Chapter 1

Ethan Vance's first love was a lunatic.

She'd follow us when we ate, and threaten to jump from a building when we dated.

Several times I suggested calling the police, but Ethan always urged me to endure it.

He'd say Serena Bellwether was young and naive, telling me not to bother with a crazy person.

Until the day of our engagement party, Serena snuck in past security.

She tore my wedding dress and smashed my champagne tower.

Then she pushed me, three months pregnant, down the stairs.

This time, Ethan finally exploded.

Ignoring all explanations, he sent her directly to a psychiatric hospital.

I thought our days of trouble were finally over.

But that very night, Serena, who should have been in the hospital, appeared downstairs at my house.

Under the cherry blossom trees, their petals flying everywhere.

The girl who had abandoned him years ago asked him with tear-filled eyes.

"Ethan, you still love me, don't you?"

"Your engagement party played my favorite music."

"Your fiancée wore the wedding dress I designed, and you went to my favorite restaurant for dates."

"Even near your house, my favorite cherry blossoms are planted."

"Ethan, open your eyes and look at me! I refuse to believe you've truly moved on!"

Ethan hadn't moved on.

He fell silent for only three seconds before lowering his head and kissing her.

He kissed her with a desperate, almost savage intensity, as if to vent all his pent-up frustrations.

Only after completely releasing the resentment in his heart did he let go, his eyes still red.

"Yes, I can't let go."

"But Serena, what makes you think I, Ethan, a man of my standing, would marry someone who abandoned me like discarded goods?"

Serena didn't answer.

She simply rose on her toes and kissed him.

Ethan's body stiffened for a moment.

Just when I thought he would push her away,

He, his eyes red, pulled her into his car.

Under the night sky, the car rocked violently.

What the two did was obvious.

And I was so disgusted I couldn't speak.

Dating for ten years, I always knew Ethan had a crazy first love.

That person was obsessive, willful, and unreasonable.

She left him when he was at his lowest, then relentlessly hounded him to come back after he'd rebuilt his life.

Every time Serena appeared, Ethan would tell me with an impatient look,

"She's just a lunatic, why bother with her?"

But now, he was entangled with that lunatic.

My stomach churned violently.

I stumbled to the bathroom and threw up until I saw stars.

I don't know how long I was sick before Ethan finally returned.

He was straightening his rumpled clothes, creased from Serena's embrace.

Seeing me, he immediately rushed to my side.

"What's wrong, Chloe? Is it a lingering effect from what happened earlier today?"

"Don't be scared, I'll take you to the hospital right now."

He draped his jacket over me and helped me walk out.

But the scent of his cologne, mingling with hers, only made me more nauseous.

I roughly pushed Ethan's hand away, unable to bear his touch.

Ethan thought I was still angry about the day's events.

His expression grew impatient.

"Chloe, you've always been so understanding, haven't you?"

"Why are you still angry with me about what happened today? Serena is just crazy, don't stoop to her level. I'll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?"

Make it up to me how?

By punishing her in the car again?

Or by making her his mistress, to humiliate her?

I couldn't bring myself to ask.

Ethan stood beside me for a while.

Feeling bored, he quietly walked out.

Sleep was impossible. I stared blankly at the ceiling.