Chapter 3

3 She slid into the seat beside him, her smile radiant. "No, you already ordered all my favorites."

Ethan froze, glancing at me. My expression remained unchanged.

"Good," I said. "Eat up."

He visibly relaxed, but his eyes held a flicker of uncertainty.

"Olivia," he said, offering me the menu. "Anything you want to add?"

I declined with a smile. "No, thanks. I saw something disgusting this morning. Completely lost my appetite."

He raised an eyebrow. "What was it?"

I feigned nonchalance. "My friend's boyfriend is cheating on her. He eats her cooking, then goes and eats his mistress's cooking. Now he's in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer. She sent me a picture. It was horrific."

I looked at Ethan, my smile widening. "People like that… they deserve everything they get, don't you think?"

He swallowed hard, his face pale. "Y-yes, of course."

Summer's smile had vanished, replaced by a thin, tight line. "Maybe he just wasn't in love with his girlfriend anymore," she offered weakly.

"If he wasn't in love, he should have broken up with her before finding someone new. You're young, Summer. You don't understand how men operate. If he truly loved the other woman, he wouldn't let her be the 'other woman,' a secret he's ashamed of."

My bluntness hit its mark. Summer's face hardened, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. I suppressed a smirk.

Ethan's face was thunderous. "It's none of your business, Olivia. Drop it."

"True. And I know you would never do something like that." My smile was saccharine. He had no response.

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence. Summer avoided my gaze. Ethan offered to drive me home, but I refused.

"Then I'll take Summer back to campus. Be careful getting home," he said.

"No, Ethan, you should take Olivia home. I can get a cab," Summer protested, a demure expression on her face, so different from her earlier boldness. She was clearly worried I'd discovered their secret. If I did, her financial support would vanish. She wanted to have her cake and eat it too.

Before I could object, Ethan cut in, his voice sharp. "Olivia can get herself home. Your campus is too isolated. It's not safe to take a cab at night. I'm taking you."

Summer gave me a quick, apologetic glance, then climbed into the passenger seat. "Thanks, Ethan! Bye Olivia, be safe!" she called, waving from the window.

I watched them drive away, my heart heavy. My little act of defiance had felt good in the moment, but now a deep sadness settled over me.