Chapter 2

I stood frozen in place.

In the April weather, I suddenly felt cold.

The elevator door opened. A delivery person glanced at the apartment numbers while stuffing something into my hands.

"Hello, delivery for you."

It was the ultra-thin condoms Ethan usually used.

The delivery person peeked into the apartment nosily a few times. When their gaze returned to my face, there was a hint of sympathy.

I thanked them and walked into the house in a daze, knocking on the open bedroom door.

"Your condoms arrived."

I set down the sushi in my other hand and looked at Ethan.

"You said you wanted this yesterday, so I brought it back for you."

The passionate atmosphere in the bedroom instantly froze to ice.

Natalie and Ethan's bodies were still joined together. Identical panic flashed across both their faces.

Ethan instinctively pushed Natalie away.

"Melissa, didn't you go to the airport? How come..."

The bay window wasn't closed properly. Wild wind mixed with raindrops roared into the room. Natalie's naked body trembled from the shock.

Ethan's words stopped.

Bad weather, canceled flight, I came back and caught them in the act.

How simple.

I walked over and closed the window tightly, then turned to leave.

"Put your clothes on. Don't catch a cold."

Ethan snapped back to reality, hastily pulling on his pants and belt, urgently grabbing my wrist.

"Melissa, let me explain!"

He pulled me to sit on the sofa. His muscular chest and back were covered with bright red scratch marks.

I stared blankly at the roses in the vase.

They had been blooming beautifully this morning, but now they were already wilted.

Ethan noticed my soaked shoes and pant legs. He brought a towel and slippers with distress, crouching down to change them for me.

Natalie's cheerful voice rang out.

"Since you caught us, I won't have to bother hiding it from you anymore."

She wore Ethan's oversized white shirt, leaning against the doorway, eating fish balls with relish.

Her fair skin was covered with dense kiss marks.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Ethan's face. He scolded her in a low voice.

"Go back first. I'll explain things to Melissa."

Natalie rolled her eyes.

"What's there to explain? Melissa's not blind."

She met my gaze provocatively.

"Melissa, I like your man, and I slept with him."

"What are you going to do about it?"

I honestly shook my head.

"I don't know."

Blue veins bulged on the back of Ethan's hand. "Natalie, stop talking!"

He forcefully ushered the struggling Natalie out and slammed the door shut. He turned back and crouched in front of me, his voice trembling.

"Melissa, don't be angry. I was confused for a moment."

My heart felt hollow, my mind a complete fog. I didn't know what to say.

Ethan touched my ice-cold hands, his face full of distress.

"Melissa, let me heat up some milk for you to warm up."

He grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on, quickly walking into the kitchen.

I came to my senses and finally took out my phone, making a video call.

The other end picked up immediately.

Natalie was lounging on the bed, applying bright red nail polish to her smooth, jade-like toes.

Seeing my dazed face, she gave a lazy smile.

"What do you want?"