Chapter 2

Aria POV

As a child, the phrase I feared most was: This isn't your home.

I'd lived in other people's smallest rooms and in rental units where the locks changed once a year.

Later in the dorms, I still didn't dare fill the space with my belongings. I feared I'd have to leave soon.

I was always the one who needed something from others. I couldn't even decide where to put my own cup.

Then Ethan gave me keys. He let me have the master bedroom and cleared out half the walk-in closet.

The lamp in the living room was my choice. The spot I usually sat at the dining table was one Ethan had personally made space for.

He'd complain I was troublesome, yet always let people arrange things my way. I decorated this apartment bit by bit to make it feel like home. I thought I'd finally never be pushed outside again.

In the first month after Sofia returned, Ethan said she was only staying temporarily for a few days.

Sofia had just ended a failed relationship and had the trauma from that old building power outage years ago.

Whenever her emotions broke down, she'd call Ethan. That incident happened when she and Ethan were still together.

Ethan had canceled on her last minute, and Sofia waited for him alone. Later she got trapped in that old building all night.

All the lights went out, the stairwell door wouldn't open, and she cried until dawn before anyone found her.

Since then, she'd been afraid of the dark, afraid of enclosed spaces, and afraid of Ethan not answering her calls.

Every time she brought up these things, Ethan would fall silent.

Initially, I agreed to let her move in. I thought she'd only stay a few days. But I discovered her belongings were invading my space.

The next morning at breakfast, Sofia still wore my nightgown as she sat at the dining table. She picked up the milk, took only one sip, then put it down.

"Ethan, the pillow in the master bedroom was too hard last night. It made my neck hurt. And that scent in the bathroom isn't nice. It always reminds me of the old building."

Ethan's movements paused as he looked at me.

I put down my fork. "What would you like to change?"

Sofia froze, then smiled.

"Aria, thank you for understanding. Can I put my usual things in the master bathroom first? Also, can I put my own clothes in the master bedroom closet? It's inconvenient fetching clothes every day. Could you clear out some space for me?"

Ethan frowned. "Sofia, you're only staying temporarily."

Sofia's eyes immediately reddened. She lowered her head, gripping her spoon, her voice trembling.

"I know. I shouldn't have brought this up. Last night, every time I closed my eyes, I was back in that old building. I just want to sleep soundly."

After speaking, she stood up to leave. "I'll move out today. It's all my fault for causing you both trouble." The chair made a soft sound as she pushed it back.

Ethan's expression changed. "No one's asking you to move."

Sofia stopped, tears hanging at the corners of her eyes. Ethan looked at me. "Clear out some of the less-used items in the closet and make a temporary spot for her."

I nodded. "Okay."

This time Ethan looked at me again. His gaze held both testing and discomfort.

After all, in the past, if I asked even one extra question about Sofia, he'd think me petty.

Now that I wasn't asking anything, he seemed almost stuck instead.

I went back to the walk-in closet and took down my clothes from the master bedroom area.

I didn't just take old clothes. The clothes I'd acquired over these years with Ethan, I packed them all in boxes too.

At the very back of the closet was a set of loungewear Ethan had bought me.

That year I had a fever but still wanted to go to the office. Ethan pressed me back into bed, had his assistant send the files home, and stayed with me half the day.

Later he noticed the cuffs on my pajamas were frayed. He said nothing, but the next day had new loungewear delivered.

Back then, I truly believed Ethan cared about me.

Downstairs, Sofia, wearing my nightgown, was asking the housekeeper which shelf in the master bathroom she could use for her things.

I carefully folded that loungewear set and placed it at the very bottom of the box. I didn't cry or throw anything. I just pushed the box into a corner of the guest room.

When Ethan came in and saw the box by the wall, his steps paused. "Why did you pack away so many clothes?"

I was organizing project materials and didn't look up. "The master bedroom needs more space, so I packed them all away."

"If you have an issue with Sofia moving in, you can say so directly."

I looked up at him. Ethan frowned at my gaze, his tone hardening. "Her situation is special. You know full well she ended up like this because of me. Don't read too much into it."

"I know." I put the project contract in a document folder. "She's been through trauma. She should have better accommodations."

Ethan fell silent. He seemed unwilling to have me agree with him so readily.

I fastened the document folder and reminded him. "Sofia's still waiting for you downstairs."

After those words, Ethan's expression completely darkened.

That evening, the project manager sent me a materials checklist.

Starting next week, I'd head to the stationed location and needed to visit the old town site in advance.

I stuffed my ID into my bag and put the project contract in the outermost pocket.

I went to find an old design drawing in the master bedroom. Passing the master bedroom door, I heard Sofia inside asking, "Will Aria mind me staying here?"

Ethan paused. Then he said, "She'll understand. She won't make a fuss over something like this."

I stood outside the door, my hand still on the doorknob. A few seconds later, I released it. I didn't retrieve the old design drawing.

I returned to the guest room, opened my phone, and purchased a ticket to the old town. Seven in the morning. Purchase successful.