Chapter 2

By the time the bus arrived back in the city, the sky was pitch black.

I dragged my heavy feet back to our rented apartment.

This was the place Ethan had rented last month, promising we would move in together after graduation.

But the living room corners were currently piled high with Chloe’s cardboard boxes.

A few days ago, Chloe had cried to Ethan, saying her landlord had suddenly kicked her out. Without even consulting me, Ethan brought her here.

He claimed it was just a temporary arrangement to give her a place to stay.

When she moved in, she took the master bedroom, Ethan took the study, and I was pushed into the small guest room.

I poured myself a glass of warm water and sat on the sofa, quietly staring at the mess belonging to another woman cluttering the apartment.

The next afternoon, the front door clicked open.

Ethan walked in, rolling Chloe’s suitcase, the two of them laughing and chatting.

Seeing me sitting on the balcony pressing plant specimens, the smile on Ethan’s face instantly vanished.

He marched over, his brows knitted in a deep frown.

"Hazel, what is wrong with you? You vanished without a word last night and turned off your phone. Do you have any idea how worried we were?"

"Can you please be more considerate of others, like Chloe is?"

I paused my tweezers and looked up at him.

His eyes held nothing but irritation over his ruined plans. There wasn't a shred of actual worry to be found.

Chloe stepped out from behind him, holding a beautifully packaged red gift box.

"Hazel, don't blame Ethan. He didn't sleep well last night. Look, we bought you these pastries from the bakery on the mountain. They're your favorite."

I looked at the box. It was walnut bread.

I am severely allergic to walnuts. Throughout college, even a tiny bite would break me out in hives and make it hard to breathe.

Ethan had literally carried me to the ER twice in the middle of the night because of this.

Yet, he stood beside Chloe now, chiming in naturally.

"Chloe waited in line for half an hour to buy this for you. Just take it, and stop looking so miserable."

I didn't reach for the box. I just looked at Ethan with a cold, calm gaze.

"I am allergic to walnuts, Ethan. Is this what you mean by being 'considerate' of others?"

The air in the room froze for a second.

Chloe’s smile stiffened, and she looked at Ethan, seemingly lost.

Ethan’s brow furrowed deeper. A brief flash of guilt crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of defensive anger.

"If you can't eat them, couldn't you have said so earlier? Do you have to make things awkward for Chloe right now? If you don't want it, fine. Throw it away."

He snatched the box from her hand and tossed it straight into the trash can without even opening it.

Then, he quickly changed the subject, pointing to the green plants I had been cultivating on the balcony for the past six months.

"Chloe starts her new job next week, and she needs some plants for her desk. I think this pot looks pretty good. Let her take it. You play with dirt all day anyway, you won't miss this one."

He said it so casually, as if it were worthless.

That was a rare hybrid species I had cultivated specifically for my upcoming final-round interview at the Botanical Research Institute.

I had documented the growth cycle of every single leaf, pouring countless sleepless nights into keeping it alive.

Chloe walked over, reaching out to grab the heavy ceramic pot.

"Hazel, I really love this color. Can I borrow it for a few days?"

I quietly watched her hand, then shifted my gaze to Ethan.

He was looking at Chloe with pure, doting affection, as if to say, I knew you'd like it.

I stood up and pulled the heavy pot directly into my arms.

"No."

"This is my work. I’m not lending it, and I’m not giving it away."

Ethan’s face darkened completely.