Chapter 2

Naturally, for our anniversary, I had booked an intimate romantic restaurant.

When Ethan suddenly announced this morning that Hailey was coming along, I was already upset.

Yet Ethan had justified it with pure righteousness:

"Hailey's parents died saving my life. All she wants is for me to treat her fairly. It's such a small request."

"Elena, you need to learn to be more generous."

Even after hearing that guilt-trip a thousand times, this time, he still left me no room to say no.

Once we entered, Hailey darted ahead.

She claimed a seat and called out in a sugary voice:

"Ethan, come sit next to me!"

Without hesitation, Ethan let go of my hand—the hand he'd held all the way here—and walked over to her with a smile.

By the time I reached the table, the two-seater booth was completely occupied.

Seeing me standing there alone, Hailey gasped, covering her mouth in faux shock:

"Oh no, there are no more seats?"

"Maybe I should just leave. I don't want to ruin your date, Ethan."

She made a show of getting up.

Ethan pushed her back down, glaring at me in frustration:

"If there's no room, just ask the waiter for an extra chair."

"Why are you standing there playing the victim?"

Swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, I dragged over an extra wooden chair and sat at the edge.

An elegant, romantic booth meant for two, awkwardly crammed with an out-of-place wooden chair.

It looked utterly ridiculous.

Even the waiter's eyes widened when he came to take our order:

"Sir, ma'am, I believe you booked the romantic couple's dinner?"

"Don't be so rigid," Hailey giggled intentionally. "You're going to make Elena feel so awkward."

On the surface, she sounded like she was defending me.

In reality, she was deliberately framing me as the third wheel crashing their date.

Watching the waiter glance at me with subtle disdain, my nails dug deep into my palms until they drew blood.

"I pre-ordered a bottle of red wine. Please bring it out first," I said, showing him the reservation on my phone.

Realizing his mistake, the waiter blushed furiously and rushed off to fetch the wine.

"Elena, you're always so competitive," Ethan said, frowning when he saw Hailey's pouting face.

See?

It wasn't that he didn't understand Hailey's manipulative mind games.

He just didn't care.

He didn't care if strangers humiliated me.

He didn't care if her petty tricks shattered my heart.

He took me for granted simply because I had loved him for so long.

I tilted my head back, fighting to keep my tears from falling.

The wine arrived quickly. I poured myself a full glass and downed it in one gulp.

I wanted the alcohol to numb the chaos raging inside me.

Seeing this, Hailey immediately reached for the bottle, determined not to be outdone.

Panicking, I tried to stop her.

The alcohol content was strong; she had zero tolerance.

"Hailey, you're not used to this. Don't drink it!"

Ethan snapped at me instantly:

"I told you, we keep things fair!"

"If you're drinking in front of her, of course she gets a glass too."

Hailey had already swallowed it whole. Her face flushed red as she giggled drunkenly:

"Exactly! I'm not a kid anymore."

"Remember that time Ethan kissed me..."

Shatter.

The wine glass slipped from my hand, smashing against the floor.

Apart from Hailey's drunken babbling,

the air froze.

My eyes burned red as I stared at the silent man across from me.

"I want an explanation."

"Tell me that was an accident."