Chapter 3

The next morning, I woke at dawn.

Three missed calls on my phone. All from Ethan.

And a message.

"Call me when you're up. Lily's mom is arriving in the city tonight. Go pick her up from the station."

A second one followed right after.

"Lily's coming with me to meet a big client. I want her to get some practice. Help me out and pick up her mom, would you? She said last time she really liked you."

I looked at the screen. It was almost funny.

Almost.

Ethan's memory could be remarkably sharp when it suited him.

He remembered that Lily's mother had made an offhand comment six months ago about "liking" me.

He remembered that I was the person who could run errands, lend a hand, show up whenever and wherever he needed.

He just couldn't remember how I felt.

Or that we'd had a fight just yesterday.

I got up and washed my face.

I was about to head out when my mother came from the kitchen carrying a bowl of congee.

"Sweetheart, where are you going? I wanted to talk to you about the engagement tomorrow."

She'd barely finished speaking when a message from the hotel arrived.

"Ms. Emma, Mr. Ethan has confirmed the menu for tomorrow's engagement banquet. Please review the attachment."

"If any changes are needed, please contact us by 5 p.m. today."

I opened the attachment.

A dozen or so dishes on the menu. One glance told me everything — all spicy.

I kept scrolling.

The head table flowers had been changed from white tulips to red roses.

The background music had been switched to "Slowly Falling for You."

The dessert station had gone from fruit tarts to a chocolate fountain.

I didn't know why Ethan had allowed these changes.

But I knew that red roses were Lily's favorite.

The chocolate fountain was the thing she'd once called "like a fairy tale."

And that song was her ringtone.

As for me — I was allergic to chocolate.

I didn't cry.

I didn't tremble.

I simply replied, very calmly:

"That's fine. Could you help me with one last change?"