Chapter 2

Claire just couldn't figure Emily out. Men were not rare animals. There were plenty of fish in the sea. She couldn't understand why Emily got hung up on one guy.

Emily kept flirting with death, like it was the only way out.

Claire had lost track of how many times Emily had done this.

She wondered if Emily ever worried that one day she might really go too far and never come back. 'Is any of this even worth it?' Claire thought.

Just thinking about that massive pool of blood at the engagement party still haunted Claire.

She used to think Emily was just faking it to get Ethan's attention.

But after seeing how ruthless Emily was today, it really scared Claire.

She was afraid that if Emily actually died, she'd feel guilty for the rest of her life.

She also worried that if Emily was this obsessed, maybe Ethan, the guy Emily had grown up with, was just as messed up.

"Fine, I'll break up with Ethan if that's what you all want," Claire said, pushing herself up off the floor with both hands. "Since Emily's okay, I'm heading out."

Under the stunned gaze of the four parents, Claire sauntered toward the hospital entrance, cool and unhurried.

Back at the place she and Ethan had bought together, Claire climbed into bed without a care in the world.

She knew that the way she acted today would be enough to make those people pull out all the stops to keep Ethan around.

Sure enough, Ethan didn't come home all night, not even a single call.

Since she'd already decided to break up, it didn't matter to Claire whether he came back or not anymore.

Back in college, Ethan pursued Claire for four years straight, claiming she was his first love.

After graduation, he even followed her to the city she lived in.

Claire finally gave in and started dating him because he just wouldn't give up.

If she'd known he had a girl he grew up with who was constantly flirting with death to be with him, she never would've let herself get tangled up with Ethan.

After being let down again and again, Claire was just tired, fed up, and honestly over it.

Still, she felt she should break up with Ethan in person. It was only fair.

After three days, Ethan finally came home, looking totally drained.

When he saw Claire, he looked like he'd been wronged. "Claire, I'm so tired," Ethan said.

There was no guilt, no apology, just all that exhaustion left for Claire to deal with.

Back then, whenever Ethan looked exhausted and wronged, Claire's heart would ache for him.

But now, all she felt was this overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

She didn't want to spend her days always walking on eggshells around him.

If she didn't end things cleanly now, she'd only be inviting more chaos into her life.

Claire slipped off her engagement ring and held it out to him. "Ethan, we're just not right for each other. Let's end this."

All the exhaustion on Ethan's face vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief, as if he'd just been doused with ice water.

He grabbed Claire's hand. "Claire? What are you saying? End it? Is this because I haven't been home these past few days? Please, let me explain. Emily, she—"

Claire yanked her hand back, the ring nearly slipping off. "Stop! Don't even mention Emily. Just hearing her name makes me sick, and honestly, you're just as much of an eyesore."

She brushed past him, marched straight to the walk-in closet, and dragged out the suitcase she'd packed ages ago. "It's got nothing to do with your precious Emily. Honestly, I'm tired of being with you."

He stood in the doorway of the closet, his tall figure blocking her way, the air heavy with tension. His eyes were red, brimming with emotion.

"Tired of me? Claire, we spent four years together in college, three more side by side. And now, just because I looked after Emily for a few days, you're just going to throw it all away? Don't you know? I love you," Ethan blurted out.

Claire let out a cold laugh and said, "Ethan, your love is just way too heavy. It comes with a childhood friend who could go off the deep end and spill blood any minute.

"So your idea of love is making me live every day terrified that if she does something crazy, it's all on us? Sorry, but I care about my own life. I'm not signing up for this kind of deadly drama."

She slammed the suitcase shut, the zipper screeching in the silence. "Here's your ring. Let's just part ways on good terms. You can keep the house or sell it, just give me half the money."

"I'm not letting you walk away!" Ethan growled, grabbing the handle of her suitcase. "Why do you get to call it quits just like that? Emily's the one always putting herself in danger.

"We grew up together. How could I just abandon her? What did I even do wrong? Just because I looked after her for a few days? Her life was at stake! Claire, do you really have to be this cold?"

Claire let out a bitter laugh, trying to yank the suitcase back, but Ethan wouldn't let go.

She sneered, "Fine, call me cold-blooded. Ethan, let me make this clear: I'm done! I'm done with your childhood friend who's always hurting herself. Done with living like some hidden lover just to tiptoe around her feelings.

"Done with you dropping everything to run to her whenever something happens. Done with both your families looking at me like I'm just the third wheel!

"Most of all, I'm done living every day on edge, terrified I'll open my phone and see she's finally gone through with it. And then everyone, including you, will give me that 'it's all your fault' look!

"Ethan, your love is honey wrapped around poison. I value my life, so I'm not taking another bite, alright?"