Chapter 4

Ethan sent me messages off and on for the next three hours.

First, he asked who my date was.

Then, he told me to stop lying to myself. He claimed that no matter what excuses I made, he wouldn't change his decision.

"Where can you even go if you leave me?"

"Stop targeting Amber over and over. I'll give you a chance for the next promotion."

While his messages were coming in, I was having dinner with the head of the international corporation who had flown in to meet me.

And after dinner, I booked my flight for next week.

The company Snapchat group chat was buzzing all night. It was filled with photos of Ethan and Amber on their "date."

The man who, when watching movies with me, would only buy tickets for the very front or very back row to "be careful."

Right now, he was sitting openly with Amber in a couples' booth, cuddling close.

"She's easily scared, so she needs someone with her."

Ethan probably saw the shipping comments in the group chat, because he sent me a brief, casual explanation.

I still didn't reply.

The next day, I knocked on his apartment door.

"Why are you here at this hour?"

The moment Ethan opened the door, a flash of panic crossed his face.

I looked past him. The first thing I saw was a pair of women's high heels by the door.

"Ethan! The lipstick color you picked for me is so pretty! It matches me perfectly!"

A voice drifted from the bedroom.

Amber had stayed over again last night.

On the dining table sat fresh coffee in matching couples' mugs, steam rising gently.

The disposable tissue boxes on the walls had been replaced with delicate linen hand towels, folded into flower shapes—Amber's favorite.

And in the bedroom, Amber was putting on the lipstick he chose for her, spraying the custom perfume he bought.

Everything looked like a beautiful morning for a happy couple.

Except for me. I was just an intruder breaking the peace.

"She had a fever last night, and the rain was too heavy, so I let her crash here," Ethan explained quickly, his eyes shifting as he reached for my hand. "She's leaving in a bit. It's the weekend, let's go—"

"No need."

I walked past him and picked up a package sitting in the hallway.

It was a birthday gift I had bought for him a while ago.

"We're over, Ethan."

"So I'm taking my stuff back."

Ethan's hand froze. He snapped his head up to look at me.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Chloe?"

Amber suddenly appeared behind Ethan, holding a coffee mug.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you guys were in that kind of relationship."

She looked at Ethan with a hurt expression, then took a step toward me.

"No wonder you didn't come to my party. You must hate me." She pouted. "But I really just see Ethan as an older brother. Let me explain—"

Before her hand even touched me, she suddenly let go, spilling the entire cup of hot coffee all over my shirt.

"Amber!"

The next second, Ethan shoved me aside and grabbed Amber's hand.

"Don't move! I'll get the burn ointment!"

In our three years of dating, I never knew Ethan kept burn ointment at home.

After all, when I was badly burned by his hot kettle, he only handed me a pair of thin plastic disposable gloves.

"I'm a guy living alone. How would I have that kind of stuff at home?"

"Just run it under cold water."

He had never kept anything in his house that could be linked to having a "girlfriend."

But when it came to Amber, all his rules vanished instantly.

I looked at the stain on my shirt, let out a self-deprecating laugh, and turned to leave.

"Chloe!"

This time, Ethan actually chased me out.

"Can you stop throwing tantrums over every little thing?"

"I only see Amber as a sister. You're my actual girlfriend, so I had to—"

The elevator doors slid shut, cutting him off.

I didn't give him a single glance.

My flight was next week.

I had hoped we could have a decent, quiet ending.

But in the end, Ethan, you ruined even that.