Chapter 1
I stumbled back home, my mind completely blank and my heart broken.
And there he was, Ethan Wells, sitting on my couch like nothing had happened at all.
When he saw me walk in, he smiled, lifted the gift bag in his hand, and waved it at me. "Jasmine, Happy Christmas," he said. "Why are you home so late? Go on, guess what Christmas gift I brought you back from my business trip?"
His eyes held that same deep, warm affection they always had for me.
If I hadn't seen that big screen last night, seen the glowing happiness written all over his face, I never would have believed that this man I'd loved for ten years had betrayed me long ago.
I hurled my phone at his face.
The photo on the screen showed his arm wrapped around another woman, their fingers laced tight together. On her hand, a massive diamond ring sparkled brightly.
I fought back the urge to cry and asked, "How long were you going to keep lying to me if I hadn't seen this with my own two eyes?"
Ethan just sighed. He flicked open his lighter and lit a cigarette.
But years ago, when I told him I hated the smell of smoke, he had never smoked around me again. I had even stupidly thought he had quit for good.
He exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice sharp with irritation. "Jasmine, you know how it is," he said. "My family's been breathing down my neck nonstop lately. I have just been stuck going on all these blind dates to keep them off my back. Don't overthink this. You are still the one I love the most."
I furrowed my brows, and a bitter, sarcastic laugh slipped out of me. "'The most?' Does that mean there's a second favorite, A third?"
Ethan went quiet for a long, heavy moment. "Don't play stupid word games with me," he replied.
A hollow, silent laugh burst out of me.
When he saw my face wet with tears, he finally could not bear it. He reached out to wipe the tears from my cheeks.
"You're still the same," he said. "You always get all pouty when you're mad. Stop crying, Jasmine, I..."
A text notification cut him off mid-sentence.
Ethan barely glanced at the screen before turning on his heel and walking away without a shred of hesitation.
Right before he stepped out, he looked back at me, his gaze heavy, and said, "I'll pretend we never had this conversation today. Just go cool off for a while. Jasmine, don't make this hard on me."
It happened again. Every time he said those words, I never had the strength to push back.
After all, he was the one who gave me this life.
Ten years ago, my family went bankrupt. My parents, broken and desperate, planned to take me with them when they killed themselves.
It was Ethan who saved me.
After my parents were gone, it was the Wells family that took me in.
That was why, every time he told me that this put him in a tough spot, I always backed down.
After Ethan left, I leaned against the front door, sobs wracking my body nonstop.
Memories of the past came crashing over me like a tidal wave.
I had no idea how much time had passed, until finally there were no more tears left to cry.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.
"Hey, Mr. Hayes," I said. "I have made up my mind... I'm coming to Iveria."
