Chapter 3

Panicking, Ethan ran after me and grabbed my arm, canceling Serena’s ticket right then and there.

He held up his phone, showing me the cancellation confirmation while begging for forgiveness.

Serena stood not far away, watching us with tear-rimmed eyes.

I stared at Ethan, warning him coldly that this was his absolute last chance.

With that, I shook off his grip and marched straight through airport security.

Once on the plane, I put on my sleep mask, wanting to block everything out.

Before long, I heard the faint, rapid tapping of a phone keyboard beside me.

I pulled off my mask and glanced over.

He was typing furiously in a Snapchat chat window with a contact named "Little Raindrop."

[Don't cry. It's all my fault.]

A cold chill washed over my entire body.

Sensing my gaze, he hurriedly tried to hide his phone.

"Who are you texting?" I asked coldly.

"Nobody, just a client." He didn't dare look me in the eye.

I let out a harsh laugh. "A client named 'Little Raindrop'?"

His face went entirely pale.

"Babe, don’t misunderstand. I’m just worried she might do something stupid to herself."

"And if she does, are you going to die with her?"

My voice was loud enough that the people in the row ahead of us turned around to look.

"Keep your voice down," he muttered, his face tightening with embarrassment and growing impatience.

"We finally made it to our honeymoon. Can you please stop bringing her up?"

"Am I the one bringing her up, or are you the one who can’t let her go?" I retorted.

He frowned deeply.

"We’re just friends. We grew up together. Why can't you just trust me?"

"Can you just be a little more understanding?"

There it was again. That phrase.

I closed my eyes, refusing to waste another single word on him.

When the plane landed, the hotel shuttle was already waiting.

He tried to hold my hand, but I snatched it away.

The car door slid open. I was about to step inside when I froze solid.

Serena was sitting inside the car, beaming at me.

Next to her sat Ethan’s two childhood buddies, Zach and Tyler.

"Chloe! What a coincidence!"

I whipped my head around, glaring death at Ethan.

His expression was incredibly guilty.

Serena hopped out of the car, immediately locking her arm through Ethan’s, and stuck her tongue out at me triumphantly.

"Chloe, Ethan actually texted me privately to come. He said the more, the merrier, and that you’d definitely love it."

"You’re so petty, but Ethan still cares about me."

"Serena, shut up," Ethan stammered, completely flustered.

Inside the car, his friend Zach chimed in loudly.

"Ethan, why are you acting? You’re the one who Venmoed us the money for the plane tickets!"

Looking at Ethan’s pale, frozen face, I suddenly smiled.

The little drama at the airport... what a flawless performance.

Once we got to the hotel room, he followed me inside, still spinning his pathetic lies.

"They insisted on tagging along! Zach borrowed the money from me. I had no idea Serena was coming too!"

I watched him perform in silence.

"Are you done?"

He blinked, startled.

"If you’re done, get the hell out." I pointed straight at the door.

Using every ounce of my strength, I shoved him out of the room.

I slammed the door and locked it.

I slid down against the door, burying my face in my hands as the tears finally spilled over.

Outside, I could hear Serena and the guys telling him to let it go, mixed with Ethan’s non-stop knocking.

I ignored all of it.

Two hours later.

I changed my clothes, planning to head out for some fresh air.

The moment I opened the door...

I saw Ethan standing right outside.

And Serena, wearing a skimpy bikini that barely covered anything, was rubbing herself against him.

"Ethan, let’s go for a night swim! Just like we used to do back in college."

She shot a provocative glance at me, her eyes filled with challenge.

Ethan looked torn, his eyes darting around. "But Chloe..."

"Chloe is so open-minded, she definitely won't mind. Right, Chloe?" she chirped innocently.

I walked right up to them, staring Ethan down.

"Are you going?"

"Babe, I just want to help her unwind a bit," he stammered, still trying to justify it.

"If you take one single step out of this room, we are completely over."

Ethan immediately shoved Serena away and blurted out, "I’m not going."

Serena stumbled back from the force of the shove. She stared at him in utter disbelief, her eyes welling up with tears instantly.

Giving me a deeply aggrieved look, she turned and ran off.