Chapter 3

Mandy didn't come home until the next afternoon.

I was lying in bed when the sound of the door closing woke me from a nightmare.

In the dream was the child Mandy and I never had.

Mandy took off her coat and collapsed into my arms reeking of alcohol, no longer resembling the A-list actress she was.

"I'm home."

I didn't want to talk, not even looking at her.

"Ethan, why aren't you responding to me?"

She tried to kiss me like before, but I dodged it.

Mandy instantly became angry.

"Ethan, don't go too far. What are you sulking about!"

As she finished speaking, her eyes caught sight of the twelve dishes on the table.

Each one was her favorite.

Mandy thought I was upset because she didn't come home last night, so she approached me again, trying to control her temper.

"Ethan, we had to work overtime at the set last night. I didn't want to either."

"Let's heat up the food and have a meal together, okay?"

Mandy had always been a clean freak.

Every time she finished work, she would shower first thing before coming home.

But this time, her body carried the scent of an unfamiliar cologne.

I no longer felt hurt by this, just utterly exhausted mentally and physically.

"Mandy."

"Hm?"

"Let's break up."

Mandy froze for a second, sitting up straight.

In the dim room, I couldn't see her face clearly, but I could hear her extremely impatient sigh.

"Ethan, what are you going crazy about now?"

"You're not a kid anymore, always throwing tantrums."

Mandy turned over, lighting a cigarette. "Hah, break up?"

"With your $300 monthly salary, which woman besides me would be blind enough to like you?"

"Who would marry a man with no car, no house? Are you being childish?"

My body stiffened.

If I hadn't met her, I wouldn't be earning a $300 monthly salary, but would be sitting on the Zhou Group empire.

For her sake, I had given up almost everything that was within my grasp.

But in the end, all of this became the sharp knife she used to stab me.

"Mandy." Looking at that face I had once loved deeply, I couldn't help but ask.

"If one day I suddenly disappeared and married someone else, you..."

"Enough! Ethan, are you done with this nonsense?!"

Mandy irritably interrupted me.

She threw the bedside lamp onto the floor, her tone full of impatience. "Marriage, marriage, all you ever talk about is marriage!"

"I've been so busy lately, and when I come home I have to see your gloomy face. Isn't it annoying?!"

"I don't have the energy to play house with you!"

Mandy took a deep breath, putting out her cigarette, her tone softening slightly.

"Stop making a fuss, okay? Next week, come with me to see my parents."

"Don't misunderstand."

"They've been pressuring me about marriage. Help me deal with it."

My eyes suddenly stung.

I really didn't know what I had been hoping for.

The person Mandy wanted to marry had always, always been only Lucas Lu.

Just then, her phone rang.

Seeing the name "Alex Lu" on the screen, Mandy's furrowed brows instantly relaxed.

She turned her back to me, her voice becoming cute, like a girl in the throes of young love.

I had to admit, this kept man really knew how to make her happy.

"Hello."

Alex's voice came through, but I couldn't make out what he said.

After a few exchanges, Mandy's expression suddenly turned worried.

"What happened to you?"

"Don't worry, I'm coming over right now."

Mandy hurriedly put on her coat, ready to leave.

Looking at her back, I couldn't help but laugh, "A colleague?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Mandy, do you think I'm an idiot?"

"He called earlier today."

Mandy's movement of putting on her high heels suddenly stopped.

Although I couldn't see clearly, I guessed her expression must have turned very ugly.

"What did he tell you?"

I had always been in the habit of recording calls. I scrolled through my phone's memory and played those few minutes of the conversation for her.

Mandy's brows furrowed. She just glanced at it and continued walking out.

"Don't blame him, he's just childish."

"Don't worry, I'll be back later."

"He's hurt, I should go check on him."

I laughed coldly.

"Fine, you don't need to come back after you leave."

"Next week..."

"Enough, Ethan."

She interrupted me again, her beautiful eyes full of impatience. "You're not a kid anymore, can't you understand? After all these years, I just realized how annoying you can be."

"If anyone's leaving, it should be you. Who are you trying to scare?"

"Don't forget this house was bought with my money. You've been the parasite all along."

With that, Mandy slammed the door and left.

I didn't try to stop her, just closed my eyes completely.

In the darkness, I muttered to myself.

"Mandy, I'm getting engaged next week. I'll send you an invitation."

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