Chapter 4

She raised the pregnancy test in her hand.

"I'm pregnant with Ethan's baby. You're going to be a godmother!"

I stood frozen in place, almost forgetting to breathe.

A trace of joy flashed in Ethan's eyes.

He let go of my hand and walked toward Natalie.

I felt intense nausea. The files in my arms scattered across the floor. I shoved past them and rushed out the door.

The whole world was crumbling. Hurricanes howled, rain poured down.

I walked through the city with my head down, my face covered with moisture—I couldn't tell if it was tears or raindrops.

Natalie's swaying silhouette appeared before my eyes, delicate pain coursing through my heart.

We used to be the best of friends.

I would steal lots and lots of strawberries she loved from my family's fruit shop.

She would patiently help me put together outfit after outfit.

When she opened her nail salon after college graduation, I gave her all my savings.

Natalie cried her eyes out then.

"Melissa, if I lose money, you'll have nothing left!"

I answered slowly.

"Even if that happens, I'd do it willingly."

Natalie was beautiful and clever, like a clear, bright moon.

And I was clumsy and slow, just wanting to be an insignificant star by her side.

Why did we end up like this?

"Melissa, come back with me. You'll get sick if you stay in the rain any longer!"

An exasperated voice rang out. My wrist was tightly grasped by Natalie.

In the storm, her figure holding an umbrella looked somewhat fragile, but her eyes were incredibly determined.

Like countless times in our youth when she stood beside me, openly saying "Melissa is my best friend."

My nose tingled. I silently pulled away from her.

"I don't need your help."

Natalie lost her balance and stumbled, falling to the ground.

"Natalie!"

Ethan arrived just in time. He forcefully pushed away me as I stepped forward in panic to help Natalie up. His eyes were bloodshot as he raised his hand and slapped me.

"Melissa! Natalie is pregnant, and you deliberately pushed her?"

"How could you be this kind of person!"

I was dizzy from the blow. When I came to my senses, he had already rushed Natalie to the hospital.

The rain poured down.

I stood there sobbing uncontrollably.

Ethan had secretly loved me throughout all three years of high school.

Knowing I liked flowers, every morning he would secretly place a freshly bloomed flower covered in dew in the plastic water bottle on my desk.

When passing by the basketball court, he would run over drenched in sweat and shyly place a candy in my palm.

After college entrance exams, he confessed to me, his cheeks nearly bright red.

"Melissa, I like you. Can you give me a chance to be your boyfriend?"

"I won't be like the uncles in my family with their endless romantic debts. I only like you."

Born into a prestigious family, he was heaven's favored son, yet he noticed plain and ordinary me.

Even the most dull and boring girl would be moved by such sincere words.

The old him wished he could lay the whole world at my feet.

But now, for Natalie's sake, he could slap me without hesitation.

I wiped my face and hailed a car to the hospital.

Outside the hospital room, Ethan was soaking wet, his expression exhausted.

He looked at the red swelling on my face and pulled me into his arms with distress.

"Melissa, I'm sorry. I was impulsive just now."

"Natalie had an examination. Everything is fine. If you're upset, take it out on me, but don't provoke her."

His warm palm caressed my cheek. Ethan lowered his head and kissed my earlobe.

"You're afraid of pain, so let Natalie have the baby and we'll raise it. Don't worry, you'll always be Mrs. Hayes."

"Let's just pretend this never happened, okay?"

I pulled away from his embrace in a daze.

No.

Ethan sighed, somewhat helpless.

"What will it take for you to forgive me?"

I stared at him stubbornly, tears welling up, my vision like it was covered in fog.

"You and Natalie can't be together. She's my best friend."

Ethan was stunned. After processing this, he looked at me with amusement.

"Melissa, stop being silly. Don't you understand? I like her."

"Just like I like you and don't want to be apart from you, I don't want to be apart from her either."