Chapter 3

When I pushed open the master bedroom door, the room was quiet.

Ethan sat on the rug in front of the ecosystem tank, holding a pair of tweezers, seemingly focused on trimming the moss.

Chloe was gone. Or rather, the normal-sized Chloe was gone.

"What are you doing in here?" Ethan asked without looking up, his tone very impatient.

"I came to get something."

I walked to the bed, my gaze sweeping over my side of the pillow. On the white pillowcase, there was an incredibly tiny indentation. If you weren't looking closely, you'd never notice it.

The messages were flashing frantically.

[OMG, Aurora is here! Right next to them!]

[Chloe is lying right in the folds of the pillow, and Ethan's finger is on her.]

[This angle is insane; Aurora's huge face leaning over, the pressure is so strong.]

[Stay calm, Ethan, don't let her find out.]

I looked at Ethan's left hand, resting on the edge of the pillow. His index finger was subtly rubbing the folds of the pillowcase at an almost imperceptible rhythm. His breathing was heavy, and though his eyes were fixed on the ecosystem tank, his peripheral vision kept darting towards the pillow.

"What are you getting?" His voice was a little hoarse.

"Disinfectant," I said, holding up the bottle.

"What are you doing with disinfectant?" He turned, his eyes wary.

"I think the room smells a bit off." I twisted the nozzle. "Maybe it hasn't been aired out properly lately; even the pillows smell musty."

I aimed the nozzle at my pillow.

Ethan's face instantly changed.

"Stop it!"

He lunged forward, snatching the disinfectant from my hand with such force that he shoved me two steps back, my lower back hitting the nightstand.

"What the hell are you doing?" he roared at me.

"I'm disinfecting my own pillow, why am I going crazy?" I steadied myself, looking at him confused.

"The smell of this disinfectant will get into the tank! How many times have I told you, miniature plants are delicate!" He threw the disinfectant directly into the trash can. "If you think this room smells bad, then go sleep in the guest room!"

Watching his fingers tremble slightly from tension, I chuckled internally.

The messages had already exploded.

[I almost died of fright! Almost got sprayed with disinfectant!]

[Aurora must be doing this on purpose, right? Has she figured something out?]

[Nice one, Ethan, that's how you put her in her place and make her leave.]

"Fine, I'll leave."

I didn't argue, turning to walk out.

"Wait." Ethan called out to me.

He walked to the nightstand, picked up a jewelry box, and threw it at my feet.

"Take your stuff, it's an eyesore."

The jewelry box hit the floor and popped open. A crystal bracelet rolled out, cracking into three pieces with a sharp snap. It was something my mother left me before she passed away last year.

I looked at the shattered jade on the floor and felt my heart being brutally squeezed.

"What are you doing?" I looked up, my voice trembling.