Chapter 2

Lila POV

After everyone had been drinking for a while, the atmosphere in the lounge grew increasingly heated. I felt cold all over.

When the gathering ended, everyone headed out together. I lagged half a step behind. Just as I reached the hallway, I heard a voice laced with malice behind me.

"Lila."

I stopped and turned. It was one of the wealthy guys who'd laughed the loudest in the lounge earlier.

He looked me up and down and sneered.

"Ethan's getting married soon. If you're smart, you'll take the money and leave. Don't think that just because you've been with Ethan for a few years, you can marry into a wealthy family. Someone like you who deals with animals all day. How could you compare to Vivian?"

I looked at him quietly, my face showing no ripples, as if watching a clown.

Ethan, who'd been walking ahead, noticed I hadn't followed and turned back, coldly glancing at the man. "Watch your mouth."

The man awkwardly touched his nose and didn't dare say more.

On the drive back, the car was terrifyingly quiet.

When we arrived at the apartment they shared, Ethan took off his coat and hung it on the rack. From behind, he pulled me into his embrace, his chin resting against the hollow of my neck, his voice low and soft. "You had a rough time today? I won't take you to these kinds of gatherings anymore, so their words won't upset you."

I didn't struggle, only asked in a flat tone, "Do you think I embarrassed you?"

Ethan chuckled softly, turned me around to face him, and reached to ruffle my hair, but I dodged by tilting my head. His hand froze in mid-air. He said helplessly, "What are you overthinking? I just don't want them targeting you. Honey, you just need to know that you're the only one in my heart. That's enough."

The only one in his heart? Then what was that white invitation? What did "keeping on the side" mean?

I looked at his affectionate eyes and felt nothing but disgust. I didn't expose him, only said flatly, "I'm tired. I want to shower."

Ethan let me go. "Alright, go shower. I'll handle some emails in the study."

When I came out from my shower, Ethan had just gone into the bathroom. He casually left his phone on the nightstand.

The screen lit up with an Ins message. Ethan's password was my birthday. I'd never checked his phone before, but today, I couldn't control myself from reaching out.

Unlock. Open Ins.

Besides me, there was another account at the top without a name.

The newest message read: "Honey, we're trying on wedding dresses tomorrow. Can't you come keep me company tonight? I know you can't bear to leave your girlfriend, but we're getting married soon. You need to show me some respect, right?"

Scrolling up, there were chat records of them discussing wedding venues and selecting diamond rings. Though Ethan didn't reply much, every sentence showed the indulgence and compromise a fiancé should have.

Looking at those glaring sentences, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain suffocating.

I put the phone back and reset the message to unread.

Before long, Ethan came out of the bathroom with a cloud of steam, picked up his phone and glanced at it. His expression changed slightly. He turned to look at me sitting at the vanity, a flash of apology in his eyes. "Lila, there's an urgent matter at the company. I need to go over there. I probably won't be back tonight. You should get some sleep early."

He left in such a hurry, he didn't even wait for my response.

After a while, my phone vibrated.

It was a message from an unknown number.

In the photo, Ethan sat on the sofa in the Sinclair family villa, Vivian leaning against his shoulder, the two in an intimate pose.

Then came a text message: "With just one word from me, he'll still abandon you to come find me. Lila, after we get married, what will you be? A shameful mistress?"

I stared at the screen as tears finally fell.

This knife was wielded by Vivian, but handed to her by Ethan himself.

I wiped away my tears, opened my laptop, logged into the hospital's internal system, and pulled up a document. "Application for Selection of Outstanding Physicians for Two-Year Advanced Training at Boston's Top Veterinary Medical Center."

Without hesitation, I filled in the information and clicked submit.

Ethan, since you're getting married, I wish you a happy wedding.