Chapter 2

The pajamas Sophia wore were ones I'd bought for my birthday last year. I'd washed them once but never worn them. The rabbit-fur slippers on her feet were also mine.

Even the cup in her hands—the small chip on the rim—I'd accidentally made that myself.

Everything was mine.

"Violet, I'm sorry." Sophia immediately stood up, her voice soft. "Ethan said you had lots of clothes, so I just grabbed something. I'll wash it and return it."

What really disgusted me wasn't that she wore my clothes.

It was Ethan standing there, accepting all of this as reasonable.

I pushed my suitcase inside and said flatly, "No need to return it. You can have everything."

Sophia froze.

Ethan frowned. "Violet, don't be so cutting."

I smiled slightly. "I'm generously giving things away. Isn't that gracious enough?"

Ethan set the porridge on the table, his expression unpleasant. "You know Sophia is sensitive right now. Why do you have to be like this?"

I didn't bother arguing.

I went straight into the bedroom to pack.

Several dresses were missing from the closet. I didn't ask. The perfume I used regularly on the vanity had been opened. The engagement venue catalog in the nightstand drawer had been rummaged through messily.

As I packed, Ethan followed me in.

"Why are you taking so much stuff?"

"I'm moving out."

"Just because of one night?"

I zipped up my suitcase and finally looked at him. "Ethan, do you think that as long as you say 'Sophia isn't feeling well' or 'Sophia is timid,' I should give up everything?"

He looked stunned.

Then quickly frowned again. "I didn't mean it like that."

"But everything you do means exactly that."

As I reached the door, Ethan suddenly spoke. "Tomorrow night is my mom's birthday. Don't make a scene."

I paused.

"Don't worry."

"I'll be more dignified than anyone."

Mrs. Quinn's birthday—in previous years, I'd picked the gifts, ordered the cake, even reviewed the guest list for them.

The Quinn family had been close to ours for years. Everyone in our circle knew that this future daughter-in-law cared more than their actual son.

Mrs. Quinn used to hold my hand and say with a smile, "When Ethan marries you, he'll be so blessed."

Looking back now, that blessing was probably wasted.

That afternoon, Ethan sent me the birthday party itinerary.

His last message read:

"Sophia is meeting so many elders for the first time. She'll be nervous. Don't target her later."

I read it and tossed my phone aside.

Julia Brown had just come over to drop something off. She couldn't help cursing. "Is he sick? You're not even married yet, and he's already setting rules for you on behalf of the other woman?"

"Not the other woman," I corrected her. "I'm not married yet. At most, I'm the one who got cut in line."

Julia laughed at my comment, then felt sorry for me. "Are you really just going to let this go?"

"Let what go?" I looked down, selecting earrings. "Storm into the Quinn house and make a scene? Or grab Ethan and ask when he became this disgusting?"

Julia fell silent.

She knew better than anyone how Ethan and I had gotten this far.

Sophomore year, when the Quinn family ran into trouble and their funds dried up, Ethan stayed up every night with bloodshot eyes. Afraid he'd collapse, I transferred all the money from my account to him. Later, my dad pulled the Quinn family out of trouble for my sake.

Back then, Ethan held me and said he'd never let me lose in this lifetime.

Yet just a few years later, he made me lose to a "timid" Sophia White.

That evening, I'd just changed into my dress when Ethan called again.

I didn't answer.

He called persistently three times.

Finally, I picked up, and he got straight to the point. "Where did you put that emerald necklace you prepared for my mom?"

"Sophia's dress tonight has an open neckline. I want her to wear it."

That necklace was left to me by my grandmother. I'd been willing to give it to Mrs. Quinn as a birthday gift because I thought we'd soon be family.

But now, Ethan wanted to give it to Sophia White to wear.

When I didn't respond, he sounded impatient. "Violet, don't be difficult right now."

I slowly removed my earring, looking at myself in the mirror.

"Ethan."

"Yeah?"

"I'll give your mom a big gift tonight."

"What do you mean?"

I smirked.

"You'll find out soon enough."