Chapter 2

The night Ethan decided to sleep over at Vivian’s place yet again,

I broke.

I rushed forward and blocked the doorway with my arms spread wide.

"Ethan."

I looked up at him, my voice trembling.

"Are you her boyfriend, or mine?"

The eyes that used to look at me with nothing but warmth were now filled with nothing but cold detachment.

"Iris, I’m just trying to be an umbrella for everyone caught in the rain. Can’t you be a little more generous?"

I froze. He continued without a hint of guilt.

"A man is always a boy at heart. I'm just living out my childhood dream of saving people. You should be supporting me."

"Iris, don't be so selfish. I can’t be your exclusive savior."

Of course.

His heroism had to be distributed equally to every needy soul in the world.

Back in high school,

If anyone was bullied, he was the first to fight back.

If anyone couldn't afford lunch, he would share his allowance.

And when I was beaten by my father, hiding in a dark alley covered in bruises,

He was the one who found me and gently wiped away my blood.

I didn't want to go back to that house of horrors.

So, he took me in.

We relied on each other.

We loved each other.

When the rumors of my molestation spread and everyone labeled me as "damaged goods,"

He was the one who held me and said,

"Iris, they are the ones in the wrong, not you. To me, you are an angel."

But love and hate often stem from the exact same source.

I fell in love with him because he was a hero.

And now, I was losing my mind because he wanted to be everyone else's hero too.

Pulling myself back to reality, I grabbed his sleeve tightly, begging.

"Ethan, please don't go tonight... please."

I stared into his eyes, desperately searching for a single trace of pity or love.

There was nothing.

He gently but firmly pried my hand away from his sleeve. His tone was brutally calm.

"I have to. Vivian is sick. If I don't go take care of her, something terrible might happen."

Tears blurred my vision.

I choked out, "But I'm sick too."

"Ethan, Frank said he’s coming to find me soon. I'm terrified..."

Ethan clicked his tongue impatiently.

"I’ve told you a hundred times, the security in this apartment complex is top-tier. He can’t get in."

Realizing his tone was too harsh,

He softened his voice, patted my shoulder, and said seriously,

"Iris, stop identifying so hard as a 'victim.'"

"Vivian studied psychology. She told me that the more I coddle you, the more you’ll think you’re broken. It's time for you to learn to process your own emotions."