Chapter 4

Her voice was loud, exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.

The bathroom door opened, and Ethan walked out, wrapped in a towel, water still dripping from his hair.

He had clearly heard the phone call. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by suppressed anger.

He frowned, walking over to me.

"Chloe, why are you always so immature?"

I hung up the phone and looked up at him.

"Is getting married something one person can decide? Have you ever considered my feelings?"

I said softly, "But I don't want to break our promise."

Ethan stared at me, seemingly unable to believe I could be so stubborn.

He shook his head, finally speaking harsh words:

"Unreasonable."

"I've indulged you for so many years; I've spoiled you rotten."

"I don't have time to go to the island. If you don't want to make a fool of yourself, go return that dress tomorrow!"

The next day.

Ethan told me he was attending a month-long medical symposium in New York and would be performing a few consulting surgeries while he was there.

I knew in my heart he was avoiding me.

A month later would be Liam and Cassie's wedding on the island.

By the time he returned, the wedding would already be a done deal.

This outcome, in fact, had long been anticipated.

But I never imagined that, to avoid marrying me, he would even choose to skip his best friend's wedding.

I silently saw him off at the airport.

At the security checkpoint, Mia was already waiting, hauling two enormous suitcases.

Seeing me, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, and she said to me with a knowing look:

"Don't worry, Chloe. Ethan's all mine this month. I promise to take good care of him, make sure he's well-fed and taken care of."

I smiled and nodded: "Then I'll leave him in your capable hands."

Watching Ethan turn to enter the security lane, driven by an inexplicable impulse, I couldn't help but call out to him:

"Ethan!"

He stopped, looking at me across the bustling crowd.

Sunlight streamed through the airport's massive glass atrium, dappling his face with light and shadow.

It was still his face, but when did the boy I loved truly leave me?

Tears welled in my eyes. I tried to force a smile and softly said:

"Goodbye forever."

The air was thick with the din of people, the drone of announcements, the rumble of suitcase wheels, and the cries of children—a massive, interwoven cacophony.

He didn't hear me clearly. He waved a confused hand and called out, "What?"

I didn't answer again, just waved vigorously at him.

He frowned, seeming to sense something, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, as he wavered, wanting to turn back.

Mia tugged his arm from behind, her voice a playful whine: "Ethan, hurry up! We're going to miss it!"

He followed her, walking on.

He kept turning back to look at me as he walked.

I smiled, watching them, until they were completely out of sight.

Leaving the airport, I went to the amusement park alone.

The carousel spun on, tirelessly.

The first time Ethan took me out, we rode the carousel.

It was one of the few rides that didn't require an extra ticket, but we were ecstatic.

He picked two horses side-by-side, one white, one brown.

The music started, and the carousel began to turn.

"Chloe. I love the feeling of riding side-by-side."

He reached out, and in the rhythm of the rising and falling horses, he took my hand.

"On our path forward, all I'd have to do is turn my head to see you."

"That's my ultimate happiness."

Ding-dong—the music stopped.

The carousel slowly ground to a halt.

I sat alone on the white horse, the brown one beside me empty.

I stepped out of the railing.

I looked back.

Only seven or eight rotations, and I was back at the starting point.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

A message from Cassie:

"Tomorrow we're going to the island to finalize the venue and arrangements. Are you really sure about this?"

I looked up. A seam split open in the overcast sky, revealing a sliver of clean blue.

Tomorrow, I was going to see the ocean.