Chapter 2

Ethan laughed, reaching out to ruffle my hair.

"Did you freeze up, Chloe? Your courage didn't grow, but you look even dumber now."

Serena chimed in, banter rolling off her tongue smoothly.

"Hey, I’m willing to take my time to help her get better."

I pressed my lips together, staring at the two of them putting on their little show.

"This isn't helping me. This is bullying."

Serena’s smile froze on her face.

"Chloe, that’s actually so hurtful. I spend my free time trying to help you, and you call it bullying?"

"Fine! How about I go ride the roller coaster? The one thing I’m absolutely terrified of. Would that make us even?"

She turned and started walking toward the roller coaster.

Ethan frowned, glared at me, and grabbed her arm.

"Don't force yourself. You cried last time. I’ll go with you."

I just stood there.

Yet, just minutes ago, before we got on the drop tower, Ethan had looked at me and said:

"You can't be this childish, Chloe. It's just an amusement park ride. You don't need someone to hold your hand."

When the roller coaster came to a stop, Serena was buzzing with excitement.

"Having someone ride with you is actually so fun! See, Chloe? It's not even that scary!"

But nobody was riding with me.

Ethan looked at my expressionless face.

"If you're still mad, how about we ride the drop tower with you one more time?"

But this time, they chose the double-seater drop tower—the "Lovers' Express."

It was designed so that the riders had to face each other and hug tightly, or the seats would tilt during the drop.

Engraved on the ride was the slogan: "Give your deepest trust to the one closest to you."

When the operator mentioned they only had room for two, Ethan glanced at me.

"Chloe was pretty freaked out just now. Let's not push her. Serena and I will go."

They laughed and strapped themselves in, facing each other.

It was so strange.

When they wanted a good laugh, I wasn't allowed to be scared.

But now, suddenly, my fear was convenient for them?

I stared at them as they buckled their safety harnesses.

"Ethan, the engagement ceremony in five days? Let's call it off."

Ethan’s playful expression vanished, replaced by sudden panic.

"Chloe, stop throwing a tantrum! We’ll talk when I get down!"

Once the ride ended, they chased me all the way to the entrance of my neighborhood.

My mom was sitting outside, chatting with the neighbors.

Seeing me, she frowned. "What’s wrong? Did you have a bad time?"

Serena suddenly walked up, looking incredibly hurt, and wrapped her arm around my mom’s.

"Mrs. Miller, we were just trying to help Chloe with her anxiety like you asked. But she said I was bullying her, and now she wants to break up with Ethan."

Ethan caught up, adding, "You can't just throw the word 'breakup' around so easily, Chloe."

My mom’s face darkened instantly.

She grabbed my ear, pinching it hard.

"Calling off the wedding just like that? Who do you think you are?!"

The neighbors started whispering. My mom’s voice grew louder and harsher.

"This girl is a coward. Ethan and Serena were nice enough to help her, and she’s being an ungrateful brat!"

"Do you want to stay a useless loser hiding in this house for the rest of your life?!"

As the neighbors stared and gossiped, my face burned as if I had been slapped.

Ethan stepped in front of me, shielding me slightly.

"It’s okay, Mrs. Miller. It doesn't matter if Chloe is like this. I’ll protect her."

Hearing this, my mom got even angrier. She dragged me upstairs by my arm.

The moment the front door slammed shut, my tears finally spilled onto the floor.

"Mom, why am I your daughter, but you always believe other people over me?"

My mom let out a cold sneer.

"I gave birth to you. You think I don't know what kind of pathetic creature you are?"

"Ever since you were a kid, you’ve been terrified of everything. You're nothing like Serena. You can't do anything right... you're just like your spineless father!"

Her words carved into my bones like a knife.

But I wanted to be brave too.

When I was little, money was tight. My mom had high expectations, and she viewed my dad’s gentle nature as cowardice.

She used to scream at him, saying his weakness was the reason we were poor.

So, she tried to "toughen me up" since I was a toddler.

When I was three and afraid of the dark, she locked me in the dark closet. I cried until I lost my voice. When she finally let me out, she beat me anyway.

When I was afraid of water, she shoved my face into a basin. If I couldn't hold my breath, another beating followed.

She called it "desensitization."

But it only made me more terrified.

Because making a mistake meant punishment, and punishment proved I was useless.

Then, when I was eight, my dad decided he would rather lose custody of me than stay with my mom. He divorced her and left.

From that day on, I didn't dare to do anything wrong.

I was terrified that if I messed up, my mom would abandon me too.

Meanwhile, Serena, who grew up next door, was outgoing, charming, and always knew exactly what to say to please adults.

My mom would always say wistfully, "I wish Serena were my daughter."

My mom pointed toward my bedroom, her voice dripping with disgust. "Go to your room and think about what you did."

"If you leave Ethan, who else is going to do charity work by marrying you?"

She then dialed Serena and Ethan’s numbers. Her voice instantly softened, sweet and warm.

"Serena, sweetie, I’ll make Chloe apologize to you guys. Come over for dinner tonight, okay?"

I leaned against my bedroom door, wiped my tears, and called my friend.

"Lucy, you’re leading that volunteer teaching program to the remote mountain school in five days, right? Do you still have an opening?"

"Are you sure, Chloe? That place is totally off-grid. No signal, no Wi-Fi, and there are snakes. Aren't you terrified of snakes?"

"I’m not scared."

"But what about your engagement? How are you going to explain this to your mom? She’ll skin you alive!"

I gripped my phone tightly.

"Lucy, I want to run away. Just this once, I want to be brave for myself."