Chapter 2

Even the clerk at the desk threw me a sympathetic look.

But Ethan got angry.

"What is that supposed to mean? It was just a joke."

"Do you really have to pull a face like that?"

"Everyone is watching. Don't embarrass me."

I said nothing.

Chloe, his little green-tea best friend, let out a soft giggle.

"Ethan, is your girlfriend actually mad?"

"She’s such a party pooper."

"Maybe she just doesn’t love you anymore."

Ethan's face instantly darkened.

"No way."

"For the 37th proposal, I joked that I’d marry her if she jumped off a 100-meter high dive. She has severe vertigo, but she still jumped."

"For the 55th proposal, I lied and said my family went bankrupt. She ate nothing but expired bread for six months just to save money for me. She starved herself until her stomach bled and ended up in the ICU."

"As long as I say the word 'marriage,' she’d die for me. If that’s not love, what is?"

A wave of sheer absurdity washed over me.

So, he knew. He knew all along.

He knew exactly how much damage he had caused me.

Yet, every single time, he chose to place another bet with Chloe.

Over and over again, he treated my pain as his personal entertainment.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat.

With one last shred of hope, I looked at Ethan.

"So, this time, did you ever actually intend to marry me?"

Ethan leaned in, kissed my cheek, and smiled:

"Babe, it’s just a game. Don’t take it so seriously."

"Next time. I promise it’ll be real next time."

I looked into his eyes, my gaze steady.

"There won't be a next time, Ethan."

"Are you going to marry me today, or not?"

Before Ethan could speak, Chloe chimed in coldly:

"Ethan, your girlfriend is being ridiculous."

"She’s pushing so hard for marriage. Is she after your family's money or something?"

Ethan’s grip on my hand slowly loosened.

His expression hardened.

"Yeah, my parents haven't even accepted you yet."

"Stop being so sensitive."

"Can’t you be more like Chloe? Just relax a little."

But Ethan.

I couldn’t wait any longer.

For ten years, I hadn't gone home once. I had cut ties with my parents.

All because of your promise: "I’ll marry you on the 100th time."

I flew into your fire like a moth, over and over.

I lost a baby. I ended up in the ICU five times.

I became a running joke in everyone's eyes.

I let out a long sigh, feeling ten years older.

"But I'm tired."

Ethan violently let go of my hand.

"Fine! Don’t marry me then!"

With that, he took out the ring, dropped to one knee in front of Chloe.

"Chloe, marry me."

Even as he said it, his eyes were locked on me, trying to provoke me.

Chloe began to cry tears of joy, throwing herself into his arms.

Ethan shot me a defiant smirk.

"See? You didn't want it, but plenty of girls do."

The ring I had waited ten years for was handed to someone else just like that.

I watched them sign the marriage papers right there in City Hall.

My chest tightened, but surprisingly, it didn't hurt anymore.

Just pure, hollow absurdity.

I smiled bitterly.

Ethan had no idea.

I had a ten-year agreement with my parents.

And tonight was the final deadline.