He Thought I Would Always Stay—Until I Disappeared

Chapter 3

Vivian's POV:

After getting dressed, I packed a small suitcase.

I was about to leave when Ethan and Chloe came in laughing together, reeking of alcohol and barbecue smoke.

"Vivian, we got hungry after gaming, so we went out for a late-night meal." Chloe lifted the takeout bag in her hand. "I'll shower right away. I promise I won't make the place smell."

Ethan patted her back and laughed.

"You never stop talking, do you? Go shower, and don't bother my girlfriend while she gets ready for work."

I said nothing and bent to put on my shoes.

Ethan looked at me in confusion.

"Isn't it the weekend? Where are you going?"

"Something came up at work," I said casually.

I went straight to my design studio, handed over every project I was managing, and signed the resignation paperwork.

My business partner, Ryan Brooks, patted my shoulder with a sigh.

"Are you really leaving? This place will fall apart without you."

I smiled but didn't explain.

That evening, several coworkers took me out for a farewell dinner.

The moment I sat down, my phone buzzed. Ethan had sent me only one thing: the address of a bar.

My coworkers immediately began teasing me.

"Your boyfriend is checking in, huh? Go make up with him. Couples shouldn't let fights drag on overnight."

"Exactly. You're about to get married. Don't let one fight get out of hand."

One by one, my coworkers made excuses to leave, giving me privacy to deal with Ethan.

I took a cab to the bar.

Deafening music blasted through the doorway the moment I opened the private room.

A rowdy game of Truth or Dare was in full swing. Ethan and Chloe stood facing each other in the center of the crowd while everyone shouted the countdown.

"The dare is a kiss! Make it last 30 seconds!"

"30! 29! 28!"

Chloe wrapped her arms around Ethan's waist, lifted her face, and kissed him.

Cheers and whistles nearly brought the ceiling down.

When the countdown reached one, Ethan looked up and saw me standing in the doorway.

He froze for 2 seconds, and panic flooded his eyes.

Then Chloe leaned in and whispered something. His panic gave way to irritation, as though I had deliberately shown up to ruin his fun and make him look bad.

He shoved Chloe away and tugged at his wrinkled shirt.

"This is boring. I'm going out for some air."

He didn't say a word to me. He simply walked out with several friends, leaving Chloe behind.

Most of the noisy crowd followed, and the room emptied in seconds.

I said nothing and sat in a corner.

Chloe straightened her collar and strolled over.

"I was the one who told Ethan to call you. I didn't want you imagining things and picking another fight with him later."

She spoke lightly, but the smugness in her voice was unmistakable.

I looked at her and almost laughed.

Every time I asked Ethan to go to a movie, she claimed she had a fever and called him away.

Whenever I booked a restaurant for our anniversary, she announced that she had been dumped and kept Ethan with her all night.

When I planned to propose, she complained that no one had ever proposed to her, so Ethan rehearsed the whole thing with her three times first.

Every disappointment in my relationship had Chloe's fingerprints all over it.

"That's all?" I asked calmly. "Should I call a few more people to keep you entertained?"

Chloe's face went pale, and tears instantly filled her eyes.

But Ethan wasn't there to see her performance.

Once everyone else had left, she wiped her eyes, and the wounded expression vanished.

She leaned close to my ear and lowered her voice.

"A kiss and a few drinks are nothing. I've already slept with him."