Chapter 3

I ran into someone I had no desire to see.

Violet was blocking Ethan outside his company’s entrance, her eyes red.

“Ethan, why did you tell the Bennett Group to stop supporting me?”

“You know perfectly well that without the scholarship, my parents will sell me off to some single man back home!”

Ethan was clearly losing patience. He was still carrying the spicy skillet meal he’d prepared for me.

When he saw me, he looked even more aggrieved. He pushed past Violet and hurried over.

“Vivi, she’s harassing me. I haven’t even looked at her, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Violet clutching the hem of her shirt, her expression ugly. Still, she refused to give up. She came over and grabbed Ethan’s sleeve.

“Ethan...”

He shook her off as if she were trash. The poor, delicate little flower finally burst into tears.

I’d been having a lovely day. Of course seeing someone so unpleasant soured my mood.

But we were standing outside the Bennett Group. It wouldn’t look good if people who didn’t know the story saw us “bullying” a young woman.

If she caused a scene and someone twisted it into a scandal, we’d have a problem.

I slipped my arm through Ethan’s and gave it a gentle shake. “Ethan, let her come inside. If there’s a misunderstanding, we should clear it up.”

He brushed his nose against mine. “Whatever you say.”

Violet went pale at the sight of our affection, but she had no choice except to follow us inside.

In the elevator, she quickly pressed the floor button before either of us could, then turned and smiled at Ethan.

Her little trick was obvious. She wanted me to know she knew what floor his office was on, implying they had a special relationship.

What a self-important clown.

When the doors opened, Violet shoved past me and headed straight for the security scanner outside Ethan’s office suite.

When the system announced, “Beep. Facial recognition failed,” her face visibly fell.

“Oh... I forgot. It isn’t time yet.”

Ethan and I exchanged a look. We clearly agreed that someone should call a car and take her to a psychiatric hospital.

“Excuse me. Move, please.”

I gently nudged the little flower aside and unlocked the door with my own face.

Ethan had added me to the system ages ago. He held nothing back when it came to loving me.

Neither of us paid Violet any attention. Looking close to tears, she squeezed through just before the door shut.

Ethan set the food on his desk and carefully opened the containers. Then he picked up a piece of fried chicken and fed it to me himself.

Something flickered in Violet’s eyes as she looked at the golden, fragrant chicken.

She picked up the mug I’d bought Ethan as part of a matching set and went looking for the water dispenser without asking.

“This food is too greasy. I’ll get you some water.”

She claimed she was getting water for both of us, but she only took one mug.

When she carefully carried it back to Ethan, I finally put down my fork.

“Are you applying to be a maid, Ms. Hayes? If so, isn’t plain hot water a little inappropriate to serve your employers?”

Violet stared at her hands, reddened by the hot mug, and said miserably, “I was just worried the food was too greasy.”

Ethan kept serving me food as he spoke casually.

“Vivi likes her food light. Everything I make for her is low in oil and salt.”

Violet quietly set down the mug and murmured:

“Oh... I was just remembering how you always used to cook for me. I thought...”

I slammed my fork onto the desk, raised my hand, and slapped her.

“My family knows a psychiatrist. Perhaps I could introduce you.”

Violet covered her cheek and stared at me in disbelief. Then she appealed to Ethan through her tears. “You’re just going to let her hit me?”

Ethan glanced up at her. “You should consider it an honor.”

Violet threw down her bag in fury. “I’m your wife, Ethan Bennett!”

She lunged at me, but Ethan stepped in front of me.

Smack. Another slap landed on Violet’s left cheek. Now they matched.

Ethan tugged at his collar.

“As a rule, I don’t hit women. But my fiancée comes first. Anyone who tries to hurt her doesn’t get that protection.”

“As for your scholarship, you’re an adult now. Ending your support is perfectly legal and within the program’s terms. If there’s nothing else, you need to leave. Security, take her out.”

Violet’s eyes filled with tears. She stared at Ethan with grief, anger, and a desperate resolve.

The guards arrived quickly. For the second time, Violet was dragged away.

She turned back and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Ethan, I’ve lived this life before! I really am your future wife!”

“There’s a red mole on the inside of your left thigh!”