9
At first, I didn’t know.
Ethan hid it well.
When we met in the town, I didn’t recognize
him, and he acted like a stranger.
Until he left without a word.
I spent days staring blankly in his room.
He left a lot of things behind; I comforted
myself that he would return.
I packed his belongings and moved them to
my room.
Among his things, I found a journal.
It recorded his adolescent crush.
I realized that during those difficult times,
someone was silently watching over me.
Sarah came to take my hand.
“Now that you know, don’t get involved with
Ethan.”
“We arranged a marriage for you, the other
family is well–off, an only son, unmarried,
good personality and looks. Then you…”
Summer couldn’t take it anymore, “If he’s
really as good as you say, why don’t you
marry him yourself?”
Sarah’s face turned uncomfortable, “I’m
L
engaged to Chase, and besides, I’ve never
forgotten him.”
I nodded understandingly, “All these years
you’ve been thinking about your brother–in- law, you only want to marry your brother–in- law. Am I right?”
Suddenly, everyone’s gaze towards Sarah
became subtle.
Sarah quickly explained, “It’s not like that;
Chase and I…”
She was about to cry when Chase shouted,
“Enough!”
His lips were pressed together, his deep eyes
fixed on me.
“I’m sorry, don’t blame her.”
Summer was furious, “Chase, are you deaf
and blind? Since we entered, Sarah has been
stirring up trouble!”
Sarah was crying in Chase’s arms, “I’m sorry,
it’s all my fault.”
く
She always played the innocent victim, then
and now.
People started speaking up for her:
“Taylor, don’t slander Ningning just because
you’re upset.”
“If you were capable, why would Chase
divorce you?”
“You’re divorced, and you’re still saying Ethan is your boyfriend; you must have delusions!”
Just then, the door opened.
Before I could see who it was, I heard a
familiar voice:
“If you have mental problems, see a doctor.”
“Ethan?! It’s really Ethan!”
Someone smugly said to me, “Did you hear
that? He told you to see a doctor.”
Unexpectedly, Ethan walked up to me and
carefully checked my limbs.
After seeing that I wasn’t injured, he breathed
a sigh of relief and turned to the person who
<
had bullied me.
“Were you the one questioning her?”
That person realized what had happened and
stammered.
Someone stepped forward to smooth things
over, “It’s a misunderstanding; a
misunderstanding. Let’s clarify, okay?”
But Ethan wasn’t going to let it go.
He looked at the person who spoke,
“Misunderstanding? I was just late, and you
bullied my girlfriend like this. When I wasn’t
here, how did you treat her?”
No one dared to speak.
Except Sarah.
“Ethan, don’t blame them, it’s all my fault.”
Ethan: “You know it’s your fault, why don’t
you apologize?”
Sarah froze.
Chase frowned, “Enough! We’re all
classmates, no need to make things so
L
awkward.”
Ethan seemed to only now notice Chase, he
raised an eyebrow, “Hey, isn’t this the ex-
husband? What, here to beg for
reconciliation?”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
No one dared to speak.
Chase’s face was tight, “What are you talking
about! Ningning and I are getting married.”
“Oh?”
Ethan looked at Sarah again and suddenly sneered, “When you pursued me, you said
Chase was boring. Now you can’t find anyone
better, so you’re marrying him?”
The room fell silent.
Sarah’s face was ashen.
Chase’s expression was worse than anyone’s,
“Ethan, stop spreading rumors!”
Ethan scoffed, “Whether it’s a rumor, she
knows better than anyone.”
He looked meaningfully at Sarah, then at
Chase and clicked his tongue.
“Chase, you didn’t investigate what she did in
those three years abroad, did you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just check and you’ll know.”
Ethan took my hand, “Not in the mood
tonight, I’m leaving. Have fun.”
Downstairs, in the car, Ethan didn’t start the
engine.
“You’re usually quite sharp with me; why are
you so quiet today?”
He was serious and didn’t look at me.
I leaned over and turned his face towards me,
“Angry?”
“A little.”
I kissed him, “Not angry anymore, okay?”
He chuckled, “You think that’s enough to
appease me?”
I thought for a moment, stood up, and
straddled his lap.
A dark gleam flashed in his clear eyes; he remained still, letting me do as I pleased. At a critical moment, he held my hand.
His voice was husky, “Let’s go home.”
“Huh?”
“Too little space, I can’t do much.”
He put me back in the passenger seat. As
soon as he started the car, my phone rang. It was my mother.
I answered, and she immediately started
scolding me.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you helping
outsiders bully your sister?”
“Your sister’s emotions have been unstable
since she couldn’t dance anymore, why did
you provoke her?”
“And what’s your relationship with Ethan?
Break up with him; I don’t approve!”
“”
She kept talking.
Every sentence was a question.
I moved the phone away from my ear, vaguely hearing no sound, then brought it closer.
“Taylor, come back right now!”
I calmly said, “I won’t go back.”
Her voice suddenly rose, “What did you say?”
“I said, I won’t go back.”
That home no longer had a place for me.
After hanging up, I looked at Ethan.
“Want to get married?”
He seemed lost in thought, “What?”
“Ethan, will you marry me? The guesthouse is
included.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped on
the gas, “Don’t regret this.”
