I tore his letters to shreds and threw them in
the trash.
I didn’t understand how he still thought I
would go back to him.
He must have some serious nerve.
- 14.
く
- 14.
The diner was filled with the smell of cooking
oil as I bussed tables.
I glanced up and saw Ethan sitting in a corner
booth. He smiled at me.
I avoided his gaze and continued working.
When my shift ended, he was still there, a few
untouched plates in front of him.
“Join me for a bite,” he said, gesturing to the
seat opposite him.
“No, thanks. I already ate.”
I declined, but my stomach growled loudly,
betraying me.
<
betraying me.
He chuckled. “Don’t be shy. Come sit down.”
Unable to refuse, I sat across from him.
A hot pot of soup bubbled in front of us, the
warmth chasing away the chill.
I dug in, forgetting all table manners.
“Slow down, no one’s going to steal it from
you.
Midway through my meal, I felt a tickle on my
cheek.
I looked up to see Ethan smiling at me,
holding a grain of rice.
<
“Your face looked hungry,” he teased,
I blushed, looking down.
I knew he liked me. His eyes made no secret
of it.
But right now, I just wanted to focus on my
studies.
Everything else could wait.
- 15.
Winter break arrived, and Mrs. Miller’s calls
started, one after another, urging me to come
home for the holidays.
They had raised me, after all. I couldn’t be
completely heartless.
<
After much deliberation, I bought a train
ticket and headed back to Millerton, laden.
with gifts.
As soon as I stepped inside the Miller house, I
heard a shrill voice.
“Jake Miller, what do you mean?”
“I’m carrying your child! I’m not here to be
treated like this!”
I froze. Chloe, very pregnant, was yelling at
Jake.
Jake’s face was dark, but he didn’t argue
back, only trying to placate her.
“Chloe, calm down. The doctor said you
shouldn’t get upset. It’s bad for the baby.
く
“I want that coat! Go buy it for me, now!”
“Chloe, I’ll buy it for you next time, okay? I
already spent my allowance for this month.”
Jake carefully guided Chloe to a seat.
“It’s your fault you are still just a Captain, did
you give your money to your ‘sister‘ instead?”
Jake’s expression changed. “Chloe, don’t be
ridiculous. Sarah and I are over. It’s finished.”
“Over? Do you think I’m stupid? You write to
her constantly! You think I don’t know?”
“You don’t care about me at all! You only
care about her!”
Chloe cried, pounding on Jake’s chest.
<
Jake’s face was etched with impatience. “I
told you, there’s nothing between us!”
Standing in the doorway, watching this scene
unfold, I felt a surge of bitter amusement.
In my past life, he’d hidden his
communication with Chloe from me.
In this life, he was hiding his letters to me
from Chloe.
He wanted both, unable to commit to either.
