Chapter 2

When the party ended, Scarlett's parents came to take her home.

Ethan walked over. Seeing me standing in the chilly draft by the doorway, he frowned. "Why are you out here? You're going to catch a cold."

He reached out to touch my cheek.

I tilted my head and pulled away.

Ethan’s hand froze mid-air. After a second, he chuckled softly. "Are you mad? You saw how it was in there. With so many people around, I couldn't risk triggering her."

"I'll deal with the guys who started that chant later. Don't take it to heart."

"Why did you never tell me that Scarlett was the one you loved before me?" I asked quietly.

Ethan froze. He clearly hadn't expected me to know.

"Scarlett is just my sister-in-law now. Don't overthink it."

"She's been looking forward to this birthday for so long," he continued, his tone turning slightly defensive. "Julian isn't here, and her mind isn't clear. I was just granting her wish on my brother's behalf. Don't be so petty."

As he spoke, he patted my head, the way someone would placate a moody pet.

He assumed that a simple apology and a bit of coaxing would make me back down and swallow my pride, just like every other time.

I had heard those exact excuses too many times. It made my stomach churn.

I looked up into his eyes.

"Does taking care of her include kissing her on the mouth? What's next? Sleeping with her on your brother's behalf? Giving her another baby to replace the one she lost?"

Ethan’s face instantly darkened.

"Nora, shut your mouth! Scarlett has suffered enough! Can't you show a little grace?"

"You're not like her. You still have me. She has nothing left!"

His words felt like an icy needle stabbing straight into a spot in my heart that had already gone numb.

Perhaps my expression was too pale, because Ethan seemed to realize he had crossed the line.

His voice softened.

"I know these past two years haven't been easy on you. But Scarlett is getting better. The doctor says her condition will stabilize soon with more therapy."

"When that happens, we'll have our wedding."

He stared into my eyes with familiar gentleness.

In the past, whenever he looked at me like that, my heart would soften. I would compromise and tell him, *Okay, I'll wait for you.*

Tonight, though, there wasn't a shred of hope left in me.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and answered almost instantly. "Scarlett? What's wrong?"

A panicked voice came from the other end. I couldn't hear clearly, but Scarlett's sobbing was unmistakable.

"Okay, okay, don't be scared. I'm coming right now."

He hung up, his expression tense. "Scarlett is having another breakdown. Her parents can't handle her. I have to go."

Without waiting for my answer, he spun around and left.

His engine roared to life, headlights sweeping over me before disappearing into the black night.

I stood on the sidewalk as the wind blew past, chilling me to the bone.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was a text from my mom:

[Sweetheart, stop wasting your life on Ethan. If a man makes excuses not to marry you, he just doesn't love you enough.]

I stared at the screen for a long time.

Then, my fingers slowly typed out:

[I know, Mom.]