Chapter 3

After a long silence, she finally asked, tears pooling in her eyes,

“Ethan, have you forgotten when we first met?”

Before Ethan could answer, the guests erupted.

A young man whistled.

“Come on, Vivian. You and Ethan have been playing together since you were three. How could he forget?”

Someone else chimed in teasingly.

“Don’t think we don’t know. Ethan suddenly left our get-together the night before the engagement party. He went to see you, didn’t he?”

“You two are so sweet. If you make him spell out all the details, certain shameless homewreckers might die of jealousy.”

As he spoke, he shot me a pointed look.

I met his gaze without flinching, thoroughly fed up.

Ever since returning to the Bennetts, I’d faced a level of hostility I’d never experienced before.

It was a thousand times more disgusting than the crude bullying I’d known growing up poor.

There was no way Vivian hadn’t helped stir it up.

But whatever. I hadn’t come back to the Bennetts for romance.

Still—

God, these people were annoying.

Watching Vivian’s smile grow sweeter while Ethan remained silent, my irritation hit its limit.

Is Ethan out of his damn mind? I thought he might actually say something useful. He acted like he was about to call her out, only to shove their love story in my face again.

If you want Vivian so badly, why agree to get engaged to me?

Psychos. Every last one of you.

I was on a roll. When Ethan looked at me, I stared right back.

What? Afraid of getting called out for what you did?

As we held each other’s gaze, Ethan suddenly closed his eyes. Looking utterly exasperated, he raised a hand and rubbed between his brows.

Definitely a psycho.

With that conclusion, I turned away.

When the endless ceremony finally ended, I let out a long breath.

Maybe I was too obvious about it, because Ethan glanced down at me.

“We still have to make the rounds for toasts.”

“…”

Resigned to my fate, I picked up my glass and followed him.

The engagement party had been announced at short notice. Most guests had come out of respect for Ethan, so naturally, none of them tried to make things difficult.

I barely had to drink at all.

Enjoying the break, I was looking around when Vivian hurried toward us in a red dress she’d changed into.

My parents followed behind her.

Alarm bells went off. Nothing good could come of this. I grabbed Ethan’s jacket and tried to steer him away.

He turned and asked quietly, “What is it?”

My signing couldn’t compete with Vivian’s mouth.

She smiled. “Mom, Dad, look how excited Nora is to see me.”

Before I could wave that off, she continued, “Nora can’t speak, and the doctors said her throat is damaged. She shouldn’t drink too much. Let me drink for her.”

Then she winked playfully. “After all, I promised Nora I wouldn’t let Ethan bully her.”

I stared at her. I’d never seen anyone so shameless.

First she recited my vows, now she wanted to drink my toasts. Next she’d want to marry him for me.

When I didn’t let go of my glass, Vivian reached out and grabbed it.

“No need to thank me, Nora. We haven’t known each other long, but I already think of you as my sister. Let me do this.”

“Don’t worry. Ethan won’t mind something so small.”

She sounded considerate, but her fingers pinched my hand hard enough to leave a red mark.

Pain shot through me, and my temper snapped.

I was about to shove her away when a low voice, edged with anger, sounded beside me.

“Nora Foster. Let go.”