Chapter 2

2

The next time I saw him, he acted like nothing happened, picking me up after work.

“Claire, I’ll see you tonight, right?”

“Slap!”

The sound rang in the air. I stepped back.

He moved in close, trapping me against his car.

His eyes were intense and pointed at my chest, “Did you think this was a fashion show?”

I pushed him away, raising my hand, but he caught it mid-air.

“Claire, is this a game to you?”

He asks me, is this a game?

The guy who used to treat me like gold was asking me if I was acting childish.

Our eight-year love story became me throwing a hissy fit.

In his eyes, I was just someone he wanted to hide, and never show the public.

I bit my lip hard, spitting in his face.

“Ethan, you’re trash!”

He grabbed me, his tone softer.

“I don’t want to hurt you. We can go back to how it used to be if you want.”

Act like nothing’s happening and be his secret girlfriend.

He continues to persuade me, “Claire, you should know what kind of girl I should be marrying, and I can’t be with you.

“The Harrington and Thompson families have a partnership. Sarah Harrington is next in line for the company, so our marriage would work out perfectly.”

I asked him, “What about me?”

He smiled, “Claire, I’ve made myself very clear. As an English teacher, this should be something you understand.”

“Not to mention your family life. You’re a small-time teacher and you can’t keep up with the business, you can’t keep up with me.”

Completely laughable. I threw up my hand and slapped him, taking him by surprise, he pushed me into the car.

“Are you crazy?”

I grabbed his wrist, biting down hard. He let me bite, till blood filled my mouth, and I finally let go.

“Ethan, you’re the worst. I liked you because you were pure, and you were the one who thought I wasn’t deep enough. You really do say everything.”

Ethan didn’t say anything, getting back into the driver’s seat.

I was too tired to fight, I let him take me to wherever he wanted.

Thirty minutes later, the car stopped.

In front of my apartment.

Right before getting out, Ethan handed me two invitations.

“Which looks better, the plain or embossed?”

His words cut deep into my heart, and made it hard to breathe.

I took the invitations and threw them in his face, the paper scrapping his cheeks, leaving a red mark.

My heart hurt, and it felt like a heavy rock was pressing on me, feeling like I was going to explode.

I turned and walked up to my apartment.

Ethan knew how to make it hurt.

When we were in love, I didn’t think the one hurting me most would be the person I loved most.

The next day, Sarah Harrington showed up at school.

She’s really pretty, and just as loud as she sounds.

“Leave him alone, and leave Ethan.”

She got straight to the point.

“Do you love him?” I asked.

Sarah scoffed, “It’s a business deal, love is never the point. If it helps the company, it could be John or Paul instead of Ethan.”

“Actually, I’ve known about you for a while, so what? Ethan’s marrying me, and I’m going to be the future Mrs. Thompson.”

“I’ve been lucky to have everything I wanted, and if he’s going to marry me, he has to get rid of his friends. So, you have to leave.”

I suddenly felt like laughing. Laughing that I was so stupid, and that Ethan deserved it.

“Sarah, I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t get mixed up with Ethan anymore. I know what’s right and wrong.”

“I’m not gonna be the bad guy.”

Sarah knew I was calling her out, but it was the truth, and she put her hand down.

Muttering, “That jerk, Ethan.”

Sarah didn’t get the results she wanted, so she tried a different approach to get me to leave.