Chapter 3

At exactly eight o'clock, the Vance family's car pulled up. When I opened the door and got in, I realized the person picking me up was actually Ethan.

Actually, the twins were easy to tell apart if you paid close attention.

Ethan was serious and methodical. He was usually the one dealing with me during official business. Evan, on the other hand, was social and charming; he was the one I spent private time with.

Normally, Ethan hated galas, so Evan should have been the one attending.

I didn't know why they had switched today.

Ethan's gaze swept over my dress, and he frowned.

"Why aren't you wearing the red one?"

I did it on purpose.

I knew Chloe's dress would look highly similar to that red one. They always played this game where I "accidentally" wore the same style so Chloe could "effortlessly" outshine me. I was done playing along.

I leaned closer, ignoring his question.

Instead, I placed my finger gently on his neck.

"Ethan, I just left a mark here yesterday. How did it fade so fast?"

Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

He jerked his head away to avoid my touch, his voice tight.

"I probably put some ointment on it. Let's not talk about that. We need to go."

Suddenly, I grabbed his tie, forcing him to lean down. Under his shocked gaze, I leaned in and kissed his neck hard.

I left a fresh, crimson mark right there.

The sound of the wet kiss was incredibly loud in the quiet car.

"You—"

Ethan's entire body went rigid.

I was so close to him that I could hear his heart hammering wildly in his chest.

*Clack.*

From the passenger seat, behind the privacy partition, came the sound of something breaking.

After a long pause, the driver, Arthur, spoke up.

"Apologies, Master Ethan. My cup slipped."

What a terrible lie.

I figured the person sitting in the passenger seat was Evan.

Ethan's voice was incredibly raspy. "It's fine. Let's go."

I let go of his tie and sat back.

I didn't care.

It didn't matter who was in the front seat. I just wanted to disgust Chloe.

When the car door opened at the venue, I took Ethan's arm. I could feel his muscles tensing. His ears were still red from that kiss.

He was surprisingly pure-hearted compared to his brother.

As soon as we walked in, I saw Chloe surrounded by a crowd, basking in their flattery.

She initially cast a casual glance at me, not planning to cause trouble right away. But when the bright chandelier lights hit Ethan's neck, revealing that fresh hickey, her smile instantly froze.

She immediately marched over with her friends, blocking my way.

"Elena, you're a thief. How dare you show your face at my gala?"

"Ethan, why do you bring just anyone here?"

The girls around her giggled, and the crowd turned to look at me with mocking or amused stares.

Ethan's Adam's apple moved, but he didn't say a word to defend me.

As expected, he chose to be a silent bystander.

I let go of his arm and stepped forward.

"Chloe, don't make baseless accusations. Where is your proof?"

"Proof? Everyone saw it! My diamond necklace was found in your bag!"

I laughed mockingly.

"Right. So if I slip something into your bag tomorrow and pull it out, does that make you a thief too? If you're so sure, call the police. Chloe, you've never been soft-hearted with me. Why haven't you called them? What are you afraid of?"

My aggressive tone infuriated her.

In a fit of rage, she threw her red wine right at me, then smashed her glass at my feet.

"Keep talking, Elena! Dad said it himself."

"If I beat you in the fashion design competition, you will be thrown out of the Sinclair family like trash!"

Chloe walked away with her head held high.

Wine dripped from my hair, and my bare ankle was bleeding from a glass shard. The crowd whispered, but I ignored them and walked to a dark corner of the hall.

Ethan stood behind me, hesitantly holding out a towel.

I didn't take it. Instead, I asked calmly, "Is this enough?"

Ethan looked at me blankly. "What?"

"Playing along so Chloe can trample on my dignity. Is this enough for your little show?"

Ethan didn't expect me to be so blunt.

His eyes drifted down, flinching at my bleeding ankle.

"I..."

Seeing him hesitate, I felt exhausted. I didn't want to talk anymore.

"If it's enough, remember your promise."

"The invitation to Joshua's studio."

"Ethan, I told you I loved his work because I loved you. Not so you could use it to threaten me."

With that, I limped toward the exit.

Ethan took a step forward, calling out, "Elena!"

But I didn't look back, and I didn't stop.