Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Ethan, what kind of nonsense is that?"

Serena finally looked up. In seven years, I had never spoken to her in such a barbed tone, and the cold profile I turned toward her seemed to catch her off guard.

I unclenched my fist, turned, and shoved the photo of the underwear on my phone right in her face.

"Then what's this?! What kind of 'brother' leaves his worn underwear in his female friend's living room?"

Serena's expression faltered for a beat. She immediately sent the renovation crew away.

When she met my eyes again, her face had gone back to normal. "Why is your mind so dirty? Chase has always been scatterbrained. What does one pair of underwear prove?"

I gave a soundless laugh. There was no point in saying more. Slowly, I took an agreement out of my briefcase.

"Serena, let's call off the engagement."

Without a second thought, Serena walked over and tore the agreement to shreds.

"Stop making a scene. Grandpa's about to retire, and half the Whitmore family is circling his job like vultures."

"Whatever you're upset about, I'll make it up to you after the wedding, okay?"

She took my hand, her voice much softer now.

But she didn't want to call off the engagement because of love.

A stable marriage was simply a tool for winning her grandfather's approval and keeping her place as his chosen successor.

I was about to tell her I was serious when Chase's voice rang out, thick with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Ethan. A few days ago my place had a leak, so I crashed here for one night. There's really nothing going on between Serena and me."

"Serena, I'll leave right now! I'll never show my face around you two again, so Ethan doesn't get the wrong idea!"

He turned and ran for the door, and Serena's face changed.

She let go of my hand without the slightest hesitation.

"We'll talk later. Chase is at a critical point in his career. He can't be upset right now."

Then she spun around and chased after him in the direction he had disappeared.

I couldn't stay in that suffocating space. Sitting on the stairs, I called my best friend, Jake Warren.

"Hey, man. Can you come grab a couple of drinks with me?"

I had just sat down in a corner of the bar and poured myself a drink when a commotion broke out at a booth across the room.

Serena, her face dark, shooed away two girls who had been hitting on Chase. She sat down beside him and coaxed him gently.

"Don't be mad anymore. I have a present for you."

Then, right in front of Chase’s whole group of friends, she pulled out a marriage certificate and a certified copy. They had already married in a civil ceremony.

In an instant, something seized my throat.

Chase's eyes went wide with delighted surprise. Serena slid onto his lap and pinched his nose.

"My jealous baby. Will proof that we’re legally married finally stop you sulking?"

The group burst into envious, teasing laughter. Only one person couldn't stomach it and asked her.

"What about Ethan? He's waited for you for seven whole years. You two are about to have your wedding, and you go and legally marry someone else now?"

Serena was silent for a long time. Finally, she spoke in a low voice.

"Chase loves me. He gave up an annual salary of ten million pounds overseas for me. This is the only way I can repay him."

"As for Ethan, I'm giving him the wedding and the next few decades of my life to make it up to him. Isn't that good enough for him?"

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll leave if he finds out?"

This time, Serena didn't hesitate.

"Where would he go without me? He has no parents, and even the soccer skills he used to be so proud of have gone rusty."

"Besides, after seven years together, we're way past the point where we can just cut ties. Even if he finds out, I'll soften up and sweet-talk him a little, and he'll come right back like a good boy."

"Anyway, once the wedding's done, I'll just get a fake certificate made for him."

My hand went slack. The glass rolled onto the floor.

So seven years of sincere love could be trampled this far.

Jake couldn't stand it. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge over and start a fight, but I held him back.

I shook my head slightly. "Forget it. I don't want to keep going with this anyway."

"You’re married now! Come on, link arms and drink a toast!"

Someone shouted it, and the crowd, egged on, started cheering, "Do it! Do it!"

Chase gazed at Serena, his face flushed. She said nothing. Instead, she poured a glass of champagne and fed it to him mouth to mouth. Then they kissed, deep and open-mouthed, for ten minutes.

The blaring music needled my heart until it went numb.

I recorded everything happening in front of me, then dialed a familiar number.

"Grandpa, I've decided to call off my engagement to Serena."