Chapter 2

Back then, Jessica's mom came between my parents and tore their marriage apart.

My mother, lost in depression, took her own life right next to me.

The trauma left me battling depression too.

Every day, I suffered from splitting headaches, struggled to breathe, and numbed myself to everything around me.

Everyone thought I was out of my mind.

Ethan was the only one who stayed by my side.

Whenever I broke down, he'd wrap me in his arms and tell me, "Sharon, you're not sick. You're the best person in this whole world."

Thanks to his encouragement, I was able to keep myself together, stick to my therapy, and slowly find my old self again.

But now, whenever it came to Jessica, the girl Ethan treasured above all, he said I was out of my mind.

The same guy who had once pulled me out of the darkness was now turning a few words into blades against me.

I gasped for air, my chest tight.

Ethan frowned at me, his voice as cold as ice. "Let's just call this a moment of anger. Apologize to Jessie, and we can put this behind us. But from now on..."

Before he could finish, someone burst through the door and punched him hard, sending him crashing to the floor.

"From now on? You think you deserve a future with my sister? Don't even think about seeing Sharon again," the person said.

That was my brother, William Winters.

Ethan was left in a mess by the punch, stumbling and barely managing to keep himself upright.

He saw me struggling to breathe, realized I was in the middle of a depressive episode, and instinctively moved toward me to hold me.

But right then, Jessica was wailing in pain behind him.

Ethan hesitated for barely a heartbeat, then turned around, scooped Jessica up into his arms, and rushed out the door straight to the hospital.

The boy who once swore he'd stick by me through thick and thin, never leaving even when I fell apart, was gone just like that.

My seven years by his side meant nothing compared with Jessica who had only been back for seven days.

It finally hit me. This wishful dream I'd clung to was over. It was time to wake up.

William turned around and pulled me into a tight hug, keeping comforting me softly.

He said, "It's okay, Sharon. Just let it all out. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you before. I got sent overseas and left you behind. But from now on, I promise I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here for you."

I leaned against William, trying to catch my breath, my voice low. "I never want to see Ethan again. I just want to disappear—go somewhere no one can ever find me."

William nodded firmly. "I'll take you away tomorrow, just say the word."

I sighed, "Maybe give it seven days."

After finally persuading William to go home, I just sat on the couch by myself all night, staring blankly into the dark.

As the sky started to lighten, Ethan appeared after being gone the whole night.

He came over, let out a long, heavy sigh, sat down next to me, and reached for my hand.

He said, "Sharon, I know you didn't mean to lash out yesterday. Jessie understands too. She's willing to forgive you."

I just replied flatly, "Oh."

Ethan was caught off guard by how unfazed I was.

He hesitated, then continued. "Jessica just got back, and staying at a hotel isn't really working for her. I was thinking she could move in here."

Worried I'd turn him down, he quickly added, "Don't worry. We'll retake the wedding photos."

I glanced at his bruised and swollen cheek, my voice flat. "Fine, let Jessica move in."

At this point, it just didn't matter to me anymore.

As soon as Ethan heard, he sprang into action, barely able to hide his excitement.

He started buying every cute little decoration he could find, covering the apartment in them, all to make Jessica feel at home.

Back then, Ethan was all about clean lines and hated clutter. He wouldn't even let me pick out so much as a single knick-knack.

But now? With Jessica moving in, those old rules didn't matter anymore.

I glanced around the place I'd called home for seven years, yet not a trace of me remained there. The laugh that slipped out was hollow, like I was a stranger in my own life.

I turned quietly and went back to my room, opened the nightstand, and swept all the pills into the trash, one handful after another, like I was erasing a chapter.

For so long, I was terrified that if I ever lost control, Ethan would be ashamed of me. Or worse, he'd start to hate having me around.

So even though my episodes had stopped ages ago, I'd still choke down those pills, putting up with all the nasty side effects—just so he wouldn't have to see me break down.

But now none of that mattered anymore.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a photo from my best friend Carrie Baker.

In the photo, Ethan, usually all cold and collected in public, had Jessica piggybacked on him, beaming at her like she was his whole world while she smeared cream cake across his face, and he just let her do whatever she wanted.

Right after, a voice message popped up with Carrie's angry rant.

She said, "Ethan is just the worst! Making you look bad at the wedding photoshoot was bad enough, and now he's parading around with that woman for everyone to see."

I turned off my phone. Jessica was always the one exception for Ethan. She was his favorite, no matter what.