Chapter 3

At the bar entrance, I lowered my head to call a ride.

A drunk person walking by almost bumped into me. At that moment, someone wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me aside.

Henry held me protectively and said to the drunk person with displeasure:

"Watch where you're going!"

I pushed him away, my face cold.

"What are you doing here?"

He pressed his lips together, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Just as I was about to turn and leave, having run out of patience, he suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Aria, do you... not like Ethan anymore? Then... would you consider giving me a chance?"

He seemed to have mustered great courage, the tips of his ears turning bright red.

But in my heart, I felt nothing but endless irritation.

"No."

Ethan wasn't a good person, so how could his friend be any better? Rotten people surround themselves with other rotten people.

On the way home, I leaned against the car window, letting the breeze blow over me.

The one with reddened eyes and a dejected expression after being rejected was Henry. But on my wedding day, when I was being humiliated, the one calmly enjoying his wine without a care was also him.

Although the men's faces in the surveillance videos were blurred, I could still recognize Henry at a glance.

We had grown up together, and I was all too familiar with his build.

On how many nights had he pulled me down into depravity? I had even suspected sometimes that the person beside me was him, but I always quickly dismissed the thought.

After all, Ethan and Henry were both my childhood friends. We were such good friends - I shouldn't have doubted them like that.

But they had taken my trust and turned it into a sharp blade, stabbing me mercilessly.

Since that's how it was, I wouldn't consider any past sentiments either.

Reaching my front door, I saw that Mom had already prepared dinner. Dad was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

Mom urged him, "Eat something quickly when you have time. What if the hospital calls you for an emergency shift later?"

Dad chuckled, "I want to wait for our precious daughter to come back and eat together."

My nose stung, and tears instantly spilled from my eyes.

In my past life, I had been so focused on Ethan that I must have missed countless scenes like this. Yet they had always insisted on waiting for me.

Just then, Mom heard movement and came out.

"Aria's back. Come in and wash your hands for dinner."

I quickly wiped my tears and went inside, silently vowing to myself.

In this life, I would definitely protect them well.

The next morning, I woke up to Mom's gentle call.

Walking to the dining table, Mom poured me a glass of milk, smiling as she said:

"Your favorite fresh milk. Your dad specially ordered it for you."

As the milky aroma wafted over, I felt uncontrollably nauseous and retched into the trash can.

Mom patted my back worriedly, hesitating before speaking.

"You're not... You're an adult now, and we won't interfere in your relationships. But you absolutely cannot get pregnant before marriage."

I collapsed onto the floor, repeatedly assuring her until she was relieved.

After Mom left, my hand gripping the chair trembled non-stop. Suddenly, I understood some things.

In my past life, after suffering a major blow, I had agreed to move in with Ethan after his persistent coaxing.

After coercing me into sleeping with him, he would prepare a glass of hot milk for me every night. It was a bit bitter, and I didn't like it, but he always said it was just my imagination and forcefully made me drink it.

Thinking back now, that was the taste of sedatives - prescription drugs that only doctors could obtain.

Ironically, he had switched from studying finance to medicine halfway through college. No hospital was willing to hire him until my dad used his 30 years of professional integrity to vouch for him. Only then did he manage to work at the hospital. Yet he had abused his position to scheme against me.

A dense, stabbing pain spread through my chest.

Thankfully in this life, there was still time to change everything.

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