Chapter 3

After agreeing to meet Xavier tomorrow, I took a cab back to the penthouse apartment Ethan and I shared.

I pushed open the door. In the entryway hung wedding photos we'd just taken a few days ago.

In the photo, Ethan held me from behind, smiling with deep affection.

I still remembered him solemnly whispering in my ear that day: "Summer, once the tenth anniversary gala is over and your status is established, we'll go register our marriage immediately!"

Those promises still echoed in my ears, yet the person had rotted through completely.

I looked coldly at that photo, then walked forward and yanked it from the wall without hesitation, smashing it hard on the floor.

The sound of shattering glass was especially jarring in the empty living room.

I found a suitcase and started packing my things.

Clothes, laptop, design drafts.

Anything Ethan had bought, I left behind.

About half an hour later, the door's electronic lock beeped.

Ethan walked in carrying an elegant cake box, with Chloe following behind him, holding a beautifully wrapped bouquet of red roses.

Seeing the shattered wedding photo glass all over the floor, Ethan froze.

His brow furrowed instinctively, his tone carrying a hint of superior irritation.

"Summer, have you had enough of this tantrum? We'll have to get the photo reprinted tomorrow if you smashed it."

I zipped up my suitcase, my voice completely flat: "No need to reprint it. Just clearing out the trash."

Ethan clearly didn't catch the deeper meaning in my words.

Or rather, he was so confident in my seven years of love that he didn't believe I would actually leave him.

He strode over and set the cake box on the dining table.

"Alright, stop sulking. Come eat something."

His tone was gentle, as if nothing had happened---employing his usual tactic of humiliating you first, then offering some trivial gesture of kindness.

"Chloe specially went to that popular bakery in the south district and waited in line to buy you mango mousse. You used to love this place, didn't you?"

I released the suitcase handle, pulled out a wet wipe, and carefully cleaned my fingers before turning to look at them.

Chloe held out the roses, her face showing careful, flattering concern.

"Summer, don't be mad at Ethan about tonight."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been scared because of my condition."

I didn't take the flowers, just quietly watched her hypocritical face.

"You're right about one thing---you shouldn't have. After all, stealing someone else's fiancé is pretty shameless."

Chloe's eyes immediately reddened. Her hand holding the flowers froze in midair as tears started falling, and she looked to Ethan for help.

Ethan's face immediately darkened. He pulled Chloe behind him and looked at me accusingingly:

"Summer, that's enough!"

"Chloe already humbled herself to apologize to you. How long are you going to keep this up?"

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, his tone condescending.

"Fine, you were wronged at the gala tonight. But she waited in line for two hours to buy this mango mousse. At least take a bite, won't you?"

As he spoke, he opened the cake box himself and cut a piece to hand to me.

A thick, sickeningly sweet mango smell hit me in the face.

Looking at that piece of cake, I suddenly felt utterly absurd and couldn't help but laugh.

Ethan frowned, his expression confused: "What are you laughing at?"

I looked into his eyes and asked, word by word:

"Ethan Brown, do you still remember that I'm allergic to mango?"