Chapter 2

Ethan reached out to grab my hand, but I stepped aside, dodging him.

"Can you stop throwing a tantrum over such a tiny thing?" His tone softened, turning into a coaxing, placating murmur.

I said nothing, only staring at him with cold, dead eyes.

Unable to hold my gaze, he let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine. I’ll tell her. I’ll ask her to leave."

He raised both hands in a mock surrender.

"Happy wife, happy life. Is that what you want?"

With that, he turned around and walked over to Serena, whispering something to her.

Serena’s shoulders slumped instantly.

She looked up, her eyes turning red in a split second.

"Ethan... does Chloe hate me?"

"Did I do something wrong? I’m just so heartbroken, and I wanted to be around some happy energy."

As she spoke, she threw a pitiful, aggrieved glance in my direction, then turned back to Ethan, clutching his arm tightly.

"Ethan, I know Chloe is misunderstanding us."

"But you already explained it to her. Does she still not trust you?"

That face again.

Those exact, manipulative, innocent words.

My brain buzzed with anger.

Two months ago, Serena showed up at our brand-new apartment dragging two massive suitcases.

She had made that exact same face.

That day, Ethan held me close while looking at her with pure pity.

"Babe, Serena just got dumped, and her landlord kicked her out. She’s all alone in this city, and it’s so heartbreaking."

"Let’s just let her stay with us for a bit. As soon as she finds a job and a place, she’ll move out."

And what happened? Once she moved in, she never mentioned leaving again.

Then, two weeks before we got married, at our pre-wedding party.

In front of everyone, she looked at Ethan with teary eyes.

"I’m so jealous of Chloe. She gets to marry such an amazing guy."

"My ex didn't treat me even half as well as you do."

Our friends started hyping them up, telling her to take a sip from Ethan’s drink.

Ethan hesitated.

But Serena immediately wrapped her arm around his.

"Come on, Ethan. Consider it an early toast to your marriage."

He half-resisted but ended up drinking it anyway.

Later, when we took group photos, she literally shoved me out of the way, pressing her face almost flat against Ethan’s cheek.

That night, I had the biggest fight of our relationship with him.

"Ethan, do you even know what boundaries are?"

"Babe, you’re overthinking. We were just messing around. We’ve always been like this since childhood."

I was shaking with rage.

We didn't speak for a whole week.

I had already packed my bags, fully prepared to end the relationship.

The night before we went to the courthouse, he held me tight, crying and apologizing.

"Babe, I was wrong. I promise I’ll keep my distance from her from now on."

"I swear, this was the absolute last time."

Looking at his bloodshot eyes, I believed him.

But now, standing in the airport lobby, his promise felt like a sickening joke.

The look in his eyes as he stared at Serena was pure, aching concern.

And that concern wasn't for me.

He walked back to me, his face written with exhaustion.

"Babe, look at how hard Serena is crying. How about..."

I didn't let him finish. I spun on my heel and walked toward the exit.

"Then I’m leaving. Enjoy your honeymoon."