Chapter 99
[ 527 words ]
Chapter 99:
“Explain?” Ivy looked as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world and suddenly leaned closer. “Lianne, you’re unbelievably naive. Do you know why Ethan took your phone? Why he kept the news from reaching you? Why do you think he stopped every effort to clear things up?”
She spoke at an unhurried pace, every word sharp and precise. “Because he’s afraid. Afraid that if the truth gets out, it will destroy my reputation and career. So he chose to sacrifice you to protect me. Lianne, to him, you’re nothing more than a disposable shield he uses to protect me. He will never love you.”
My chest cinched tight, and breathing became difficult.
I parted my lips, but no sound came out.
Lianne’s POV
I shut my eyes for a moment, drew in an unsteady breath, then looked at Ivy with a frigid stare. “Are you done? If you are, I’m leaving.”
I couldn’t stay in this stifling place for one second longer.
I tried to move past her, but Ivy suddenly shot out a hand and seized my wrist. “Don’t go. You still haven’t heard me out…”
“Let go!” I barked, jerking my arm away harder than I meant to.
I swear, I hadn’t shoved her that hard.
𝖬or𝖾 𝗇𝘰𝗏e𝘭𝗌 oո g𝘢𝗹𝗇𝘰𝗏𝘦ls.𝗰𝗼𝗆
But Ivy gave a sharp scream and fell hard against the triage desk beside her.
“Ivy!” A hoarse, panicked voice burst from the far end of the hall.
Ethan showed up out of nowhere.
In the next instant, he caught Ivy and drew her tightly into his arms, his eyes full of nothing but worry.
Watching them wrapped around each other, I found the whole thing absurd.
I pressed my nails into my palms, using the sting to keep myself steady.
I knew Ethan’s heart had room for no one but Ivy. I knew he would turn right into wrong for her. And yet, like an idiot, I had still hoped he might show even the slightest bit of sense. What a joke.
“Ethan, this isn’t Lianne’s fault,” Ivy said in a weak voice, curling into his arms. Her face was pale, and her trembling voice came at just the right moment. “I lost my balance. I only tried to stop her so I could explain, but I tripped. Please don’t blame her.”
The more “magnanimous” she sounded, the colder Ethan’s presence became.
“Apologize.” His tone was cold and final.
He had always been like this. He never cared about the truth, and he never cared who was right or wrong. As long as Ivy was involved, he would side with her without hesitation and grind me into the dirt.
I pressed my lips together, anger and hurt roiling inside my chest.
I held his gaze and walked straight toward him, one slow step at a time.
As I got closer, Ethan knit his brows, his lips parting as though he were about to repeat that disgusting order: apologize.
The next second, the crack of a slap rang through the silent corridor.
My palm burned, and my fingers shook from the force of it.
Ivy sucked in a breath and went so still she even forgot to cry.
Ethan’s face snapped to one side. Across that nearly flawless, handsome face, five vivid red finger marks quickly surfaced.
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