Chapter 3

The deadline for delivery was tonight.

I rushed the pieces back to my team, then hurried to purchase high-end apology gifts, preparing to plead with Mr. Harrison in person.

As I rushed out of the building, I bumped into Ethan and Serena, just returning from the emergency clinic.

I rolled my eyes.

I tried to push past them, but Ethan caught my shoulder.

"I’ll drive you."

His tone had softened slightly, sounding surprisingly calm.

Rain began to pour from the sky.

Water was already pooling on the streets.

I exhaled a long breath and stepped into the car.

Resolving the antique crisis was far more important than my pride.

I sat in the back with the gift boxes, staring out the window to avoid looking at him.

Ethan studied me in the rearview mirror.

"Try to be rational, Anna. Even if Serena let go too soon, it was an accident."

"A piece of glass scratched her arm. She's been crying for hours."

He spoke as if delivering a mild lecture.

Whatever emotional restraint I had scraped together evaporated into rage.

A thousand curses choked in my throat.

Yet in the end, only five quiet words slipped out:

"Ethan, let’s break up."

The steering wheel jerked violently as the car swerved across the lane.

Panic flickered across Ethan’s face.

Before long, it was replaced by cold annoyance.

"You're being completely dramatic, Anna."

"Over a small misunderstanding? Is this really necessary?"

Looking at him, I realized I didn't recognize the man in front of me at all.

He was the one who destroyed everything, yet he acted like I was throwing an irrational tantrum.

"Don't you realize your relationship crossed the line a long time ago—"

My words were cut short by his phone ringing through the car speakers.

Serena’s frantic sobs filled the vehicle the second he answered.

"Ethan... my arm hurts so bad. I can't breathe..."

She was hyperventilating, her voice trembling with theatrical distress.

Ethan slammed on the brakes without warning.

My head crashed violently against the back of the front seat.

Before the throbbing pain even registered, Ethan pushed my passenger door open from the front.

"Get out."

He grabbed my arm and dragged me out into the pouring rain.

He tossed my apology gifts out onto the wet asphalt after me.

"Serena is fragile. I have to be there for her."

With that single sentence, he stepped on the gas and tore away.

He left me standing completely alone on the deserted street.

The rain poured down in sheets.

Watching the puddle splash against my soaked shoes, I let out a hollow laugh.

It turned out he loved me even less than I thought.