Chapter 2

I had just imagined Ethan suddenly appearing in the doorway with a painting in his hands.

I recognized the style immediately. It was Lily’s. There were dozens of her paintings scattered around the house.

“I heard you saying something about leaving.”

Ethan casually set the painting against the wall. He nodded with satisfaction, then turned and walked toward me.

I hugged Muffin tighter and forced a smile. “I was just teasing her.”

He raised an eyebrow, amusement and affection showing in his eyes. “You’re so childish.”

Then he sat beside me and pulled me into his arms.

“Lily’s newest painting. What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”

My heart sank. My eyes darkened.

“Yeah.”

Lily’s mother and Ethan’s father had married after both of them had been widowed. Ethan and Lily were step-siblings with no blood relation.

Everyone praised Ethan for being devoted to his little sister. Whenever Lily held an exhibition, he showed up no matter how busy he was.

To make Lily happy, he secretly bought her paintings until the house was filled with them.

At first, I had even teased him, saying, “There can’t be a better brother in the world than you.”

Ethan finally noticed how quiet I was. He lowered his head and kissed my forehead.

“Work has been crazy lately. I barely have time to come home. Once things settle down, I’ll take you to Bali, okay?”

“Okay.” My reply was so soft it almost vanished into the air.

Ethan kept saying he was busy with work.

But two hours earlier, my best friend Claire had sent me a message. She had seen Ethan helping Lily try on rings at a jewelry store.

In the photo, Ethan looked serious and gentle. Standing beside him, Lily looked less like his sister and more like his girlfriend.

Claire had warned me in her message:

“Lily may be Ethan’s sister, but they aren’t related by blood. You need to tell Ethan to be more careful. People are going to get the wrong idea.”

Lily was getting married. Her fiancé was the son of the most powerful businessman in the city.

Ethan had been busy preparing her wedding.

I had once told him to keep his distance from Lily.

He had laughed and accused me of imagining things. Their relationship was nothing but innocent sibling affection, he had said.

I didn’t want to investigate this so-called “sibling affection” anymore.

I was leaving soon anyway.

This charade was almost over.

“Ava, what’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice pulled me back to reality.

I looked up and met his concerned gaze. He reached out to touch my forehead, his brows drawing together.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick? Should we go to the hospital?”

“I’m fine. I’m probably just tired.” I avoided his eyes.

He nodded, guilt flickering in his gaze.

“I’ll take you to get checked out tomorrow. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Okay. If I’m coming down with something, I might infect you. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

I picked up the blanket from the bed and left without looking at him.

In the middle of the night, just as I was about to fall asleep, someone began pounding on the door.

“Ava, what does this mean?”

Ethan’s low voice came from outside. He slammed the two divorce agreements against the door.

“You want a divorce?”