Chapter 3

Maybe Ethan felt guilty after seeing that I viewed Chloe's story.

When I woke up the next morning, my phone was filled with missed calls from him placed in the middle of the night.

A text was pinned at the top:

"I'll pick you up for lunch today. Let me cook for you at my place!"

He was acting casual, pretending nothing had happened.

I ignored him all morning, and by noon, my phone began ringing off the hook.

"Why haven't you replied? I'm already parked outside your dorm."

"I don't want to go," I said bluntly.

After witnessing how blatantly he favored Chloe, there was no way I could sit across from him and share a meal.

Ethan's tone turned harsh:

"If you don't come down, I'm not leaving. You left your wallet in my car yesterday. Are you telling me you don't care about your ID and credit cards anymore?"

Defeated, I walked downstairs. He stepped out of the car to open the passenger door for me—just as gently as he had done for Chloe the night before.

"I didn't bring your wallet with me, so you'll have to come up to my place to grab it."

He glanced at me as he started the engine. "Are you still mad about yesterday? Look, Chloe and I are purely platonic. Why do you always overthink and make yourself miserable?"

I stayed silent the entire drive. He didn't think he had done anything wrong. Anything I said would just be white noise to him.

Yet Ethan remained patient. He put on his most charming front, trying to baby me the whole way.

I told myself I was just there for my wallet. I would treat him like any ordinary classmate, finish the food, and leave.

He prattled on about the ingredients he bought, reciting my favorite dishes like a mental checklist.

"I'm your personal chef today. Whatever you crave, just say the word!"

But the second I stepped through his front door, I froze.

Chloe was sitting on his couch in a tiny slip dress, holding his iPad.

Seeing me, she smiled like the hostess of the house:

"Feel free to grab some slippers. There are brand new ones on the third shelf. Ethan and I picked them out together at the mall last week."

I took a sharp breath and turned to look at Ethan. He immediately rushed to explain:

"She's leaving right after lunch. The sun is blazing outside right now, so there's no rush for her to go."

Noticing my stiff posture, he grabbed my hand and led me inside.

"I woke up super early to buy groceries. It's your first time here, and I really wanted you to have a good time."

"Don't be mad, okay? After we eat, I'll explain everything to you and give you your wallet back."