After business wrapped up, Ethan and I silently agreed to stay behind. We went to the coffee shop next door.
Ethan, Chase, and I were all in the same class.
Honestly, I've forgotten most of our classmates.
Ethan stuck in my memory because the second he transferred to our school sophomore year, he stole my rank as top student.
I wasn't having it. I studied like crazy for a month and snatched it back on the next exam.
We competed from sophomore year until graduation. Then he went abroad to study and I never saw him again.
Ten years later, Ethan looked much more mature.
I asked, "Just got back to the States?"
Ethan smiled. "Yeah. Funny that the first case I take involves you."
He paused. "I saw the news online. I didn't know you married Chase."
His tone was strange. I instinctively asked, "Yeah, what about it?"
Ethan hesitated, then drank some coffee before saying casually, "Nothing. I just didn't think you'd like someone like him."
What?
That comment dripped with condescension.
I immediately got annoyed. "Someone like him? What kind of person?"
Ethan acted superior. "Everyone knew back then—no manners, no class, a slacker. In high school he was always the example teachers used of what not to be. Not like us..."
I slammed my cup down and stared at him coldly.
"Ethan, Chase and I are the 'us.' Not you and me."
Ethan froze, awkwardly shrugging without another word.
I'd planned to catch up, but now I saw no point.
I coldly said I had something to do and started to leave. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure sitting by the window.
Sophie?
Our eyes met. She clutched her phone and quickly looked away.
I found it strange. Why did she look so guilty?
When I got home, Chase still wasn't back.
He had an ad shoot today and wouldn't be home until after 10 PM.
I washed up and scrolled through my phone for a bit. I couldn't fight off sleep and dozed off.
Half-asleep, someone suddenly grabbed me from behind.
His grip was so tight I woke with a start. Before I could scream, I smelled his familiar scent.
Chase?
Before I could turn on the light and ask what was wrong, his overwhelming kisses rained down on me. More forceful than ever before.
Chase was rough but gentle. His personality was rebellious and carefree, but in this area, he always considered my feelings.
But tonight he was different.
He held me tightly with reckless abandon.
After we were both drenched in sweat, it took me forever to catch my breath enough to speak.
"What's wrong?"
Chase buried his face in my neck and said in a muffled voice, "Missed you."
He didn't say more, but I could feel his insecurity.
I could only pat his back until he fell into a deep sleep.
I planned to talk to him properly the next day, but when I woke up, he was already gone.
I called and his assistant answered.
Said there was a last-minute schedule. He'd be back in three days.
My gut told me something was off.