Chapter 5

"Chloe, I'm back. Don't worry, I'm here now."

Hearing that voice from the phone felt like a lifetime ago.

It had been so long. So long that I had forgotten what Ethan's voice sounded like when he was being gentle.

On the other end, the younger Chloe gave a cold, detached reply. "Thanks."

The teenage Ethan sounded a bit hurt. "Chloe, why are you being so formal?"

She didn't answer, and he didn't press. He just hurried the doctor to prepare for her surgery.

After a moment, she whispered into the phone from under her blanket, "I'm leaving the second the surgery is over. I won't be there for his proposal."

I nodded, feeling a massive weight lifting from my chest.

When I got home, Ethan stormed in right behind me, with a sobbing Lily in tow.

He grabbed my wrist, his face twisted in anger.

"Did you tell Grandpa about Lily and me?!"

My wrist throbbed with pain.

The injury I had gotten years ago while trying to protect him in that car crash—he had completely forgotten about it.

I violently shook his hand off.

"I wouldn't waste my breath on your dirty laundry. If you don't care about your dignity, I still care about mine."

His pupils dilated in shock.

Then he let out a harsh laugh. "Dignity?"

"You're always so high and mighty. If you told Grandpa, he'd send Lily away for you, wouldn't he? Why play innocent?"

Lily was practically hyperventilating next to him.

There was a prominent red slap mark on her cheek.

"Chloe, I beg you," she cried, throwing herself to her knees in front of me. "I just want to be with Ethan. I don't even care about a title! I beg you!"

Before I could even react, Ethan violently pulled her up, his face full of heartache.

Then he glared at me.

"Do you really have to push her this far?"

"She never tried to take anything from you. She's been so quiet, never asking for anything!"

He shook his head, his eyes filled with pure disappointment.

"How did you become so vicious over the years? You're not the Chloe I used to know."

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand.

A mock smile formed on my face. "I changed? What about you?"

"Did you stay the same? The one who changed first was always you, Ethan."

In my earpiece, the teenage Ethan's voice echoed:

"Chloe, they're taking you to the OR now. Don't be scared, okay? I'm right here."

"The moment you get out, let's get married."

"I don't care if your legs ever heal. I'll be your crutches for the rest of your life."

His voice was so tender, so full of love.

But it only made the cold reality of the man standing in front of me more agonizing.

My eyes welled with tears.

Ethan froze, his tone softening slightly. "Just apologize to Lily, and I'll let this go."

I closed my eyes.

"Apologize..."

"To her? Who the hell do you think you are, Ethan? Get out."

"Chloe!" he snapped, his chest heaving with rage. "You know if I leave now, I'm never coming back!"

I didn't look at him.

Ethan gave me one last, deep look. "Fine. You asked for this. Lily, let's go!"

The house fell dead silent.

I let out a soft laugh, packed my remaining things, and headed straight to the airport.

Sixteen hours later.

The younger Chloe suddenly burst into tears in my earpiece. "Chloe... I sent him away. It's over. We're completely done."

I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. In my mind, my memories of Ethan began to blur and fade.

At that exact moment.

In his office, Ethan was reviewing documents when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. He collapsed onto the floor.

When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. Grandpa Arthur and Lily were sitting beside him.

"Grandpa? What happened to me?"

He looked around, feeling an instant wave of disappointment. He muttered, "Where's Chloe? Why isn't she here when I'm sick?"

Grandpa Arthur slapped him hard on the arm.

"Your wife Lily is right here!"

"You ungrateful brat, why are you bringing up a girl you haven't seen in ten years?!"