Chapter 3
Just then, a dazzling light pierced through the swirling snow and streamed in from the large windows.
Everyone in the room reflexively shut their eyes for a moment.
A car sped into the courtyard.
The engine's hum sounded especially harsh in the silent, snowy night.
The car door swung open. A graceful, slender figure stepped into view.
His short red hair was like a blaze in the night: vivid, passionate, and radiating a fierce, unrestrained elegance.
My heart gave a sudden jolt. I turned to the three in the room. "The person picking me up is here. I'm heading out."
I left without a second thought: no hesitation, no extra words.
I didn't even glance back.
So I never saw the shock and tangled feelings in Henry and William's eyes.
It wasn't until the car had left the courtyard that William finally snapped out of it. "Dad, Mom..."
He started to say something, but the words caught in his throat.
In the end, he just asked, "Who was that man? Why did Mom leave with him?"
He didn't even notice the panic creeping into his own voice.
Yvette glanced at Henry, too.
She didn't recognize the man who came to get me, either.
Yvette had been around Henry for more than a year.
Because of William, she often visited the Goodman residence and frequently saw me.
She'd even done her own digging on me.
To Yvette, I was just another wealthy wife whose world revolved around my husband and son.
My days were all the same: dull, lonely, barely a friend to my name.
She was certain she'd never seen that man with me in the past year.
No one had ever mentioned I was close to any man.
Let alone someone I'd walk out with, without hesitation, on my son's birthday.
So Yvette turned to Henry, hoping he'd have an explanation.
Then she saw the terrifying expression on his face.
Beneath his darkened gaze, something churned like storm waves.
Henry stared after the car, never looking away for a long time.
A pang of bitterness welled up in Yvette's chest. She wisely kept quiet.
Ethan Brown helped me load my luggage into the trunk.
As soon as I settled into the car, it felt like I could finally breathe again.
The car sped off.
I took a deep breath.
"Thanks." I turned toward Ethan, my gaze caught by his fiery red hair.
Seven years had gone by, but he hadn't changed a bit.
Ethan, Henry, and I had grown up together since we were kids.
Unlike the steady and reserved Henry, Ethan was bold and rebellious.
He had a strong sense of self and never cared about what others thought. If he wanted to do something, he'd go for it, no matter what.
Back in middle school, he started a band with some friends, and later became a race car driver.
Honestly, I was jealous of him.
When Mandy came back, she and Ethan, for reasons I never understood, simply couldn't get along. He brought her to tears more than once.
After college, I married Henry, and Ethan went abroad at his family's bidding.
His family's business back home was massive, and I'd heard he'd been running things for the past few years.
So when we met again, I braced myself for a mature, composed Ethan, someone I might not even recognize. But he was exactly the same.
My mind wandered off somewhere.
Just as I was lost in thought, the sound of tires screeching snapped me back.
Ethan hit the brakes and pulled over. He turned to face me, staring straight at me. "Vivian, I've only been gone a few years. How did you end up in such a mess?"
The little ornament hanging in the car jingled brightly.
I'd never seen him wear an expression like this before.
Back in the day, Ethan always had that cocky, devil-may-care grin, as nothing could faze him, and he was above it all.
But now, there wasn't even a hint of a smile in his eyes, just pure seriousness and intensity.
I thought I'd gotten tough enough after all these years.
Yet his words brought a sting to my nose.
I sniffled, feigning a chill.
I acted like I hadn't heard him. "What did you say?"
Ethan didn't say anything. He kept staring at me. His look made me feel uneasy.
I avoided his gaze.
After a pause, Ethan sighed and switched topics. "Are you hungry? Want to grab something to eat first?"
I nodded right away, feeling a bit relieved inside.
Thankfully, he didn't push it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what to say.
The year Ethan went abroad, I got married to Henry.
Ethan called me from the airport.
On the phone, he asked, "Vivian, are you sure you'll be happy?"
I thought it was such a weird question, but I replied without hesitation, "I'm sure."
How could I not be happy? I was marrying the man I'd loved since childhood.
Back then, I had no idea what the future would bring, but I was so sure of myself. I was naive and groundlessly confident.
After hearing my answer, Ethan didn't say anything else.
All I remembered was the shakiness in his breath, right before he hung up.