Chapter 5

Our colleagues immediately started teasing us.

"Childhood sweethearts? What kind of fairytale is this? Kiss! Kiss!"

"Chloe, if you miss out on a guy like this, you'll regret it for the rest of your life! Go for it!"

The girls playfully pushed me toward Julian. Tipsy from the wine, my foot slipped, and I stumbled.

Alcohol always gets in the way.

Julian gentlemanly reached out to steady me, but someone else beat him to it, gripping my arm with bruising force.

"Ouch."

I looked up dazed, meeting a gaze cold enough to kill.

Julian tried to pry me away from the man's grip, but the intruder had absolutely no intention of letting go.

"Who are you? Let her go!"

"Ethan?"

I stared at him in confusion. For a second, it felt like we were back in our private bubble, with only him and me.

Ethan was flanked by a group of wealthy elites. Anyone could see he was someone powerful and not to be messed with.

Ethan pulled me toward the exit. "She's drunk. I'm taking her home."

At that moment, a pathetic part of me wanted to go with him. But I couldn't.

Swallowing my tears, I slowly pried his fingers off my arm. I turned and wrapped my arm around Julian's, smiling brightly. "No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Sinclair. I already have a ride."

Ethan's face darkened like a storm. He turned and walked into a private VIP room.

Once he was gone, everyone finally let out a breath and began to gossip.

"Oh my god, was that... Ethan Sinclair, the billionaire heir?"

"Chloe, you know Ethan Sinclair? Are you guys close?" my colleague whispered curiously.

"I used to work at Sinclair Enterprises. I was his assistant."

Everyone looked shocked. "Wow, he looks so intimidating. You're amazing for surviving working under him."

"Seriously, rumor has it he has a terrible temper."

"Oh, by the way, I heard some gossip about him. Apparently, he has a childhood sweetheart who went abroad, some sort of first love. He hasn't gotten married all these years because he was waiting for her... and she's supposedly coming back soon."

"But didn't the paparazzi snap photos of him with some mystery woman before? Well, billionaires keep their flings separate from their marriages. They only marry social peers. The women on the side are just toys they throw away. Right, Chloe? As his former assistant, you must know a lot, right?"

I lowered my eyes, a bitter taste in my mouth.

To Ethan, I was a secret lover, an employee, but never a partner or a wife.

I used to be like a moth drawn to a flame, but now the fire was out. It was over.

The party ended late.

Julian drove me back and, worried about my safety, insisted on walking me to my door.

"Thanks, Julian. It's late, so I won't invite you in for tea, but next time for sure."

Julian smiled and waved. "Don't be so polite with me. Get some rest. Call me if you need anything."

"I will."

Once Julian left, I slumped against the door, completely exhausted.

I thought I could remain unfazed when seeing Ethan again, but after all this time, I still couldn't.

The feeling of being controlled by my emotions made me feel suffocated and helpless.

I decided to take a hot shower to wash away the day's stress. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Was Julian still here?

I opened the door without thinking, only to be pulled into a burning, rock-hard embrace. I instinctively struggled...