Chapter 4

**Nora's POV**

"Nora... Nora, you're here!" Dylan was the first to react. Trying to break the ice, he stood up and quickly pulled out the chair on Ethan's other side. "Come, sit next to Ethan!"

A few of Ethan's other friends, who had witnessed my three years of sacrifice, chimed in. They deliberately struck up conversations with me, pouring me drinks and passing me fruit, pointedly ignoring Chloe.

Chloe’s expression turned sour. She bit her lip, then suddenly suggested, "Just sitting here is boring. Let's play a game. Truth or Dare, anyone?"

Not wanting to ruin Ethan's mood, the others reluctantly agreed.

After a few rounds, the bottle pointed straight at Chloe.

"I choose dare. I’ll take three shots of whiskey," Chloe said smoothly, picking up a glass and downing it.

But immediately after the first shot, her brow furrowed in pain. She clutched her head and slumped weakly against Ethan. "Ethan... I feel so dizzy. My stomach hurts..."

Almost on instinct, Ethan reached out to support her, his brow furrowed in deep concern.

Without a second thought, he picked up the remaining two shots of whiskey and downed them both in one go.

His voice grew raspy from the strong alcohol, but his gaze was ice-cold as he swept it across the room, finally locking onto Dylan and the others who had been ignoring Chloe.

"Chloe can't hold her liquor. From now on, anyone who targets her or forces her to drink is making an enemy out of me."

He delivered the warning coldly in front of everyone.

The room fell into a dead silence. No one dared to speak, but their eyes kept darting back and forth between Ethan and me.

Sitting to Ethan’s left, I watched him shield Chloe in his arms. I watched him down those two shots for her, and watched him threaten his own friends to protect her.

My hands were clenched under the table, my nails digging so hard into my thigh that they drew blood, just so I could keep a calm face.

It turned out love and indifference were so incredibly obvious.

The heart I couldn't melt after three years of sleepless nights was easily won over by Chloe simply furrowing her brow.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to head out," I said, my voice so calm it surprised even me.

Without giving Ethan a single look, I turned and walked out of the room.

The night air in New York was harsh and freezing.

Standing on the steps of the venue, I pulled out my phone and opened a webpage.

It was the application page for a fellowship program at St. Mary's Hospital in London.

Six months ago, my mentor, Julian Reynolds, had sent me the invitation. But back then, I was too busy taking care of Ethan to give him a clear answer.

Now, I clicked "Accept." Then, I dialed the visa application center.

"Hi, I’d like to expedite my work visa for the UK. As fast as possible, please."

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