Chapter 4

"Use your brain. That alley didn't even have streetlights. How could Ethan just coincidentally be passing by there in the middle of the night?"

Chloe giggled.

"Those strangers? Ethan actually paid them to put on a show for you, just so you'd be completely devoted to him!"

"What are you saying..."

I felt like I'd been plunged into an ice bath.

Three years ago, I was about to confess my feelings to my crush from college, whom I'd liked for years.

On the way, Ethan Vance blocked my path, holding a large bouquet of roses, and publicly confessed to me.

I rejected him without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I have someone I like, and I'm going to see him today."

I still remember how Ethan, always so proud, instantly had his face darken when he heard that.

At the time, I just thought he was bowing his head in sadness.

But I never imagined that it was on that very night I was dragged into that unlit dead-end alley...

"Too bad the act went too far, though."

Chloe leaned closer to me.

"He didn't expect those strangers to get carried away by lust and get serious."

"Even though Ethan sent them to prison, he's been completely disgusted by you inside."

"He told me, every time he sees you, he remembers you being pressed down by those men. He thinks you're tainted goods, he couldn't even get it up with you, so how could he possibly touch you?"

A loud, heavy slap landed squarely on Chloe Miller's face.

My palm tingled with numbness, and my blood ran cold.

"Shut up!"

My eyes were red, and my voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like my own.

Chloe, clutching her rapidly reddening and swelling face, shrieked in disbelief.

Just then, the apartment door was opened from the outside with a code.

Ethan Vance walked in, carrying two takeout bags, and happened to witness the scene.

"Ethan!"

Chloe's tears instantly burst forth, and she flung herself into Ethan's arms.

"She hit me! Your fiancée is so mean!"

The moment Ethan saw me, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

But when he saw the slap mark on Chloe's face, that bit of guilt instantly turned into accusation.

"Anya Hayes, what are you doing?!"

He pulled Chloe behind him, frowning at me.

"What couldn't you talk about calmly? Why resort to violence? When did you become such a shrew?"

"A shrew, me?"

I pointed at this disgusting pair, tears of despair streaming down my face.

"Ethan Vance, that act you put on three years ago was so convincing!"

Hearing me bring up three years ago, Ethan's face changed, but he quickly forced himself to be calm, sighing.

"Since Chloe has already told you, I won't hide it anymore."

"It was indeed an accident back then, but I also paid the price and got you justice, didn't I?"

He sounded self-righteous.

"I just can't get past it emotionally. Every time I touch you, I feel disgusted. What am I supposed to do?"

"But I never thought of abandoning you. Our wedding next month will proceed as planned. I will still take care of you, and I'll continue to cover your mom's medical expenses."

"I just need Chloe to take care of my... needs. You can be Mrs. Vance, and we can all just live in peace, right?"

Chloe, hiding in his arms, peered out and provocatively raised her eyebrows at me.

I looked at this man before me, finding him terrifyingly unfamiliar.

So his "heroic" act back then was just a calculation.

And his kindness to me for these three years, was it just charity...

"Ethan Vance, you disgust me."

I wiped away my tears, my back stiffening.

"Cancel the wedding."