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He looked at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "We can't argue with a fool, can we? Especially one as pitiful as Ethan."
Sophia sighed in resignation. "You… you're just too kind-hearted. Fine, if you say so."
Then she looked back at me, annoyed. "Tch. Ethan, shouldn't you thank Lucas for sticking up for you?"
"Lucas is good-natured, he doesn't hold a grudge. He even insisted on coming to see you."
I looked up, enunciating each word clearly. "What exactly should I thank him for?"
"Ha! No wonder, with no mother to teach you. You can't even manage a simple 'thank you.'"
Hearing Sophia throw my deepest insecurity in my face, right in front of Lucas, I lost it. I threw my pillow at her.
"Get out!"
Sophia was furious. "Ethan Foster, you're beyond hope. Lucas, let's go!"
She dragged Lucas out of the room. Chloe got up to leave too.
"I prepaid the hospital bill, Ethan. You're on your own now."
Finally alone, I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug into my palm. Tears streamed down my face.
There was a time I treated Chloe and Sophia like family, like my closest friends.
We protected each other, saw each other at our worst.
I thought our bond was unbreakable.
But I was wrong. Hearts change. Nothing was like it was three years ago.
The moment that accident turned me into a fool, Chloe and Sophia changed.
Now that I'm back to normal, I know it's time to leave. But before I go, I'm taking back everything that's mine.
I wiped my tears, my expression turning calm and determined. I started making calls, one by one, to my old contacts.
My lawyer, my former assistant, the people I'd strategically placed within the company!
I checked myself out of the hospital. I had my assistant, Will, rent an apartment for me.
I went back to the Foster manor to pack properly. That day, Chloe and Sophia had thrown just a few pathetic items of clothing into my suitcase, which were now ruined.
The clothes didn't matter. What mattered was the safe in the study, holding bonds and important documents.
Chloe and Sophia had tried to trick the safe's code out of me when I was dumb, but I'd conveniently forgotten it back then.
Now, its contents were my key to making a comeback.
Standing once more before the imposing gates, I tightened my grip on my suitcase. I will be back, I vowed silently. This place belongs to me.
The door opened. Sophia peered out. Seeing it was me, her relaxed expression twisted into hatred. It stung.
"What are you doing here?"
"To get my things."
She opened the door wider.
"Oh? Finally came to your senses? Decided to disappear on your own?"
I forced a weak, empty smile. "Yes."
She finally let me in. I headed straight for the bedroom, figuring out how to get to the study without her noticing.
The phone rang downstairs. Sophia went to answer it. Relieved, I quickly went to the study and emptied the safe.
As I was leaving, Chloe came out and stopped me.
She looked at me, her expression complicated. "Ethan… are you sure about this?"
Sophia called out, "Chloe, why bother with the fool? Lucas is coming! Is your cake done?"
I froze for a second.
