Chapter 2

Sera Hayes' POV

The next morning, Ethan, as expected, didn't go to the office.

He personally cooked my favorite sandwiches and made a hot cocoa. As if nothing had happened, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my neck, nuzzling me.

"Sweetheart, after breakfast, let's look at island brochures. Do you want to go to the Maldives or Tahiti?" His voice, soft and languid with morning sleepiness, was incredibly gentle.

If I hadn't seen that live broadcast last night, I would have thought I was the happiest woman in the world right now.

I lowered my gaze and slowly pulled his hands away. "Let's eat first, the milk will get cold."

Ethan didn't notice my change. He smiled and kissed my cheek. Just as he was about to sit down at the dining table, his phone in the living room rang urgently.

A distinctive ringtone. It was Lana.

Ethan's movements paused. He instinctively glanced at me. I quietly drank my milk, not even lifting an eyelid.

He answered the call, not avoiding me, even putting it on speaker, as if to prove his transparency.

"Ethan..." Lana's delicate voice came through, tinged with a hint of expectation. "Are you free today? I want to look at wedding dresses. The doctor said getting out and about would be good for my recovery, but I'm scared to go alone..."

Ethan's brows furrowed. He instinctively refused. "Lana, I have something on today. How about I ask my assistant to go with you?"

"Oh..." Lana's voice immediately dropped, subtly tinged with a sob. "It's okay, I know you're busy. I just... I just haven't been out in the world for so long, I'm a little scared. You go ahead with your work, I can go by myself, even if I have an episode..."

"Lana!" Ethan's tone instantly tensed. "Don't overthink it, I'll go with you."

After hanging up, Ethan looked at me, his eyes filled with apology and helplessness. "Sera, Lana's emotional state is unstable, I have to go see her. Can we look at the island tomorrow instead?"

I put down my milk glass, pulled out a tissue, and dabbed my mouth, my voice calm. "Okay."

My quick agreement made Ethan slightly suspicious. He walked over, cupped my face. "Sera, are you mad? I promise, I'm just accompanying her to pick out a wedding dress. I won't do anything more."

"I'm not mad." My gaze was clear. "Go ahead."

Ethan relaxed. Just as he was about to turn, his phone rang again. Still Lana.

"Ethan, I heard you have a Ms. Hayes by your side, a very famous jewelry designer. I hear she has excellent taste. Could you ask her to come along and help me pick? I'm afraid you won't like the style I choose."

The air froze again.

Ethan's face darkened. "Lana, don't be ridiculous."

"What? I'm not being ridiculous." Lana's voice was innocent. "I just want to pick a wedding dress you're most satisfied with. Surely... Ms. Hayes wouldn't mind helping me?"

Ethan covered the phone's microphone and looked at me, his eyes pleading. "Sera, she doesn't know about our relationship. She just thinks you have good taste. Could you please just do this for me? If you go, she won't overthink things."

Asking his wife of three years to help his publicly proposed fiancée pick out a wedding dress. Ethan, how could you be so brutally direct?

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a fist, the pain making it hard to breathe. But I managed a faint smile. "Sure, I'll go with you."

Anyway, I had fourteen more days. Might as well treat it as watching a play unfold.

The most exclusive bridal salon downtown.

Lana emerged from the fitting room in a pristine white wedding dress, like an angel fallen to earth. She lifted her skirt, walked up to Ethan, and shyly twirled. "Ethan, do I look pretty?"

Ethan, sitting on the sofa, had a fleeting moment of distraction in his gaze. But he quickly recovered, instinctively looking at me, standing in the corner.

I was wearing a simple trench coat, quietly standing there like an outsider.

"Ms. Hayes, what do you think?" Lana suddenly turned to me, smiling. "The design concept of this dress is 'One True Love.' I think it's perfect for Ethan and me. Don't you?"

I looked at the dress, my eyes flashing. The style of that wedding dress was almost identical to the one I had sketched in my design book a year ago, planning to wear it myself once Ethan made our marriage public.

Ethan clearly recognized it too. His face instantly changed, and he abruptly stood up. "This one isn't suitable, try another."

"Why?" Lana bit her lower lip, looking wronged. "I really love this one. Ms. Hayes, you're a designer too, don't you think it's beautiful?"

I met Lana's seemingly innocent but actually provocative gaze, a sarcastic curve forming on my lips.

"It's very beautiful," my voice was cool, devoid of any emotion. "Ms. Bellweather, it suits you perfectly."

Ethan snapped his head to look at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had expected me to get angry, to be jealous, to throw a tantrum. But I hadn't. I was as calm as if I were evaluating a commodity completely unrelated to myself.

This calmness inexplicably stirred a wave of panic in Ethan.

He strode over to me, and using the blind spot created by Lana turning to look in the mirror, he grabbed my hand, lowering his voice and gritting out, "Sera, do you have to ruin the mood?"

I forcefully pulled my hand away, looking at him coldly. "Mr. Knight, didn't you ask me to come help? I offered my opinion, and you're still not satisfied. What exactly do you want from me?"

Ethan looked stung by the coldness in my eyes. He took a deep breath. "You clearly know that dress..."

"I know," I cut him off. "It's just a dress. If Ms. Bellweather likes it, let her have it. Anyway, I won't be wearing it."

With that, I turned to walk out of the store. "I have other commitments, I'll be leaving now. Enjoy yourselves."

Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand from behind, trying to stop me.

Suddenly, I heard Lana's soft cry from nearby. "Ethan, my chest feels so tight, I can't breathe..."

Ethan's grip on my wrist loosened. He glanced at me, but ultimately chose to scoop Lana into his arms.

"Sera, I'm taking Lana to the hospital first. We'll talk about us later."

I watched him disappear from my sight.