Chapter 2

Swallowing the bitterness in my throat, I wiped my father's face with a warm towel.

He had traveled all the way from his hometown just to visit Chloe and me. Before the crash, he was carrying a bag full of gifts for us.

But when I arrived at the scene, all I found was a bloody mess on the asphalt and my father, David, unconscious with a face covered in blood.

Since the accident, this was the first time Chloe had actually come to the hospital to see him.

"David, are you feeling any better?"

She placed a basket of fruits on the nightstand, pretending to care.

I stood up and went outside to get some water, unable to stand in the same room with her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her let out a sigh of relief when I walked out.

When I returned, she was holding my father's hand, blinking back tears as if she had just been crying.

Seeing me back, she quickly made an excuse about a busy schedule at the office and hurried away.

My dad weakly reached out, grasping my hand. "Forget it, Ethan," he whispered hoarsely. "As long as you and Chloe live a good life together, that's all that matters."

I was confused, assuming he had simply noticed the tension between Chloe and me.

It wasn't until I called the detective in charge of the case that the truth hit me. The officer sounded surprised on the phone. "Wait, didn't you guys settle? Your father personally signed the waiver."

The veins on my forehead throbbed violently. I was shaking so hard from anger that I could barely hold my phone.

I remembered the day Chloe visited. She had been holding her phone tightly against my father's ear while I was out of the room. It all made sense now.

The detective played the recorded audio for me. "This is your father's voice, and his signature on the settlement release form is real. We can't dispute this. Your family is really strange. First, you demand charges, then you drop them... and your wife has been running around trying to help the suspect..."

I hung up, staring at the floor, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white.

When Liam was released from custody, he walked up to me outside the police station with a smirk. "To be honest, Ethan, Chloe just cares about me too much. I told her I have enough money to pay for the damages, but she insisted on wire-transferring me the money anyway."

I couldn't control myself. I raised my fist.

"Ethan!" Chloe suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed my wrist.

She glared at Liam, then forced her fingers into my palm, holding my hand tightly.

"Ethan, let's go back to the hospital to see David."

Before I could speak, Liam pouted.

He looked at Chloe. "Chloe, my anxiety is acting up. I can't drive. Can you please take me home?"

Chloe hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Okay."

I let out a cold laugh, pulled my hand out of her grip, and walked away.

On my way to the hospital, I received a text from her: Ethan, I'll be there a bit late.

But I waited until the sun went down, and Chloe never showed up.

Suddenly, my phone started buzzing repeatedly. Fearing it would wake my dad, I stepped out into the quiet hallway to answer it.

It was a FaceTime audio call from Chloe.

The moment I pressed accept, a series of heavy, passionate gasps echoed through the speaker.

"Baby, are you wearing the lingerie I bought you?" Liam's voice panted.

"Of course... top and bottom..." Chloe whispered back, her voice dripping with lust.

The sounds continuing to pour out of the phone felt like a thousand needles stabbing directly into my heart.

I thought I had gotten used to this. I thought I had completely stopped loving her. But when I was forced to face it so directly, the barely healed wounds were ripped wide open again, bleeding profusely.

After my father was discharged from the hospital, he insisted on going back to his hometown. Once I saw him off at the train station, I finally went back to my apartment.

When I opened the door, the dining table was still covered with moldy, rotten takeout from weeks ago.

Every corner of the house reminded me that Chloe hadn't stepped foot in this place for a very long time.

Ignoring the stench of the spoiled food, I walked straight to the bedroom to pack my bags.

But just as I reached the hallway with my suitcase, the front door swung open from the outside.

"Who are you? Why are you sneaking around in my son's apartment?"