Chapter 3

Back in my room.

I looked at the glass display case that was almost overflowing with cheap keychains. My eyes burned.

From age eighteen to twenty-eight, my feelings for Ethan had never wavered.

I had cherished every single thing he gave me.

Even if they were just worthless pieces of plastic.

But now I realized.

In Ethan's eyes, I was probably just like these keychains—cheap and easily dismissed.

I took a deep breath, refusing to hesitate any longer.

I pulled all the keychains out of the case and threw them into the trash can.

Just as I finished, my phone buzzed.

It was a text from Ethan.

"I'm back in town. Come downstairs. I'm taking you to see the new house."

Only then did I remember that we had closed on our house two weeks ago. Ethan had booked a flight back to inspect the place and to take me to meet his parents to discuss a wedding date.

I had been helping him pay the mortgage for five years. That house was supposed to be ours. After a moment of thought, I decided to go.

When I got downstairs, I walked over to the car and opened the passenger door.

Natalie was already sitting there.

I looked up at Ethan.

He smiled casually.

"Forgot the rules already?"

"First come, first served. Whoever gets downstairs first gets to ride shotgun."

I clenched my jaw.

In the five years since Ethan bought this car, I had never sat in the passenger seat.

Natalie and I lived in the same apartment complex.

Every time we went out, Ethan would text both of us at the same exact time.

Whoever got to the car first got the front seat.

For five years, no matter how fast I ran down the stairs, I had never managed to get it.

I used to think I was just too slow.

Now I realized.

Ethan must have texted Natalie ahead of time.

Just like he had given her the numbers to the surprise boxes.

I didn't get into the car.

Instead, I stared straight at Ethan.

"I thought you were taking me to see our future house."

"Why is she here?"

Ethan chuckled, looking amused by my reaction.

"Natalie has the keys. If she doesn't come, how are we supposed to get in?"

I froze, my body going completely rigid.

Natalie acted as if she didn't see the shock on my face.

She teased, "Ethan, you should be embarrassed. You lost the keys only two weeks after we got them. When are you going to fix your forgetfulness?"

Ethan looked at her with pure tenderness in his eyes.

"I leave all my important stuff with you anyway. Why would I need to fix it when I have you?"

The two of them laughed and bantered, completely lost in their own world.

I watched them, my heart turning to ice.

When the house keys were delivered, since the deed was in Ethan's name, the agent had mailed them directly to him.

I had asked him for a spare copy back then.

He had merely shrugged and said, "It's my house. Why do you need a key?"

But the key I had begged for and never received...

He had given it to Natalie without a second thought.

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