Chapter 3

A rare flash of shock crossed Ethan's face. Then he frowned.

"…You're really going to compete with your own sister over this?"

I almost laughed.

But when I closed my eyes, all that was left was a hollow, bone-deep weariness.

"Forget it."

Before he could react, I turned and walked away.

Back at my apartment, I went straight to the bathroom.

Only when the hot water enveloped me did the numbness begin to fade.

Soon, the volunteer team roster and flight details arrived on my phone.

At the same time, a message from Chloe popped up in the group chat.

Claire, did you and Ethan have a fight? Nooo.

Ethan really is the best person ever. Whenever anything happens, he's the first one there. Last time I had trouble at my internship, he showed up the second I hung up to back me up… He takes me out for amazing food and all kinds of fun stuff…

Can't you two just meet each other halfway? Cut him some slack. Don't be so petty.

Meet each other halfway.

But the one who had to take that step back was always me.

I didn't reply.

I left the group chat.

After that, I curled up under the covers and let my eyes close.

I slept fitfully.

For the first time in a long while, I dreamed.

I dreamed about four years earlier.

Ethan had just closed his first big deal and driven hundreds of miles to see me.

"Claire, we won't have to do long-distance much longer."

"Claire, I'll be able to marry you soon."

"Claire—my Claire…"

We held each other and cried, our hearts pressed close together.

We'd been so happy.

But then.

Chloe got accepted to a university in New York—his city.

And after that, there was no "someday" for us.

Somewhere between sleep and waking, an arm slid around my waist from behind.

My eyes flew open.

Without thinking, I grabbed the self-defense spray from the nightstand and aimed at the blurry figure.

A muffled grunt.

The next second, a violent shove sent me tumbling off the bed.

"Claire Bennett!"

The light snapped on.

Ethan stood there, eyes rimmed red, his entire body radiating barely contained fury.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

I sat on the floor, shaking with fear.

Ever since that night a stranger had followed me home, I'd been constantly on edge. The fear had never faded.

It took a long moment before I registered what had happened.

It was Ethan. Not a burglar. Not a stranger.

Seeing my ashen face and unfocused eyes, he seemed to realize something was wrong.

"What is it? A nightmare?"

I shook my head in silence.

I got up from the floor.

"Take the guest room. I'm used to sleeping alone."

Ethan stared at me in disbelief, jaw clenched.

"Claire Bennett—Chloe is in the guest room. You're sending me in there to sleep?"