Chapter 2

Vivian Shaw POV

The car fell silent again. Ethan wanted to say something more, but his phone rang.

It was Quinn.

He answered, and her sugary voice immediately came through. "Ethan, where are you? I'm at the mall and I bought so many things I can't carry them all. Come pick me up, okay?"

Ethan glanced at me.

I continued looking out the window, as if I hadn't heard.

He suddenly felt irritated. "Quinn, you're an adult. Stop always depending on me. And we don't have any relationship anymore."

"But you've spoiled me for so many years, I'm used to it now." Quinn's tone was matter-of-fact. "Before, whenever I asked you to pick me up, you never refused."

"Before was before." Ethan's voice turned cold. "Back then you were my girlfriend, but now I'm married."

"Married?" Quinn laughed mockingly. "Do you really have feelings for her? Ethan, stop lying to yourself. If you don't come, I'll just find another man to help me carry things. Plenty of men want to help me anyway."

Ethan gripped his phone tightly.

Quinn knew him too well. She knew he couldn't stand her going to other men.

"Wait there." He practically ground out the words through clenched teeth, then hung up.

He took a deep breath and turned to me. "Vivian, I..."

"I'll take a cab home." I had already pushed open the car door. "You go pick her up."

I moved too fast for Ethan to react.

"Vivian!" He got out of the car and caught up, grabbing my arm. "There's really nothing between her and me anymore, but she and I grew up together. Our families know each other. I can't completely cut ties."

"I know." I nodded. "I understand."

I always said "I know" and "I understand," like an AI with not a hint of emotion.

Watching me show no reaction whatsoever, the nameless fire in Ethan's chest burned even hotter. But Quinn's call came through again, urging him relentlessly.

"You go home first, I'll be back later..." He wanted to say he'd come back later, but I had already flagged down a taxi.

I got in, closed the door, and didn't even glance at him again.

The taxi drove away while he stood watching from behind.

My phone rang.

It was the HR department from my company.

"Ms. Shaw, your application for overseas work has been approved."

The voice on the other end carried a smile. "Congratulations! You're going to the New York headquarters. It's a rare opportunity. But... won't your husband have an issue with it? After all, who knows when you'll be back. You two would have to live apart."

I looked at the neon lights flashing past outside, my voice soft. "I don't have a husband. The same day I applied to go to New York, I also filed for divorce. Once the divorce is finalized, I can leave."

There was several seconds of silence on the other end.

"Are you serious? You used to like him so much. You gave up so many good opportunities for him. How could you suddenly..."

I smiled and shook my head. "I don't like him anymore."

After hanging up, I leaned against the car window and closed my eyes.

All these years, almost everyone knew I liked Ethan.

Liked him to the point of losing myself, liked him to the point of being as humble as dust.

But I was tired.

Loving someone whose heart was forever filled with someone else was too exhausting.

At eighteen, during my freshman year, I first saw Ethan at the new student awards ceremony.

The sun was bright that day. He wore a simple white shirt and black dress pants, standing on stage with an extraordinary presence. He was the most popular guy at school, and nearly every girl in the audience blushed.

I was one of them.

But no one had a chance to get close to him.

Because everyone knew that Ethan's heart belonged only to Quinn, the girl he'd grown up with.