Chapter 2

"So you admit it?"

My voice shook like a dry leaf caught in a winter storm.

Hailey leaned against his shoulder and poked her tongue out at me.

"Chloe, don't look at me like that. Ethan and I are literally best friends. He just uses me as an outlet—"

"Hailey," Ethan interrupted her.

Hailey pouted.

"We were just helping each other out. If I didn't help him while you're pregnant, he would've gone to some random hookup."

"Would you prefer him sleeping with a stranger? At least you know I’m clean."

I shook with pure rage.

"Ethan, what do you take me for?"

He looked at me and said defensively, "Chloe, Hailey is right. At least she's my friend. She won't cause drama."

"You should actually thank her. If it weren't for her, I would have actually cheated."

It was laughably absurd.

So cheating with your best friend didn't count as cheating?

"You both disgust me."

Ethan's face darkened.

"Chloe, I won't let you disrespect Hailey."

Hailey’s eyes welled with tears.

"Chloe, I really just didn't want Ethan to be frustrated... If you're that mad, just hit me. Don't blame him..."

She stepped toward me, putting on a show.

The moment I raised my hand to push her away, Ethan grabbed my wrist. His grip was so tight it felt like he was going to crush my bones.

"Chloe, that's enough!"

He panted, his voice dangerously low.

"Do you know who saved me when my first startup failed, and I was standing on the edge of the office rooftop, ready to jump?"

I froze.

"It was Hailey," he yelled. "She sold the house her late mother left her. Two million dollars. She transferred every single cent to my account without hesitation."

"If it wasn't for that money saving the company, do you think I'd be here today?"

I stood there, paralyzed.

Hailey lowered her head, wiping a tear.

"Chloe, that was the only thing my mom left me... But I just thought Ethan was more important than a house."

Ethan looked at her with a tenderness I hadn't seen in years.

Then he turned to me, his gaze freezing over.

"And what about you? All you've done over the years is whine, cry, and make scenes at home."

My face drained of all color.

For the past seven years...

To fund his tech startup dream, I worked three jobs a day.

I delivered milk at 4 AM, rode a scooter delivering food at noon, and hauled heavy boxes at a warehouse at night. In the dead of winter, my fingers bleed from cardboard cuts.

And I transferred every single penny I saved into his bank account.

Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my abdomen.

Seeing my pale face, a flash of hesitation crossed Ethan's eyes.

He took off his coat and stepped forward to drape it over my shoulders.

His tone softened slightly.

"Alright, let's stop fighting."

"I made a mistake, okay? It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. I promise it won't happen again. You're pregnant, don't get cold. Let's go home, and I'll make you your favorite pasta, okay?"

I looked at him.

Under the dim lights, he still had the face I fell in love with at first sight.

I had fallen so hard for him back then. Even when my father threatened to disown me, I packed my bags and ran away with him without looking back.

In those early years, he would wake up at 5 AM to make me breakfast. Once, I casually mentioned I wanted a bagel from a specific shop, and he waited in line for four hours just to get it for me.

He was the one who ruined me with love, and now, he was the one throwing me into hell.

He reached out to wrap his arm around my waist.

I took a step back, dodging his touch.

His hand froze in midair, his face twisting with frustration.

"Chloe, I've already humbled myself. What more do you want?"

Right then, a soft, intimate moaning sound echoed from behind us.

On the white wall, the projector screen had suddenly turned on.

On the screen, under a starry night sky, an SUV was rocking violently.

Two shadows were tangled together in the moonlight.