Chapter 2

The moving car suddenly lurched forward, then quickly steadied.

Through the rearview mirror, I saw Ethan’s warning look.

Chloe’s eyes went wide.

“He cheated? Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve torn him apart for you!”

“It’s over.”

I changed the subject.

“Chloe, how did you and Ethan get together?”

A shy look crossed Chloe’s face.

“Ethan started chasing me back in college.”

“His school was right next to mine. He brought me breakfast every day and helped me revise my papers. But I felt like people don’t cherish what they get too easily, so I kept dragging it out and never said yes.”

She paused, and her voice gained a hint of smugness.

“Later, to make me jealous, he deliberately accepted another girl’s confession.”

My heart clenched hard.

Ethan suddenly spoke.

“Why bring up the past?”

Chloe smacked his arm.

“Why are you like that? She genuinely liked you, at least.”

“I remember that girl even cut ties with her parents just to be with you. Poor thing.”

Every word she tossed out so casually stabbed into my heart like a knife.

The girl Chloe was talking about was me.

Back when I was about to give up, Ethan suddenly appeared in front of me and agreed to be my boyfriend.

For him, I canceled the engagement my family had arranged.

My mother was so furious she ended up in the hospital.

My father cut me off.

Chloe went on.

“But Ethan broke up with her pretty quickly. I guess that girl probably has a new life now.”

Chloe waved her hand in front of my face.

“Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

I quickly wiped my tears away and forced a smile.

“It’s nothing. Pregnancy just makes my emotions unstable.”

The car soon arrived downstairs.

Chloe asked Ethan to carry my things up for me.

The moment I opened the door, a powerful force pinned me against it.

When Ethan’s lips came down on mine, all I felt was disgust.

“Get out.”

Ethan stumbled back after I shoved him, staring at me in panic.

But in the next second, he regained his composure.

“Ella, this is a misunderstanding. I didn’t know you two were best friends.”

“Promise me you won’t tell Chloe. She’s pregnant right now. She can’t handle the shock.”

His gaze swept over my lower belly and paused for a second.

“Have the baby first. Give me some time to handle this.”

I opened my mouth, ready to say divorce—

“What are you doing?”

A sharp scream exploded from the doorway.

Chloe stood outside, her makeup ruined by tears.

Ethan released my hand and stepped away from me.

I wanted to explain, but what greeted me was Chloe’s slap.

Pain spread across my cheek.

“Ella, you’re shameless!”

“Your husband ran off, so you came to seduce my man? I treated you like my best friend. Are you even human?”

I was the one who had been hit.

But Ethan looked at Chloe with heartache, afraid she would get too emotional.

Chloe ran out crying.

Ethan left behind one sentence—he would handle it—then chased after her.

The next day, as soon as I walked into the office, everyone was gathered around my desk.

The moment they saw me, the crowd automatically parted.

Chloe’s face was covered in tears.

Her father, Jack, and her mother, Athena, stood protectively in front of her.

Athena pointed at my nose.

“Chloe treated you like her best friend, and you actually stole her man!”

Jack’s face was dark.

“Ella, you need to apologize to Chloe in front of everyone today!”