against his car, smoking.

Cigarette butts littered the ground.

The crimson glow of the cigarette reflected on his face, his brows deeply furrowed.

In five years of dating, I'd only seen him smoke twice.

The first time was the year we graduated, when his parents forced him to go back to his hometown for development.

And I only wanted to stay and be with Stella.

Ethan then, just like now, smoked one cigarette after another.

In the end, he chose me.

And now, what choice was he making?

I didn't want to think about it.

Seeing me, he immediately put out his cigarette and walked toward me, taking my suitcase.

"Just got back and they're already making you work late. Your company is so inconsiderate."

I replied, trying to sound normal:

"There was a lot to report."

He opened the passenger door, and I bent down to get in.

A faint perfume scent wafted into my nose.

I stiffened.

That scent was Stella's favorite perfume.

I instinctively turned my head, my gaze falling into the seat crevice.

A lip balm had fallen there.

It was the one I'd given Stella last month.

He walked around to the driver's seat, saw the lip balm in my hand, and paused.

The car was silent for two seconds.

Then he smiled.

"Stella must have left it when she rode in my car today. I'll take it back to her later."

I stared at the lip balm:

"Did Stella often sit in the passenger seat when I was away?"

His motion of buckling his seatbelt paused.

He turned to look at me, his eyes unreadable.

Then he reached out, touched my head, and chuckled softly:

"What, are you getting jealous of Stella now?"

I didn't smile.

His tone became serious.

"You wanted Stella and I to get along, right? So sometimes she rides in my car."

He added at the end:

"If you don't like it, I won't let her sit there anymore."

I didn't want to hear anymore, so I closed my eyes:

"I'm tired."

He gazed at me for two seconds, then said:

"Last night, did you... scroll past anything?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him:

"Scroll past what?"

He was silent for a moment, then gave a light laugh:

"Nothing. I just noticed you don't look well today, your eyes are red."

I closed my eyes again.

"I was too excited last night, didn't sleep a wink."

He started the car, shaking his head resignedly:

"Still acting like a kid."

Then he casually turned on the air conditioning. It was two degrees higher than usual.

Whenever Stella rode in the car with us, the AC always had to be two degrees higher.

Because she got cold easily.

When we got home, Stella was already waiting at the door.

"Must be starving, right? Hurry and wash your hands, dinner's ready."

I walked straight inside. The table was filled with all my favorite dishes.

I still sat in my usual spot.

Stella was on my left, Ethan on my right.

Both simultaneously put food on my plate.

"Luna, your favorite steak."

"Your favorite chicken wings."

For a moment, I was disoriented, as if I was back in the past.

But reality told me.

Everything had changed.

So many words were stuck in my throat.

I wanted to tell them, I saw the confession thread.

I wanted to ask them, why did you do this?

But the words stayed unspoken.

The meal was tasteless.

Until Stella raised her glass and looked at me:

"Luna, let's raise a toast."

She tilted her head back and drank.

"Welcome home, Luna."

Then, she glanced at Ethan:

"You two have been together for so long. I used to be against it, but now I'm not. Pick a date and get married."