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But the officers ignored him,fawning over Lucas instead.
I looked closer—yeah,Lucas was handsomer.
"Girl,like what you see?"
Lucas leaned in,noticing my curious stare.
My face flushed.
Ethan,seeing this,lunged to punch him again.
Since Lucas’s injuries were more serious,Ethan was ordered to apologize.
After a lecture,they let us go.
The hotel was out of the question,so I called my driver to take me to my nearest apartment.
As I got in,Ethan grabbed me.
"You're really choosing him over me?"
I shook him off,annoyed."Who I'm with is none of your business anymore."
Years ago,I would never imagine that one day I'd hate Ethan.
Just like I never imagined he'd ditch me.
People change.
They betray your trust,then regret it when you're gone.
Ethan knew he couldn't win me back."Even if you're with him,the Hayes family is out of your league.You think they'd accept you?"
"Sophie,we're the perfect match."
Slap.
A red handprint bloomed on his already-swollen cheek.
I had wanted to do that for a while.
How could he say that?
Every word belittled me.
He had promised to protect me once,yet here he was.
How had things changed so much in just over a decade?
"Ethan,what do you want?"
If he was just trying to hurt me,he didn't need to bother.
Was it pride?
Not wanting me to move on so fast?
Not wanting the woman who had loved him for years to walk away so soon?
Whatever it was,I wasn't forgiving him.
"Sophie,let's get married."
Seeing Lucas made Ethan truly afraid.
He loved me,of course.
A beautiful,obedient woman who changed herself for him—no man could resist.
He loved being adored,loved the feeling of my gaze following him.
Over the years,he had flirted with others in front of me,testing my reaction.
But I stayed calm,even smiled.
His “buddies” told him love meant jealousy,possessiveness.
I showed neither.
To him,I was a heartless stray cat.
Frustrated,he tested my love with Chloe.
He knew her intentions but let her get close,hoping I'd crack.
He won.
I got mad.
But I also left him.
He panicked,scared of losing what was his.
He wanted it back.
His eyes burned with with rage, and whatever else.In my teenage years,I would've been thrilled.
Back then,my biggest dream was to be with Ethan,to marry him,to have his kids.
In our three years,I had hinted at it multiple times.
The Carters had hinted too.
But Ethan always brushed it off.
I thought he was young,still wanting to savor his youth.
I didn't know he had grown tired of me.
His “free soul” saw me as a chain.
Now,I had cut myself loose.
I refused Ethan.
He sent his mom to plead for him.
He knew I couldn't say no to Mrs.Carter.
He bet right.
Ethan was flawed,but his mom was kind.
She had been ill for years, fading away quickly,and only wanted to see Ethan settled.
"When you marry into our family,I'll hand over all our valuables to you."
Mrs.Carter held my hand,smiling brightly.
I smiled stiffly,my heart unmoved.
Ethan,meanwhile,was off.
He cut ties with Chloe,erasing her completely from his life.
He seemed like the man I had fallen for three years ago.
But who knew?
Who knew what rot hid beneath his polished exterior?
Mrs.Carter was hospitalized.
She often asked Ethan and me to visit together.
Each time,I had to pretend we were stillmadly in love.
"Wedding plans all set?"
Ethan nodded.
He had thrown himself into planning,designing every detail.
I, the bride, seemed redundant.
"Good.Once you're married,you'll need to be more responsible."
Outside her room,I dropped the smile on my face.
I headed for the exit.
Ethan grabbed me."Sophie."
"Mr.Carter,don't fool yourself with your own act."
