Chapter 2

My grip on the phone tightened.

I wondered, when did they even add each other on Snapchat?

Didn't Ethan hate her guts?

Honestly, Ethan had always had plenty of admirers. But he was naturally arrogant, sharp-tongued, and his blatant favoritism toward me made most girls give up eventually.

Chloe was the only one who had persisted this long.

She was also the only one who could genuinely piss Ethan off.

Once, after school, Chloe cornered me in the hallway. She looked at me coldly and said:

"Daisy, you and Ethan aren't officially dating, right?"

"May the best woman win, then."

She was dripping with hostility. Before I could even open my mouth, Ethan grabbed my backpack, slinging it over his shoulder with practiced ease.

He handed me a warm cup of coffee, then wrapped my scarf and beanie securely around me.

Usually, Ethan was quite playful, but that evening, the air around him was freezing.

He took my hand, his tall frame shielding me completely from Chloe. He said coldly:

"She doesn't need to compete with you. Because I'm the one begging for her attention."

"We aren't dating yet, but she is my future wife."

On the walk home that night, Ethan didn't say a word.

I couldn't help but poke his cheek. "What's... wrong with you?"

Ethan’s eyes were slightly red. He pinched my cheek in frustration. "Aren't you even a little jealous?"

"Another girl literally threatened you, and you had zero reaction? Do you even like me at all?"

Oh. So that was why.

I shook my head. "No. Because I know I'm the only one in your heart."

Ethan’s lips curved up, clearly pleased by my answer.

He squeezed my hand tighter.

"I can't wait for us to graduate, Daisy. I want to make you my official girlfriend so bad."

I lowered my gaze, remembering what Ethan’s mother, Mrs. Carter, had told me in secret.

"Daisy, Ethan has loved you since you were kids. I don't object to you two being together, but can you promise me one thing? Don't officially date him until after graduation."

I squeezed Ethan’s hand back, thinking:

Ethan, just wait for me a little longer.

We only have one semester left.

I put Ethan’s phone down and went downstairs to my bedroom.

The room I had lived in for over ten years.

When I was three, my parents got a divorce.

My mother, Sarah, took me with her and started working as a live-in housekeeper for Ethan’s family.

Since Ethan and I were the same age, we basically grew up together.

As a kid, Ethan always had this aloof, "do not cross" vibe.

I was pretty terrified of him, but I’d still politely call him "Ethan."

He never acknowledged the nickname, but he would always drag me along whenever he played with his friends.

I guess I was a cute kid, because one day, one of his friends asked Ethan if he could "have" me as his girlfriend.

Normally indifferent, Ethan snapped. He tackled the boy to the ground and snarled, "Fuck off."

That was the first time I saw him angry, and the first time I heard him swear.

On the walk back, I timidly trailed behind him, calling his name.

His anger hadn't faded. He turned around and yelled at me for the first time in his life: "Stop calling me like we're just friends!"

I was so scared that I avoided him for days, until he finally cornered me.

His voice had softened, and his usual nickname for me was born. "Daisy, are you stupid?"

"Friends don't get married. I want to be your husband."

I had stood there, frozen, my heart pounding wildly.

I had thought he tolerated me, maybe even disliked me. I never imagined he loved me.

After that confession, Ethan became completely shameless about showing his affection. His love was loud, proud, and passionate.

To the point where everyone in our circle knew:

Ethan Carter would only ever marry one person.

Daisy.

But tonight, I couldn't stop the doubts from creeping in.

His natural, practiced kissing skills. The way he called me "babe."

And that Snapchat photo from Chloe that I couldn't unlock.