Chapter 5

After hearing that, Ethan didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed.

"What, is my baby really mad?"

He patted my head lightly, his tone like he was coaxing an unreasonable child.

"Look, you scared Chloe to tears. Even teasing has limits. Go apologize quickly, or who'll want to hang out with you in the future?"

So in his eyes, I was joking too.

"What if I don't?"

"Won't apologize?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Fine. Then forget about joining my company. I don't want to deal with your messes every day."

Another wave of suppressed laughter rippled through the room.

I looked at his confident gaze, as if certain that to stay by his side, I'd swallow any humiliation.

But I felt exhausted like never before.

"This is the third time I'm saying this—I'm not joining your company." I enunciated each word. "And between us, it's over."

The smile on Ethan's face froze abruptly. He seemed to be searching my face for the truth of my words.

"Keep pretending. Go ahead."

He sneered. "Fine. Without me, let's see who'd want a troublemaker like you."

I quietly agreed. "Okay. Think whatever you want."

I'd said it three times. I wouldn't say it again.

With that, I turned and left without a shred of reluctance.

The next day, despite my reluctance, I ran into Ethan—his face looking unwell—at the community dinner table.

My parents and Grandma had kept their promise not to tell anyone in the community about me going abroad.

At the table, Uncle Ethan smiled and looked over.

He and Aunt Ethan exchanged glances and joked, "Once Megan's settled in her job, you two should have your wedding, right?"

I didn't speak.

But Ethan burst out laughing, drawing everyone's attention.

"Marriage? You're joking! I don't have the guts to marry her."

Grandma's face immediately darkened.

Uncle Ethan also frowned in disapproval. "What nonsense! Watch your mouth!"

Ethan quickly waved his hands, looking innocent. "Dad, don't get worked up. I'm just joking, trying to lighten the mood."

He turned to me, laughing even harder.

"Besides, if I really married Megan, wouldn't that crush every man's dreams?"

He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously to everyone at the table:

"You guys don't know this, but our Megan is our community's running joke! Remember back in middle school when those thugs fought over her and tried to strip her clothes off in the street, saying they wanted to see what the campus beauty really looked like..."

"If you want me to marry her, that's..."

He didn't finish.

Grandma suddenly stood up, pulling me with her, her tone icy.

"I think we should drop this marriage talk! Childhood jokes don't count!"

Ethan's face stiffened, the smile still on his lips.

He seemed somewhat flustered, but in the end said nothing and didn't follow.

Back home, Grandma comforted me, but I felt indifferent. "I used to care. Now I don't anymore."

Grandma and I finished packing the last of our luggage, and early the next morning, we boarded the plane.

Three days later was employee orientation.

As soon as Ethan appeared, he attracted everyone's attention.

But he had no time for those trying to chat him up.

Looking at his phone that wouldn't connect, Ethan felt panicked and called me countless times.

Ethan was confused.

He rushed to the design department to check the new employee roster.

"Impossible!" His breathing was ragged, his fingers trembling. "I clearly saw it!"

The design department manager spoke up. "Who are you looking for?"

Ethan said urgently, "Megan! Why isn't her name on the roster?"

The manager found the name familiar and thought for a moment. "Oh, right. There was someone named Megan."

Ethan breathed a huge sigh of relief, about to ask more when he heard the manager add:

"But she's not reporting for duty. Said she got an offer abroad and already left the country."