Chapter 3
When Emily noticed Ethan's movements, her body stiffened, instinctively resisting.
She grabbed his hand and said, "I'm not feeling well today. Next time, okay?"
Ethan's desire fizzled out instantly at her response.
He stopped, put his arms gently around Emily's waist, holding her close as he whispered, "Just sleep now."
Emily's eyes stung with emotion as she suddenly spoke up.
She said, "Ethan, do you remember you still owe me a honeymoon? Let's leave right now."
Ethan paused, frowning. He then said, "It's getting late. Let's do it some other time."
But this time, Emily wouldn't back down. She said, "You always say 'next time.' I don't want to wait anymore."
Ethan's expression turned cold. He wanted to tell her not to push it, but when he met Emily's sad eyes, the words just stuck in his throat.
It felt as if, if he didn't agree now, there might never be another chance for them—ever.
In the end, Ethan drew in a breath and nodded. He said, "Fine."
Emily's heart settled with a sense of contentment, but the System's faint electric buzz suddenly sounded in her mind.
The System said: [Host, his heart isn't with you anymore. What's the point of keeping him by your side physically?]
Emily stiffened, but managed to keep her composure, acting as if she hadn't heard a thing.
With Emily's persistence, the two of them set off that very night.
By the time they arrived in Northbay, it was already noon the next day.
Once they'd settled into the hotel, Emily took out her phone, pulled up a video she'd bookmarked long ago, and showed it to Ethan.
She said, "I heard lots of couples come here to get married. Why don't we have a wedding of our own?"
Ethan frowned and said, "We've already had a wedding. Why do you want to do it all over again?"
He couldn't shake off a strange sense of unease.
He felt that everything Emily said and did was just odd.
Emily wrapped her arms around him, giving a faint, almost fragile smile as she said softly, "Can't we just relive the old days?"
Ethan's gaze darkened, but in the end, he nodded. He said, "Let's do it if you really want to."
After that, he left her to handle the plans and headed out to the balcony with his laptop, needing to catch up on work.
Emily wasn't in any hurry. She handled the wedding planning herself, reached out to a local company, and sketched out a simple arrangement.
Once everything was set, she headed over to let Ethan know.
But as she neared the balcony, she saw Ethan on the phone, his voice soft and fond—a warmth she hadn't heard from him in ages.
Ethan coaxed softly, "Just be good for me, okay? Next time, I'll be there with you.
"She just came up with this spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach; there was nothing I could do. Why don't you look for something you like, and I'll make it up to you, alright?"
Emily's nose tingled, on the verge of tears.
She couldn't even remember the last time Ethan spoke so gently to her.
She knew all too well—on the other end of the line, that woman could act cute and have Ethan spoil her as much as she wanted. But if Emily ever tried to act like that, all she'd get was his annoyance.
When Ethan hung up and turned around, he finally noticed Emily standing silently behind him, surprise flickering across his face.
Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Who were you calling?"
Ethan's brow furrowed.
A hint of irritation slipped into his voice as he said, "You insisted on this trip out of nowhere—don't I still have work to take care of?"
Emily felt a lump in her throat. After a moment, she forced a small smile and said, "I never said you couldn't work. I just wanted to tell you the wedding's been arranged."
Ethan's expression stayed indifferent.
"Alright. Go look around by yourself—I've got work to do," he said, his tone flat.
Then he shut the balcony door behind himself, facing away from her as he buried himself in work.
Emily sat on the couch, separated from him by the transparent glass door, quietly keeping her eyes on his back.
Time gradually ticked away.
Emily glanced at her death countdown—it showed exactly five hours, thirty-four minutes, and twenty-one seconds.
Not once did Ethan look back.
In that moment, Emily suddenly realized—the System hadn't been wrong.
It was true—Ethan really didn't love her anymore.