Chapter 61
[ 490 words ]
Chapter 61:
He had changed into a charcoal-gray suit, and somehow, he looked even colder and more untouchable in it.
At his side, Ivy was wrapped around his arm like a creeping vine, pointing at a diamond ring in the case, her cheeks pink with a shy, sugary smile.
It felt as though a heavy hammer had crashed straight into my chest, the force of it nearly making me lose my footing.
I drew in a slow breath and forced myself to look away. I caught Tracy by the sleeve, ready to leave, but we were already too late.
“Lianne?” Ivy called, her voice slick with self-satisfied sweetness. “What a surprise. Are you shopping too?”
Watching her put on that awkward little act, I felt nothing except irritation and dull exhaustion.
I walked over with steady steps, a perfect smile fixed across my face.
“Yes, what a surprise. Miss Brooks, I have to say, your makeup has gotten much better lately.” I leaned closer and dropped my voice just enough to make sure Ethan heard every syllable. “Let’s hope you manage it properly this time. It would be such a shame if another batch of embarrassing photos came out and I had to clean up the mess for you again.”
“You…” Ivy’s face changed color so fast it was almost impressive.
“Lianne, enough,” Ethan said coldly. His brows drew together in a hard line.
𝖯𝗼pul𝘢𝗋 ѕ𝘵𝘰𝘳𝗂𝘦𝘀 𝘰𝘯 galո𝗈𝘃e𝗅𝗌.с𝗈𝗆
“Did I say anything untrue?” I asked, turning to him with that same smile still in place. “If you care about her that much, maybe you should teach her how to behave in a professional setting. After all, I still haven’t approved the Sparkle project.”
Before either of them could respond, I caught hold of Tracy, who was still staring in shock, and walked out of the jewelry store without a backward glance.
“Oh my God, Lianne, that was amazing!” Tracy said, clapping the moment we stepped into the next store.
She had no idea my hand was shaking so badly inside my sleeve.
I parted my lips to answer, then reached for my bag. The color drained from my face.
The black card was missing.
Realizing I had only taken it out in the jewelry store, I told Tracy to wait and hurried back to look for it.
But the moment I stepped around the corner behind a decorative screen, I heard voices.
“Ethan, what Lianne said was so cruel. Is she still angry with me?” Ivy’s voice floated over, thick with fake tears.
Then Ethan spoke, his voice low, smooth, and cold enough to freeze me where I stood.
“Just ignore her. I don’t like her. I never did.” His voice stayed calm, as though he were saying something ordinary. “Even without you, I’d still end things with her. Marking her was a mistake.”
I stood there like something carved from ice, every part of me trembling.
“Then… do you love me?” Ivy asked.
Silence hung between them for several long seconds. Then I heard the cruelest words he had ever said to me.
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