“You must be Cynthia, right? I’ve heard so much about you. You’re Ethan’s best friend who’s always looking out for him. Thank you for taking care of him all this time.”
Her words were polite, but her posture made it clear she saw me as no more than a footnote in Ethan’s life, someone to be tolerated, not respected.
Before I could even respond, Ethan cut in, his tone sharp. “Who said she’s my friend? She’s always throwing a tantrum over nothing. If she had any guts, she
1/3
Chapter 6
+25 Bonus
would’ve stayed in the Arctic and never come back.”
I didn’t bother replying. There was no point in arguing with him here, in front of all these people.
I simply forced a smile at Sylvia and gave a small nod.
Ethan’s gaze remained dark and unreadable, his eyes never leaving my face.
Sylvia’s expression was the picture of polite perfection, but her eyes flicked between us, clearly trying to read the undercurrents.
The atmosphere grew more uncomfortable by the second, the air practically crackling with unspoken tension.
Thankfully, the party officially started, and Ethan had to step away for the obligatory greetings and handshakes. He scoffed under his breath, then turned and walked off, dragging Sylvia with him.
Watching them retreat into the crowd, I was surprised to find I felt… nothing. No sharp pang of jealousy, no lingering sadness–just a strange, hollow relief.
The party was crowded, packed with business partners, family members, and old
friends.
Several people seemed genuinely surprised to see me there, their eyes darting between Ethan and me with thinly veiled curiosity. I pretended not to notice, offering polite smiles and small talk before slipping out onto the balcony for a moment of peace.
Alas, my moment of solitude didn’t last long.
Ethan, a few of his friends, and even Lucas wandered out to the same balcony, their voices drifting over as they laughed and joked.
“Didn’t Cynthia cut ties with you over the whole ‘homecoming queen‘ thing? She ran off to another country, and now she’s back?” one of the guys teased.
Ethan let out a short laugh. “Please. She could never really leave me. Everyone knows Cynthia’s been trailing after me since we were kids. What would she even do without me?”
2/3
Chapter 6
+25 Bonus
Lucas chuckled. “Man, you’re lucky. A childhood sweetheart who clings to you no matter what, plus the hottest girl in school crushing on you. Tough choice, huh?”
Ethan sighed, sounding almost put out. “I know it’s not fair to Cynthia, but just having one girl around all the time is boring. Before I take over the family business, I want to have some fun and chase after the girls I actually like. Besides, no matter what I do, Cynthia will always be there, waiting for me when I’m done playing around.”
I couldn’t stand another second of it.
I turned and walked away, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Any lingering warmth I still felt for Ethan shattered in that moment. I couldn’t believe I had ever been foolish enough to love a guy like him.
