Chapter 2

The room went quiet. Everyone watched Ethan carefully.

But I felt lighter than I had in years. It was as if the weight I’d been carrying had finally lifted.

Ending a five-year relationship wasn’t as hard as I’d thought. Leaving someone who didn’t value my love wasn’t much of a loss.

Still, I knew Ethan. I’d put up with his behavior for so long that he’d never expect me to leave first.

Sure enough, he stared at me and strode closer.

“Emma, are you serious?”

Before I could answer, Ryan pulled me behind him.

“Of course she is. Do you need me to say it slower?”

Ryan was even taller than Ethan. He didn’t have to raise his voice to overpower him.

“And I’ll investigate what happened with the project. Ethan, I’m your boss now. You’d better watch yourself.”

Ethan’s face turned rigid. After a moment, he gave a cold laugh.

“Emma, in five years, when have you ever not come back after one of your little stunts?”

“You found someone to stand up for you, so now you’re really going to leave?”

He looked past Ryan at me.

“You just want me to apologize and sweet-talk you. Don’t make this sound so final. You’ll only have to find a way to take it back later.”

Behind Ryan, I could only stare. Ethan sounded so sure of himself.

When I didn’t answer, he turned and pulled Sophie into his arms. He looked at me with open defiance.

“Fine. I’ll do what you don’t want me to. I’m saying yes to Sophie. I’ll be her boyfriend.”

I tugged on Ryan’s sleeve and sighed.

“You heard him. He’s agreed to break up with me. Let’s not keep them from showing off.”

I took Ryan’s hand and headed for the door. As we passed the table, I heard a couple of coworkers whispering.

“Emma and Ethan were actually together? I thought she was harassing him. I owe her an apology.”

“Remember how Ethan always saved the seat beside him for Sophie at team dinners? I thought they were the couple.”

Someone nudged them, and they finally stopped talking.

Ryan leaned down to me.

“I’m actually taking you with me this time. You’re not going to change your mind halfway out the door, are you?”

Over the past five years, Ethan and I had broken up plenty of times. In the end, I’d always been the one to reach out and make up.

But this time, I was sure.

I blinked at Ryan and shook my head. “Don’t worry. I won’t regret it.”

Behind us, Ethan watched Ryan holding my hand. Anger churned in his eyes.

“Emma, don’t come crying to me and begging to get back together!”

I shrugged and let Ryan lead me out of the restaurant.

As soon as I got into his car, Ethan posted a photo of himself holding Sophie’s hand in the company group chat.

“I wasn’t against making a relationship public. I just hadn’t met someone I wanted to be public about.”

Sophie tagged me right after.

“Emma, you’ll wish us well, right?”

Her friends jumped in.

“Rules are rules. Just because you didn’t win the project doesn’t mean nobody else gets to date.”

“One person does the work, the other gets the boyfriend. Sounds like a fair division of labor.”

Sophie sent a blushing emoji.

“Stop it. Emma’s already upset.”

I wasn’t upset. I was about to take a screenshot when Ryan leaned over to buckle my seat belt.

He saw the screen. His expression darkened, and he turned off my phone.

He didn’t start the car. He just looked at me, his jaw tight enough to make me nervous.

I’d been afraid of Ryan for as long as I could remember.

Our families had been close for years, so people always compared us. He’d been an outstanding student, and after graduation he’d made his family’s company run like clockwork.

My parents had asked him to look out for me. He’d responded by pushing me to be more capable every day.

All I’d ever wanted was to find someone I loved and live happily ever after. After I started dating Ethan, I was the one who cut Ryan out of my life.

I hadn’t expected that chasing Ethan for years wouldn’t get me any closer to the carefree life I’d wanted, either.

Ryan sighed and took a small blanket from the back seat.

“It’s been years. I thought you were doing well.”

I gave him an awkward smile and rubbed the back of my neck.

His voice softened. “I didn’t know you liked men like that.”