Chapter 2

In the dim private room, my friends' teasing words echoed around me.

"Hey, Aria's here! Ethan's over here! Make way for Aria!"

Everyone's gaze darted between Ethan and me suggestively. He sat on the couch, staring at me intently. Those eyes were so deep and loving, as if they could only contain me.

I clutched the bouquet of his favorite irises, my palms sweating.

Looking at these familiar faces, I belatedly realized I had been reborn. The burned skin from my past life still ached faintly.

It took me a while to lift my head. My gaze fell on the man I had loved for eight years. Suppressing the urge to rush over and tear him apart, I spoke coldly.

"You've misunderstood. I'm not here to confess to him."

Ethan's face was full of shock. He pressed his lips together tightly, a flash of pain crossing his eyes.

My friends were also stunned. They looked at him, then at me, joking:

"There are only two guys here today - Ethan and Henry. Don't tell me we got it wrong and you actually like Henry?"

The man drinking quietly in the corner suddenly looked up at me, his grey eyes instantly brightening with a glimmer of hope.

Ethan clenched his fists, staring at me intently. Everyone was waiting for my answer.

I curled my lips, flashing Henry a gentle smile. His Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously as he stood and walked towards me. But just as he was about to get close, I shifted my gaze away.

"Who says flowers can only be given to others? I bought these simply to please myself."

Ethan let out a subtle sigh of relief. Henry's figure instantly froze, rooted to the spot.

I apologized to my friends and was about to leave when I suddenly heard Ethan speak coldly.

"Aria Johnson, do you have to ruin everyone's mood like this?"

I couldn't help but shudder, meeting those reproachful eyes. This was the expression only the 28-year-old Ethan would have.

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind - he must have been reborn too.

The next second, I walked up to him. He frowned at me.

"Realized your mistake? If you drink three glasses as punishment, we can forget about this..."

Before he could finish, I used the flowers to violently smack his face, leaving small cuts.

"Aria Johnson! Have you gone mad?" he shouted.

One of my friends came over to pull me back, saying we used to be so close, and even if he made a mistake, I shouldn't embarrass him like this.

I just found it laughable. If he thought this was embarrassing, he had no idea what was coming.

"Ethan Pierce, you deserved that."

I shook off my friend's hand and walked out.

How nice.

Dealing with him at this age might give me some psychological burden. But if it was the 28-year-old him, I wouldn't need to hold back at all.

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